Candidate Preparation

For recruitment and staffing agencies, good recruiters are not just a joy to work with but a strategic competitive advantage. As such, retaining your best recruiters has become a top priority of many successful staffing companies. This challenge of retaining top talent is especially difficult in the recruitment and staffing industry where turnover is quite common.

So why do great recruiters leave their staffing company? While every case of employee departure is unique, there are common themes. Reasons cited include career advancement, learning and development, poor work environment and a lack of recognition and appreciation.  These reasons should not surprise you since as a recruiter you hear candidates cite these very reasons for their own employment search.

Recruitment and staffing agencies are in unique position to understand the causes of employee dissatisfaction and eventually the reason why people seek to leave their employers. It is ironic that often staffing agencies are experts on the turnover problems of every other company but their own.

A common reason cited for employee departure is a feeling of a lack of recognition and appreciation at work.  As such, we have put a list for some creative ways in which staffing agencies can recognize your recruiters.

Quick Suggestions for Recognizing Your Recruiters

• Introduce a bring a kids to work day at the staffing agency
  Bring in some special treats for meetings
• Movie tickets, gift certificates, sporting event tickets are all good ways to recognize your staff
• Send them a voice mail thanking them for their contribution
• Remember staff birthdays and service milestones and take the time to recognize this.
• Take time out for recognition on a weekly basis. Schedule time-off to recognize employees.
• Get to know and understand what each individual on a personal basis.
  Write down 3 things that you appreciate about each member of your staffing team and then give it to them.
• Take them out for lunch, and spend some quality time with one of your employees.
• Ask employees for input or opinions. This shows that their ideas are important and valid.Lead by example – if you want a positive energy from your recruiters then give them and greet your team with a smile and an enthusiastic good morning everyday.
• Leave messages of appreciation, support and encouragement at their desk.
• Take the time to introduce new employees to all staff. Include a brief description of their background with examples of achievements and what they bring to your team.
• Buy your recruiters muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee on your way to work.
• Bring something special like a souvenir if you go on vacation.
• A simple thank you, by phone, email and in-person goes a long way.
• Don’t just focus on your star recruiters. Recognize recruiters that have made improvements – perhaps a most improved recruiter award.
• Massage therapy or spa gift certificates.
• A yearly or quarterly recognition event (awards night).
• Send item of recognition or thanks to someone’s home.
• Random office contests, (e.g. Candy jar to pass around).
• Lottery tickets, like a scratch and win ticket.
• Hold a potluck or food day (it is a great day to introduce different types of food).
• Casual dress day (e.g. every Friday).
• Circulating employee award. Rotate the award weekly to those who have made a positive impact on the team’s target, morale etc.
• A warm welcome to new staff – “Welcome to the team” chocolates, flowers or card on the first day of work.
• Introduce a recognition point program where staff can collect points or send them to others.  Eventually your recruiters can use the points to purchase merchandise.
• Always “tie” recognition to the behaviours that you are celebrating and rewarding. For example: a “best send outs to hire ratio lunch”
  Fitness Breaks for entire team, a walk, Yoga, tai Chi, etc.
• Involve your recruiters in a coed team sport like softball, golfing event, etc.
• Personal more formal document or letter of thanks, congratulations etc.
• Email or voicemail to the team with a word of thanks, congratulations regarding an outstanding contribution
• Flowers for your recruiter doing good work or when you get positive feedback from your client.
• Create a morale/recognition team. The priority is to introduce new ideas.
• Display staff awards, certificates, customer testimonials etc. on wall.
  Include their family – display employee’s children’s artwork, bake off and so forth.
• Staff bbq or pizza lunches.
• Weekend staff recognition getaway (e.g. cabin, ski resorts, Vegas etc.)
  Celebrate holidays and multicultural events not usually celebrated such as Diwali, Chinese, New Year, Eid, summer solstice, family day,
  Brighten up your office with pictures and posters

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