A Millennials Intro to Recruiting

The start to my career in recruiting has been anything but a slow crawl. My search began in early March, and luckily through networking I was able to secure an interview and later on a Full Time internal recruiting position here at NSS RPO. But is that all it really took? A connection? The answer is both yes and no.

Previous summers had been spent getting in where I could, and taking opportunities with the right people. Applying to numerous internships, and getting rejected or even completely ignored. Finally, after deciding to minor in HR, I had secured an internship within Human Resources with a government contractor. Exposed to everything under the sun from generalist tasks to the process behind talent acquisition, I was able to hone in on what I desired to do.

The secret to interning is that you are a cheap asset, companies appreciate the hard work you do for little amount they pay you. Continuing to connect with the managers or co-workers that you interned with can lead to tremendous opportunities. Follow-through is key, unfortunately because of the vast amount of technology that my generation has at its finger tips, this seems to be is somewhat absent. The biggest mistake an intern can make is disappearing from that potential employer’s radar. Despite your internship having completed for the summer, this does mean you should fall off the map. My generation seems to be enticed by instant gratification and the ability to speak with someone, without face to face interaction.

Yes, an email is effective, but something more direct and that is stressed in our industry is phone calls. This generation prefers reaching out via email, or possibly calling after business hours, praying they get the individual’s voicemail. If you have previously interned with a company, reach out prior to college breaks to see if any administrative help is needed. This leaves a strong impression of determination, dedication, and most importantly MOTIVATION. Qualities that employers look for in potential employees.

Thus far, I have enrolled in a great online training which is essentially serving as a large part of my onboarding. Social Talent utilizes they’re website to cover all aspects of basic recruiting, which has served as an awesome foundation for myself. This platform allows you to take the training at your own pace, and covers topics including branding, engaging potential talent, building a recruiter’s network, sourcing, and so much more.

Following my training enrollment, I attended the RecruitDC conference, which is held twice a year. This event is essentially networking heaven for our company. The day is anything but uneventful. Beginning with a keynote speaker, who presented on the topic regarding transforming the way Recruiters currently reach out to candidates. We were then provided with breakout sessions covering topics that could cater specifically to needs of the individual. Our own Founder & CEO, Conor Nicholson, presented on the idea of essentialism and what it takes to be a balanced, successful, focused recruiter. You can look through his phenomenal presentation here. This conference was initially overwhelming with a large attendance and much networking to do, but true to the nature of recruiters, everyone was high energy and ready to meet new people.

So – back to my first question, was a connection really all it took to begin my career? No, because I was driven and had done all of the hard work in order to be proactive in my future. And yes, because my network then proved to be my most valuable asset. Though my knowledge in recruiting is nowhere near my full potential, I know that I have joined a company committed to selective placement and the highest quality network of recruiters and outsourcing. Luckily, I am now supplied with not only the tools and training, but a team of aggressive, successful recruiters to provide me with even further skills.

Emma Sieber is an Internal Recruiter at NSS RPO, a consulting firm that provides on-site and virtual recruiting professionals. Contact NSS RPO to learn about how we can help your organization meet and exceed it’s hiring goals.