Excerpt: Talent acquisition is people’s business. It is all about the right networking. A strong network can be like a knight in shining armour for recruiters, offline or online. In this article, we will see how networking helps recruiters build their brand.
Recruitment Brand is a term used to describe a recruitment agency’s reputation as recruiters, their value among their clients, and their position within the marketplace. The stronger the brand value, the more opportunities are knocking on the recruiter’s door. And the best way to build a strong brand is networking. Recruitment and networking go hand in hand.
Though a lot of time and planning is required to create a powerful impact on your brand in the market, it is worth it.
Types of Networking
1. In-person Networking
Whoever you engage with outside your workplace counts as networking. It is crucial to connect with the right people for future opportunities.
Some benefits of In-person networking are:
- In-person networking helps build authenticity and gives you recognition. Knowing a person face to face means getting your way in their contact list so they will think of you whenever they need a recruiter.
- It gives you a chance to speak up and be understood. According to a study by Edge Rank Checker, On Facebook, only 6% of page fans see the post. On Twitter, followers will only see your post if they log in shortly after you. In-person networking rules out the chances of being ignored.
- It is easy to find Millennials and Gen Z on social media, but some influential people are still away from social platforms. Meeting face-to-face can help you establish long-term relationships with them.
- In Online Networking, recruiters must first make their strong presence before approaching any client or investor. But in face-to-face networking, you can reach out to anyone and seek guidance from them. It is rare to get ignored by them in person.
2. Online Networking
Recently the demand for social media has skyrocketed, making online networking a preferred method, especially among newer generations. It can be the best way to reach passive candidates and clients and build a diversified talent pipeline.
Benefits of Online Networking are:
- Online networking makes it easier to connect with a large audience from around the corner. On top of that, recruiters can do all that by staying at their homes.
- Attending events and conferences for networking can be expensive. However, when networking online, you don’t need to pay for travel, lodging, food, etc.
- Online networking helps recruiters build a global talent pipeline. They can expand their services in the international market too.
- Newcomers are often anxious to start a conversation face-to-face. With online networking, they can be more comfortable talking to anyone.
7 Ways to Improve Your Recruitment Brand Using Your Network
1. Use Your Network to Reach Passive Candidates
Networking is crucial for recruiters since they neither can entirely rely on their talent pipeline nor the active applications received. Hence, they must look out for passive candidates on multiple channels.
The best talent is usually recommended by someone you know. If recruiters contact some influential clients, they can find new candidates within their network. The Employee referral program should also be encouraged to quicken the hiring process.
2. Build a Diversified Talent Pipeline
Having a solid presence can attract candidates from around the corner. Often candidates who are interested in your business follow your page. Leveraging the follower’s list to find the potential candidate for the agency can help recruiters save a lot of time and cost-per-hire.
Having a diversified talent pipeline increases the quality of hires and increases productivity among the workforce.
3. Host Events to Attract Clients and Candidates
Everyone wants to learn and hone their skills. Therefore, recruiters can arrange events like training camps, a hackathon, seminars with renowned personalities, etc., to attract the best talent. Furthermore, opening positions for internships or one-time projects also helps source a potential candidate to advance to a permanent position further.
Or, even if they are not hired at the moment, they can be fit for any new position that opens in the future.
4. Cultivate Relationships Over Time
Building sustainable connections take time and investment, but it always pays well. While building connections, recruiters should not only focus on professionals but also their personal network.
Results can’t be expected right away, but those connections built over time will be the strong ones. When the trust solidifies between recruiters and clients, that is the most effective time to ask for any favour or connection.
5. Be the First to Offer Your Services
Through networking, recruiters can easily find their way in the contact list of some prominent clients to offer their services whenever required. Before asking for any favour or connection from your network, offer them your services first. This way, relationships sustain for a longer time. Being authentic with your network makes them more likely to reciprocate.
6. Show the Real You in the Content
With online networking coming into effect, candidates first go through the recruiter’s profile and web content. Using blogs, social media, etc., for marketing your services works well, but presenting the real you and your opinions through content makes an everlasting impact on visiting clients and candidates. It helps improve your recruitment brand and build strong connections with clients. The idea is to provide your contacts with some value and not just advertise your pitch to them, at least not directly.
7. Manage Your Contacts Well
After so much effort to make contacts, losing them can be a nightmare for recruiters, mainly because they cannot manage the list well. Therefore, recruiters must find ways to stay in touch with their network. For example, organizing marketing campaigns, putting out exciting information, etc., can be helpful to connect with candidates and clients occasionally. This also makes them feel more connected and involved.
Another great way to manage any form of contacts (both clients and candidates) would be to use a Recruitment CRM or an Applicant Tracking System.
When done respectfully and tactfully, networking can help take your recruitment brand to the next level, which in turn can boost your business. Plan out who you want to network with, research more about the industry, and get out of your comfort zone to understand your clients. It will help build relationships that can be a game-changer in your business’s growth.
