See who is already coming to #socialrecruiting summit in November!

Blog Network

CruiterTalk

CruiterTalk.com is Recruitment blog that looks deep into the eyes of recruiters, recruiting products and technology. You'll find interviews, features and product reviews to help you naviagte the Recruitment World.

Recruiters need to get Soft Skills follow this blog post

posted by on July 17, 2009

Like most Bloggers, my inspirations come from three places: My gut, my Frustrations or a conversation I have during the day. Over the past 5 years I've bought into the world of social media and leveraging technology to recruit. I'm like you, I love to spend time on podcasts and video, chat and twitter, but when does all of this become too much?

We all talk about strategy and web 2.0, social recruiting and mobile recruiting, Cloud Recruiting and Whatever I can do to not realize that it all comes back to my grass roots recruiting. Today's post comes with a bit of frustration towards a conversation I had early today with a colleague. Before any rumors get started, he and I are on the same page and share the same view. We were speaking about the recent article written by Kevin Wheeler and posted on ERE.

Kevin says that "Being a modern recruiter is, in some ways, easy. It's about treating candidates as you would like to be treated. It's about knowing who you are and what you believe so that you can quickly know when the direction you are headed is wrong." This is where the frustration comes in. Not with Kevin because I happen to full heartedly agree with him. "It's about knowing who you are and what you believe so that you can quickly know when the direction you are headed is wrong" I find that most recruiters today, simply lack this skill. They talk about transparency and authenticity, but there is really no substance behind their motivations. It frustrating to me because I see too many "social only" recruiters with no plan that rely solely technology to find candidates but in the end simply cannot close the deal.

The fact is that we are in the information gathering business. Our business requires us to posses a uniquely weird DNA that most people do not have. We've got to be social (in real life), we make friends for a living. So where did all of the "soft skills" go? We are challenged with uncovering some of the most incredibly hidden pieces of information, connecting with the source of that information and ultimately convert this information or prospect to a candidate and eventually a hire. The job is incredibly energizing to me, but it leaves me to wonder, if we took away tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook how would we recruit?

By the way, Kevin Spacey is on Jay Leno right now and he is sending a Tweet live telling everyone that he is talking to Jay Leno...Coincidence? Maybe Twitter is the new soft skill we need.

Connect with me @ryanleary or at CruiterTalk.com

recruiter social recruiting soft skills
| 12 comments | flag

12 comments

Log in or register to post a reply.

  • 1 point 3 months ago
    Not only soft skills but attitude adjustments. Don't refer to job seekers as "dimwitts" or "stupid" as I commonly see in posting. Do your job and treat others with respect especially during these tough times. TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED.
  • 1 point 3 months ago
    Four words: get on the phone.
  • 1 point 3 months ago

    Great post. This really hits a good point. If recruiters want to "close the deal," they're going to have to remember that the basics and fundamentals of recruiting don't change. Social networks are certainly huge but when it comes down to it - "the soft skills" - that is what recruiting is about.

  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Good stuff Ryan. It's interesting because when I look at myself, I'm really a pretty boring guy... but when its phone time, I get ready and turn into a salesman. In fact, when speaking to candidates about our firm, I flat-out state, "Before I dig too much into your background, I'll give you a short sales pitch about our firm." They know the good stuff is coming and from there, our company sells itself w/ my words guiding the direction. Nothing irritates me more then to know that many candidate resumes at other companies goes into a huge pile and are never even looked at. That's processes and procedures, not recruiting.
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Ryan, Aha! Sarcasm...like Jim, it is Monday here also and I am apparently not yet engaged. Ryan, There are many new recruiters out there who would not know what to do first if they did not have these technologies.. In Re: your comment "maybe twitter is the new soft skill we need" Please tell me that was extremely dry sarcasm as well. I totally agree that social media is a necessary and fun tool for us, but it should never be the only tool in the Recruiters' bag of tricks for candidate search.
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Gotch ya! I thought so Jim. I agree 100%. @Kris Butterfield - personalyy I've made a few, but the statement I wrote: "The job is incredibly energizing to me, but it leaves me to wonder, if we took away tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook how would we recruit?" was a hypothetical with some sarcasism. This is my argument that Recrutiers need to stay soft and recognize that the these apps. may lead you to a candidate in in reality you'll have to take that relationship off line sometime. You still have to close the deal.
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Question: How many hires/placements have you made from Twitter, FB or LI in the past year? ;-) Kris
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Actually Ryan, that was your statement from above and I was going to comment on it. Just a little off on Monday. My thought was that some recruiters feel the job is "done" when they get "hit" off one of the social sites. They may not realize that is just the beginning and they need to have the ability to ask tough questions and LISTEN to peoples responses and be able to assess those answers relative to the hiring manager's needs, and that is just one of the many social skills needed by a good recruiter.
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    It's a great question Jim and one that I think recruiters need to ask themselves. If all the recruiter is doing to recruit is leveraging Twitter, LI and FB, they may want to think twice about their career. Though these are certainly tools they should include in their work, the more important thing is that they understand were their target candidates "hang out". Thanks for the comment!
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    "The job is incredibly energizing to me, but it leaves me to wonder, if we took away tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook how would we recruit?"
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Thanks for the thought Mat. It's funny how recruiters forget how to clsoe the deal. Technology is great but in reality you really have to focus on what counts. Thanks again.
  • 1 point 4 months ago
    Great thoughts Ryan, I agree completely. With all the exciting new technology and ways of reaching passive candidates many recruiters are forgetting how to speak in front of potential candidates and, as mentioned in your article, close the deal. Bravo!