I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I started my journey in recruitment with Connexus Recruit! It’s been an amazing experience so far, but not an easy one! Throughout the year there have been many ups and downs from making my first placement to having an offer rejected. I have enjoyed every minute of it and learned so much along the way.
As I approached my one-year anniversary I thought back on the lessons I’ve learned so far. What do I wish someone told me at the beginning?
Below are 5 of the key lessons I’ve learned from my first year in recruitment:
1. Success Doesn’t Come Quickly:
My first year in recruitment came with a steep learning curve. I had to learn the language of marketers and the various acronyms in order to be able to understand candidate skills and client needs.
I learned that to be a successful recruiter requires a lot of resilience, patience, and determination. There’s no shortcut to success and you have to put in the time and hard yards to succeed. You will make mistakes along the way but the faster you learn from your mistakes, the more successful you will be.
2. Resilience is Key:
Recruitment is tough; it is not for the faint-hearted. There will be days when everything seems to be going wrong. Between candidates dropping out at second-round interviews, clients ghosting you or struggling to fill a role that a client has been advertising for months. In these types of situations, it is so important to stay positive, keep your head clear and not give up. Stay resilient!
3. No Two Days are the Same:
One of the things I love most about recruitment is the variety. No two days are the same, and you never know what challenges or opportunities will arise. This can be both exciting and daunting, but it keeps things interesting and helps you develop your adaptability and flexibility.
4. Mindset is Everything:
Your mindset and attitude can make or break your success in recruitment. If you approach your work with a negative attitude, you’re more likely to struggle. On the other hand, if you arrive at work each day with a positive attitude, focused and enthusiastic about your work you’ll find everything comes a little easier. You will expect things to go right but not be deterred should something go wrong. This is a part of life, and some things are out of our control.
5. Recruitment Teaches You Important Life Lessons:
Recruitment is not just a job; it’s a crash course in life. As a result of hours of conversations with candidates and clients, you will naturally become more confident. I’ve developed my ability to build relationships, be empathetic, and to connect with people on a personal and human level.
From a productivity perspective, recruitment demands that you are organised and able to effectively manage your time. These are skills that are highly transferable across any profession and are of great value to me now in my day-to-day personal life. Recruitment, like life, is a rollercoaster with many ups and downs however, you can choose to enjoy the ride.
