I know what you’re thinking, but no, this isn’t another article written by a recruiter self-pontificating about how they’re the best thing since sliced bread.
My name’s Matt, I’ve been working within the recruitment market for just shy of two years, and I’m hoping that if you take anything from reading this, it’s that there are some recruiters out there that don’t act like they’re the Wolf of Wall Street. In fact, some of us take a lot of pride in helping a candidate find the job that will make them happy to get up in the morning.
I won’t lie, there are times that you can get swept away in the madness of recruitment, the thrill of placing a candidate into a new client, the pride of writing up a placement on the board, and the sheer amount of shots you can neck in a 20 minute period! But if you take a step back, you see that you’re actually making a big difference in people’s lives, and can build personal and professional relationships that span years, job changes and continents.
Recently, I was working with a candidate who was unhappy in their role, they were unchallenged, unappreciated and felt trapped in a company that just wasn’t for her, and putting it in her own words:
“I was really unhappy with my previous employer and when I asked Matthew to help to find me a new job, I made a “wish list” of what it should contain. I knew I was asking for impossible and didn’t really think a role like the one I described existed.
What Matthew found me only few days later, was much more than what I asked for!
I am totally overjoyed with my new role and new team. I have the best boss in the world and now feel valued and appreciated for the efforts I make.
I simply LOVE going to work every morning. You couldn’t ask for more.”
There was no counting the money as they accepted the offer, no fist pumping having got one over the competition, and no I don’t spend my weekends queuing to get into the nearest designer suit shop!
This made me ask myself a few questions around recruitment today;
- Are people still using buzz words (that they don’t understand themselves) to get the candidate/ client into an interview?
- Is it acceptable to throw colleagues, candidates, clients and anyone else in your way under the bus for your next win?
- Do candidates and clients really buy into the big watches, pin striped suits and all the rest?
- Do recruiters still care about making a difference in people’s lives or has it just become about money?
Sometimes we all need to step back and take the pride in making our clients and candidates happy, rather than thinking what’s in it for us.
If you like what you’ve read and you want to join an agency that values the human part of recruitment email me, matthew@gibsonhollyhomes.co.uk