Recruiters Reflect Corporate Attitude

Initial impression is the most important! I doubt anyone would argue that fact. That is what we teach business professionals meeting with corporate executives, sales people who are meeting new clients, and people looking for a job.

The initial impression prospective employees have of a corporation is through the Recruiter. The Recruiters role is more than reading through resumes, cover letters and applications, and matching talent with positions. Recruiters are ambassadors for the corporation. They are the first contact for that prospective employee. That employee who may make a profound impact on success, market share, profitability, or morale of the organization. The wrong impression from a Recruiter can lose potentially great employee, leader or executive.

Something I emphasized with supervisors and employees, "Reality means nothing. Perception means everything." If that first impression gives the wrong perception the rest is an uphill struggle. I have dealt with a lot of Recruiters. Some are polite, respectful, fast, and put you at ease. Others are arrogant, never respond, and act like its a bother to talk to you. As if you are threatening their position. Generally the polite recruiters are very knowledgeable and represent their companies well. The arrogant Recruiters can't answer questions about the company or position, and poorly represent their company.

I am reminded by a comment about leaders. Why is it great leaders have a great attitude? Is it because they developed their attitude after they took power in their position? The better answer is their attitude drove them to their position. Aptitude is good, but, aptitude does not compensate for bad attitude. On the other hand, a great attitude can build great aptitude. Twist that to apply to Recruiters. Those Recruiters with a great attitude are going to attract like attitudes. Which would you as an executive want managing your corporation, as a supervisor carrying out your directives, as an employee working beside you...great aptitude or great attitude?

Attitude has to come from the top down. Emphasizing with recruiters to be polite, personable, inquisitive, responsive, and ambassadors for the organization. When an application comes in, acknowledge it to the sender. Follow up so prospective employees are aware of the process. I have seen some companies respond within 48 hours to allow that person to look elsewhere. The best example is Starbuck's, "Thank you for your interest in joining the Starbucks team. We have reviewed your qualifications for the...position... We wanted to let you know so that you can continue to explore other opportunities." Disappointment to the applicant for not being selected, however, they left a good impression by saying, "We wanted to let you know so that you can continue to explore other opportunities."

I have seen other companies who it is too much trouble to respond, so they don't. Do you know which applies to your Corporate Recruiters? Do your Recruiters know what perception they are giving about your company? Do you care about the initial impression your Recruiters are giving? Somewhere the right person for the position is not the person who applied, but a friend that person tells about his or her experience? Will that person want to look at your corporation, or look away? What would have happened if Andrew Carnegie had not recruited the services of Napoleon Hill?

In the words of Bob Mohab, "Attitude, not aptitude creates altitude."