What to Look for When Hiring Recruiters

Apr 12, 2024 | Hiring/Firing Recruiters

QUESTION: How do I know when to hire a recruiter and what should I look for?  – Stephanie, Phoenix, AZ

ANSWER: April 22-25th we’re hosting The Free Recruiting Firm Scale Up Challenge to go over this in great detail, but I can try to give you that answer in five minutes or less.

For those of you who have been around me long enough to know that my model for hiring is not what most of us were taught because I failed at it miserably.  I bring people on as search associates where I train them in the role of recruiting first.

I do not know what your motivation is, but if you want to hire a recruiter and you have the cash flow, I would hire two.  It only takes 10% or 15% longer to train two people than it does one, and if it is your desk in the firm, Stephanie, I would have them work on your stuff.  If not, I would have them work with established recruiters in your office under a very tight accountability structure and very tight parameters.

First, I would train them the art of recruiting, candidate development, how to find and identify passive candidates.  You pay them a smaller commission, 5% on 10% and a base salary.

What do you look for?  The people that worked best for me were people that when I interviewed them I could uncover areas in their background where they worked somewhat independently of management. Even though I had very strict accountability structures in place with my people, they still needed independent drive. I wanted to uncover whether their passionate desire was to have control over their own income.

I remember asking one person and I was not convinced.  The person was going to have to leave a pretty hefty salary for my really low crappy salary, plus the commission, so I asked, ‘Why would you leave guaranteed income?’.  He looked at me and his face got a little red.  I will never forget it.  Absolutely true story.

He said, “Last year I worked my ass off Mike and you know what I got?  I got a 3% raise.  The guy next to me who is a total slacker, guess what he got.  Yea, 3%.  I am not staying there.”

He was fantastic.  Those are a couple quick things I can give you in a moment.

If you’re ready to build a business where:

  1. Revenue is NOT dependent solely on you
  2. Revenue is CONSISTENT month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter
  3. When you’re away, production stays the same (or even increases)
  4. You have a saleable asset when you want to exit the business

Then join us for The Recruiting Firm Scale Up Challenge April 22-25th. 4 Days – 90 minutes each day, and you’ll leave with the 3 Key Secrets to building a business that runs, even thrives without you… (YES! Solo’s too!)

Simply register here to save your seat!