5 Attributes of Rockstar Recruiters

Let’s face it: there is a low barrier for entry into the recruiting profession. Hiring top talent is difficult in any market, so employing quality recruiters at your organization is extremely important. But how do you know if the recruiter you're interviewing has the gumption to give you an advantage over your competition in finding and hiring the best candidates? Here at Glassdoor, our recruiting team is made up of rockstars who know how to get a job done. While every recruiter is different, here are five attributes that many of our recruiters share. To bring the best recruiters on board at your company, keep these five things in mind: 1. Motivated by the thrill of the kill. There is nothing better than a recruiter who just scored an ideal candidate. There is also nothing worse than a recruiter who just lost a great candidate. Yes, money is a motivator for good recruiters – but the very best are those who love the hunt, willing to go above and beyond to find a good lead or résumé for an open position. These are the people you want on your recruiting team. 2. Stellar listening skills. Is a good recruiter a narcissist who likes to talk with the jobless or a panicked hiring manager? No, not ever. In my experience, great recruiters talk 15% of the time and listen 85% of the time. If talking to people is your motivation, consider a career as a radio announcer or a trial lawyer – but if you’re a truly good listener, recruiting is for you. 3. Great matchmaking skills. Recruiting today is like online dating, without (some of) the awkwardness. There are many recruiters who can find candidates whose résumés fit perfectly with an open job description. The best recruiters, however, are those who can make the difficult hire – not the expected one. A rockstar recruiter has an innate ability to evaluate people and business situations to put the right person in the right role. They look beyond years of experience or GPA requirements and dive deep into what qualities and experiences a candidate possess that would help them excel in any given role. Old Aunt Betty the Recruiter might make a few placements by sheer dumb luck, but this approach no longer flies. The best recruiters love making great matches. They get a rush out of getting to know people, both within their company and outside of it. They enjoy learning about candidates' skills and personalities and about the jobs they're trying to fill. They get satisfaction out of bringing the right candidate together with the perfect job. If you’re looking for a rockstar recruiter, look for someone who can think outside of the box and who loves to tackle new challenges. 4. Likes puzzles and solving problems. Rockstar recruiters enjoy being tested. They love logistics, figuring things out, analyzing people and situations, and understanding what makes people tick and how companies work. They put everything together so that the recruiting puzzle falls perfectly into place. Rockstar recruiters are excited to do all of this and then go out and do it again – they’re not quick to give up and definitely do not tire easily. Remember: recruiting is about people. Find people who can figure anything out and who naturally look for solutions to key problems, and you’ve got yourself a rockstar. 5. Motivated by pressure. Many are intimidated by pressure, lofty hiring goals and demanding deadlines. The best recruiters, however, don’t get fazed. If they do get overwhelmed, they know how to act calm and collected on the surface. Where some might fail, rockstar recruiters excel. The pressure and the thrill excite them and motivate them to give their job 100% and hire the best possible talent. Additionally, difficult clients and strange job descriptions motivate them, too. Rockstar recruiters can’t be stopped. At the end of the day, there’s no such thing as a “perfect recruiter.” All recruiters are different; frankly, it would be boring if they were all alike. It’s recruiters’ diverse backgrounds and experiences that make them uniquely interesting and that truly add value to your recruiting strategy and your organization as a whole. Hiring recruiters that share these killer attributes will undoubtedly bring success to your company and develop your company culture for the better.