Your Best Managers Can Be Your Best Recruiters

A highly respected recruiter once said, “You can tell what kind of manager someone is by how they recruit. The best managers in my company are also the best recruiters.” 

And I have to agree with him. Here are the attributes they share.
• They ask good questions, and they listen carefully. They are engaging and easy to talk to.
• They have a vision for what their team does and what makes it special. And they can articulate it.
• They are assertive in going after what they want, and at the same time they are flexible in their approach to getting it.
• They are unrelenting in staying in touch with people, understanding what makes them unique, and figuring out the right roles for them. 
• They do not compromise quality to meet numbers.
• They keep their commitments and follow up in a timely way.

So let’s assume that you have managers in your organizations with these qualities and that these make great recruiters. Having them is one thing; using them effectively is another. You need to give them time, resources, and praise for doing this critical role. You can’t expect them to fit it in around the edges.

Why is this important? You get the best people in a very competitive market. And hiring the best saves you money in training (and re-training) down the line. A saying comes to mind here – “pay me now or pay me later.” Identifying your talented hiring managers and giving them the help they need to fill the pipeline is a good investment now!