At the recent New York City meeting and holiday gathering, we held a best practices session. I captured some of the ideas shared below:
· One Hour Power Hour
A member pulls the entire office together to focus on single activity for one hour with an all hands on deck approach. This helps someone that might need a boost on a search really get things going.
· Recognize Birthdays and Changes in Jobs on LinkedIn
One of our recruiters has made it a habit to stay connected to his connections on LinkedIn. He spends a few minutes each week recognizing birthdays and other changes with a very personalized comment. Be careful not to use generic comments.
· Qualify LinkedIn Invites
A member is asking candidates if they will accept a LinkedIn invitation before sending it. It has created an almost 100% acceptance rate compared to far lower performance prior to this new technique being applied.
· Send In Mails that focus on Candidate Strengths
Members are sending In Mails that are direct and specific in reference to candidate strengths. The generic approach is no longer working.
· Use the Phone
A member made it clear that email is a time trap with limited return on difficult searches. Use the phone!!!! It works. The phone is what will separate true search firms from those firms that just post and pray for results.
· Prepare Candidates for Phone Screens and Interviews
Some members are using tools like Interview Mastery to prep candidates for interviews. You would be surprised how many seasoned candidates have not had recent interviews and need a refresher.
· Offer Large Referral Fees
A member spoke to the value of large referral fees. It creates and incentive for a candidate to refer teammates and others that are great fit candidates.
· Use References as a Marketing Tool
While doing reference checks, be sure to ask if it would be OK to follow-up at a future date about how the referee fills job openings. If you space the marketing call about 30 days after the referral check it works beautifully.
Join us for a future meeting and just one great tip pays dividends for years into the future! Thanks to those that contributed the ideas!!!