Recruiting is a great profession. I would say it is a calling. I say this because YOU rarely find recruiting. Most often it is RECRUITING that finds you.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Me, I wanted to President of the United States. Good thing for all of us that didn't happen. I can promise you this; you probably didn't want to be a recruiter when you grew up.
Little kids don't grow up wanting to be recruiters. They don't call their friends and invite them over for a nice game of "Headhunter", "Sourcing" or "Let's Hire Someone Today".
This is a calling that seeks YOU out.
It is not for the faint of heart and it's not a place to tread water until something better comes along. It is also not a place to start your "HR Career", though sadly many do just that. Many companies throw gas on this misinformation fire by making recruiting the entry level position to human resources when exactly the opposite should be true. HR roles should be the entry level roles to recruiting.
So many start recruiting and try it and so many fail to succeed. It is the Ironman Triathlon of careers.
Recruiting provides unsurpassed and unlimited opportunity for anyone who is prepared to commit themselves. This is especially true in third party recruiting.
In this "opportunity" lies the great trapping of recruiting. It lures in the uncommitted with promises of large fee's, excitement and adventure; the thrill of the hunt.
It teases you into "giving it a try". "I love to work with people so I decided to be a recruiter" are words like nails on a chalkboard to seasoned recruiters.
Those drawn to this craft without a firm grasp of real commitment, without knowledge of the ups and downs, close their eyes and visualize success as though it has already happened.
But guess what? Your degree doesn't matter. Your profession doesn't matter. Your title doesn't matter. Your specific industry or position specific expertise doesn't matter. Who you know doesn't matter. What you have read doesn't matter. Your qualifications and test scores don't matter. Your resume doesn't matter. How much money you have made doesn't matter. None of these will be of help to you in the recruiting world.
What matters is you - how committed are you? How hard will you work? Will you focus on recruiting activity development (being RAD as I call it) or just focus on activity?
Only YOU can help YOU. It is YOU.
This is what levels the playing field. This is what separates those that DO and those that DON'T; those that win and those that lose in recruiting.
It all comes down to YOU.
How hard are YOU willing to work? How often will YOU pick yourself help when you fall or make a mistake? How much perseverance do YOU have? How thick is YOUR skin? How willing are YOU to learn and try new things? How much time will YOU invest in being RAD? How do YOU value meaningful relationships? How many times will YOU pick up the phone to build those relationships? This list goes on for a while as you can well imagine.
Because it is about you, the individual, so many fail. So many come here and leave; so many have recruiting on their resume with a date in the past. They come, they fight and they fail. They fail because there are no excuses to be made when it is you. You can't pass the buck, there is no one left to blame, entitlement is out the window and old man accountability is in your face. You don't eat, pay bills or live unless you perform.
Do you love it or do you fear it?
Maybe a little of both?
It should be a little of both if you are honest with yourself.
It is YOU!
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