Questionnaire: How Much Do You Know About Recruitment?

Starting your own recruitment business is an exciting but scary time! Although you can’t possibly know everything about recruitment before you start, it certainly helps if you have a strong grounding in how to spin those golden plates of clients, candidates and jobs.

You will have probably worked for another recruitment agency before you decide to launch your own recruitment business so you’ll hopefully have a solid knowledge base regarding the day to day aspects of recruitment. But what about the ‘behind the scenes’ issues that you’ll have to face now you’re the boss? Read the following sections and see which answer best represents you.

How Much Do You Know About Clients?

There’s nothing more disheartening than missing out on a placement because the client was interviewing other candidates that you weren’t aware of. What’s your approach to making sure you keep one step ahead of your clients?

1. I ensure all my clients sign a confidentiality agreement on the first of every month and I sometimes sit outside their office to see where they’re going and who they’re interviewing.
2. I’ve got a number of reliable clients that I worked with before and they’ve agreed to exclusively give me their requirements for 24 hours before any other agency.
3. I keep loosing the business cards of clients I meet so I have to find new business all the time.

How Much Do You Know About Candidates?

Keeping candidates happy is an important part of running a successful recruitment agency and the best way to do that is keep in regular contact and have plenty of decent vacancies. What’s your view on candidate management?

1. I make sure all my candidates text me every hour on the hour so I know exactly what they’re doing.
2. I keep a ‘hot list’ of available candidates for temp jobs and permanent interviews and I stay in weekly contact with them as a minimum.
3. Sometimes I’ll call my candidates to see what they’re up to – especially if I’ve had a good job come in, although sometimes I just wait for them to ring me.

How Much Do You Know About Business?

Starting your own recruitment business isn’t just about waiting for all that lovely commission to roll in…it takes an awful lot of hard work. How realistic are you about running your own recruitment agency?

1. I work twelve hours days, make 150 business development calls a week and attend every relevant networking event within a 200 mile radius.
2. I’ve joined the local chamber of commerce to do a bit of networking and I plan to set aside two days a week purely for business development.
3. I’m hoping that my old clients will call me when they know that I’ve left my previous employer…although I left about two months ago and they haven’t got in touch yet. They must be on holiday.

Answers

If you answered mainly 1), you sure are determined! You may also be a little too overpowering for some people and, as recruitment is all about people, perhaps you ought to tone it down a little! Although clients and candidates want to know that you are professional and committed to finding them the right match, they do not want to be put off by your style of business. Try allowing yourself to wind down a little and be less competitive.

If you answered mainly 2), well done! You’ve got it just about right. Keep up with the ‘plate spinning’ and your business will be a success. A good recruitment business is founded on getting that elusive balance right and you are certainly on the right track - just don't get too complacent - it's called 'spinning plates' because you can't let any one drop!

If you answered 3), you probably don’t know enough about what hard work and determination is needed to make your recruitment business flourish. Are you sure this is what you really want? There are plenty of other career choices or ideas for your own business that will harness your skills, rather than pushing yourself into a job that doesn't suit you. Perhaps now is the perfect time for you to speak with a careers advisor or business mentor so that you can understand where your skills lie before you invest time, money and effort into a business that isn't right for you.

Whatever category you fall into, recruitment is a rewarding business. Keep focused on the three core areas of clients, candidates and jobs and you’ll be fine.

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