Recruiting is not rocket science, but most could never make it as one. Anybody can learn the basics of recruiting and feal good about their progress in the first month or two of starting a new recruiting career. While the unsuspecting may look at recruiting as a fun service position bringing together employers and candidates in holy employment matrimony, the reality is that it is sales. Well why do you say it like that? what is wrong with sales? Absolutely nothing, in fact many will argue that sales is the most rewarding professional endeavor a person could undertake.
Selling a product or service is exciting and challenging and can be immensely rewarding financially. Most people say out loud at some point in their life that they could never see themselves as a salesperson. Let's clear something up. The loud, aggressive, and brash salesman stereotype is far from accurate. That stereotype developed over the years because this kind of salesperson is so rare and unforgettable when you meet him or her. Of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of salespeople we encounter in a lifetime, it is often this type that we do not forget. If it makes you feel any better, that type of salesperson probably isn't in sales anymore. They are probably an email spammer or in some other job trying to find an easy way to making a buck.
Actually, the best salespeople are low key. They are extremely intense listeners and they are the kind of people you like to be around. They ask questions, usually look sharp, have a quiet confidence about them, and they are often willing to pick up the tab! They are extremely helpful. In fact, if you need help moving, putting up a fence, or anything, they will be there with a smile on their face ready to go to work. Just don't forget the pizza and beer. Well, that's me you say? You are that person. Probably so, but there is another aspect of sales that is key for success.
Outward appearance and actions says one thing, but the mark of a truly successful salesperson is what is going on inside. You can learn a lot about sales from tapes and books, but there is one aspect of sales that is difficult to teach and it involves what is going on upstairs, in your head. In fact, you can find an endless amount of information on how to be a great recruiter or salesperson from industry "experts" and supposedly highly accomplishment salespeople, but it will never assure success. There is some good sales profession information available, but most of what you get out of it will externally motivate you, not internally motivate you. Unfortunately, you can't easily instill or teach someone to a have a burning fire of desire internally, which is what success in sales requires.
Sales is about persistence, resilience, confidence, and an intense amount of personal desire and motivation. You will need to be able to overcome rejection, lots of rejection. Most people can't stand the rejection they get in sales. It wears on them and they replay in their head. The ability to overcome rejection and keep moving forward diligently is something that that you can't pick up from a book or seminar. You either have it or you do not. Sure, you can develop some of the mental qualities required for sales, but you better work really hard at it. Most don't take the time to do it, which is why 1/3 are going into sales and 1/3 are leaving at any one time. By the way, if you are in sales or going to make a serious go at it, you better have a library of sales and motivation tapes and books. In your car or at your desk, you better have tapes going at all times. Really successful salespeople aren't listening to the radio.
In combination with the mental factors of success and a pleasing personality, you also need to be an extremely focused,efficient, and persistent worker. In fact, most sales manager would take someone new in sales that is lacking personality but is a hard worker. The diligent, focused, and hard working person will eventually outperform Mr. Personality every time. If you can combine the two, look out. You will have the making of an outstanding salesperson who will reap all of the monetary and personal benefits the profession has to offer.
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