What My First Two Months as a Recruitment Consultant Have Taught Me: The Value of Communication

Starting a new job in a new industry gave me a sense of excitement, uncertainty and eagerness to learn. Coming into the role as a recruitment consultant at Optimum Consulting, my basic understanding of recruitment was “finding people a job”, and whilst that may be a very vague part of the job, I’ve quickly understood that there is much more to it.  

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt so far is the value of communication. It’s easy to forget the importance of the recruiter’s role. For a candidate, they’re taking a large leap. More often than not, they’re taking a big leap in their careers, potentially leaving a job they’re currently in, where they’re earning an income to provide for themselves and even their families. For a company, they’re making a big decision on who will join their business and make a contribution to the future of their company.
When communicating between candidates and clients, accuracy in the process is key. Misunderstandings in any aspect of the recruitment phase can lead to large complications for candidates, clients and hence, recruiters. For a candidate, they expect honest, transparent communication about the company, the role and the responsibilities of the role throughout the hiring process. Simply giving a candidate frequent updates provides a sense of clarity to candidates who are hoping for good news. From the perspective of a candidate, awaiting news at any point during the hiring phase can be daunting, so consistent checkups not only provide them with clarity, but also assure yourself that they’re still interested in the role. 

Clear communication with clients is just as important. Understanding what a company is looking for goes far beyond a document outlining the responsibilities of the role. Taking the time to thoroughly ask questions about culture, fit for the company and expectations helps recruiters understand that whilst there may be many CVs that match the responsibilities or experience required for the role, it gives recruiters the knowledge needed to find the best possible candidate for the job. 

Although I’m still early into my recruitment career, the past two months have truly highlighted the importance of communication and relationships in this industry. Recruitment is about people. People like to be heard, to be valued. It’s the role of recruiters to ensure that both candidates and clients feel heard, supported and informed throughout the whole process in order to achieve a successful outcome for everyone.
 

Lewis McMahon 

Recruitment Consultant