4 Essential Skills Every Recruiter Should Have

It's okay to be extremely particular about your decisions when it comes to hiring at your company. After all, the future of your business lies in the hands of your employees, and you want to be sure the talent that comes your way is a great fit for the position. That's why a great recruiter is vital to the hiring process.

Whether you're looking to hire a recruiter full-time to work for your organization or looking to outsource to a staffing company, here are some qualities you should look for in a recruiter.

1. Communication Skills

This one should go without being said, but we're going to say it anyway. To be a great recruiter, you need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely - not only to know when and how to speak but to know when to stop and listen as well. A successful recruiter knows how to ask the right questions and display that bit of curiosity that gets the prospective employee on a roll, talking about their experiences and talents. It's all about getting them comfortable enough to express themselves honestly.

2. Confident Body Language

Beyond the words that come out of the mouth, a good communicator understands how to use body language and facial expressions to emphasize a point, show they're engaged, or encourage the other party to expand on the topic of discussion. Without these skills, Body language is also essential to displaying confidence. The more confident a recruiter is, the more trustworthy they will appear to the prospective talent, making your business look more like a professional and appealing place to begin your career.

3. Negotiation Skills

We often think of negotiation skills as applying to the world of sales, but it's not all that different when it comes to recruitment. Instead of selling a product or a service, you're selling a career, except you're selling to both sides of the transaction - both to the candidate and to the employer. If you're an employer looking for a great recruiter, look for someone who can negotiate a great deal. After all, if the right employee comes along for a role and they do not take the position for a trivial reason, such as a benefits package that could have been negotiated, it'll be your company that suffers.

4. Curiosity

A recruiter's job can be exhausting and full of research, internet searches, and multiple interviews. The ideal recruiter is incredibly curious and will not find this process tedious. Someone who is naturally inclined to ask detailed questions and have a serious investment in the answer would be a great recruiter. Fortunately, we can use technology to streamline the recruitment process in today's world. Using an applicant tracking system can also help recruiters and employers stay organized on the hunt for new employees and keep good communication with both parties during the process.