As a self-employed or agency recruiter, do you prioritize contacting candidates or clients first? What’s your reasoning behind that choice?
I’m embarking on my journey as a self-employed recruiter, working on a commission-based, “no cure no pay” model. My background has been exclusively in corporate and in-house recruitment, so the client acquisition aspect is quite unfamiliar to me.
I’m finding it challenging to reach out to potential clients. Should I initiate contact with them first, or should I focus on candidates? Is it necessary for me to have candidates lined up before approaching potential clients? If that’s the case, how do I ensure that clients don’t connect directly with the candidates, which could jeopardize my commission? Would it be advisable to withhold candidate names? I appreciate your understanding—this is all quite new for me.
What strategies have you found to be the most effective in your own experience?
RCadmin
It’s great that you’re exploring the transition to self-employed recruiting! The approach to reaching out to candidates versus clients can vary based on individual strategies, but here are some insights:
Start with Clients: Since you’re on a commission basis and your income depends on successful placements, it’s crucial to establish relationships with clients first. Having clients who are interested in filling positions sets the foundation for your recruiting efforts.
Understand Client Needs: When reaching out to potential clients, ask about their hiring needs and challenges. This not only helps you position yourself as a solution but also gives you insight into the types of candidates to source.
Build a Pipeline: While it’s beneficial to begin conversations with clients, it can also help to have a few candidates in mind. This allows you to demonstrate your capability and knowledge of the talent landscape. However, don’t worry about having a full pipeline before client outreach. You can build candidates as you start engaging with clients.
Protecting Your Candidates: To ensure you retain commission rights, be transparent with your clients about your work structure. You can present candidates in a way that maintains your involvement by emphasizing your role in the process. Consider using candidate profiles that summarize their qualifications without disclosing names until there is mutual interest.
Establish Relationships: Build relationships with both clients and candidates. Networking, attending industry events, and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn can help you connect with potential clients and candidates alike.
Diversify Your Approach: Use a mix of strategies to contact clients. This could include direct outreach via email or phone, attending networking events, or leveraging referrals from your existing network.
Ultimately, your success will depend on your ability to provide value to both clients and candidates. By being proactive in understanding client needs and sourcing quality candidates, you’ll be able to create a balanced approach that works well in the self-employed recruiting landscape. Good luck!