4 Useful Tips for a Contract Recruiter
Published: 19/04/2021
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This article is aimed at recruitment managers and executives who focus on supplying contracted workers. Digital transformation in recruitment has created many opportunities to accelerate growth for both parties. The tips in this blog are designed to build and maintain relationships with contract workers to foster mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships.
Contract recruitment can be highly competitive. Therefore, recruiters face constant pressure to place contractors quickly and efficiently. A significant part of your success as a contract recruiter depends on the quality of communication you provide.
We aren’t just discussing conversational skills. A valuable communication experience is built by being organised, responsive, helpful, resourceful, and attentive to detail. This can be challenging, which is why adopting technology to assist you is essential.
Contractor recruiters are often overlooked, even within the industry. Therefore, there aren’t many tips aimed at them. However, we have a couple to share. Here are our top practices:
Building and nurturing relationships with contractors;
Working with other industry specialists;
Automating where possible;
Staying organised.
Let’s delve into each of them in greater detail.
Good relationships with a wide network of contractors are essential for success in contract recruitment. You must be attentive, maintaining contact with individuals through phone conversations and networking events. Contractors are not merely individuals who take up contracts; they also possess a wealth of knowledge and insight into the industry. If they appreciate you enough, they can provide valuable market information.
Working with the contractors, you shouldn’t rely too heavily on recruitment through social media and job ads. The truth is that it will only take you so far. The pool of contacts you know to be reliable and professional, however, is like gold dust. Keep up with people and maintain relationships to stay ahead.
A good practice to maintain contact without being overly persistent is to begin using a CRM platform. This way, you can easily set up automated email notifications to inform contractors when a relevant opportunity arises. Provide them with a way to indicate whether they are interested, and if they are, follow up accordingly.
It can be a horrible feeling to realise that all your usual clients are experiencing a quiet period and do not require your services for some time. How do you bring in new clients to fill the gap? Again, your network is a great point of contact. Contractors and colleagues may have valuable tips about industry players who are looking to recruit. They may even be able to make an introduction for you if you ask nicely.
Old-fashioned market mapping is also where having a large, diverse network can be very helpful. When you identify the company you want to reach out to, a larger list of contacts increases your chances of knowing someone with connections in that organisation. Confirm with them whether the company of interest would benefit from your services. If so, all you need to do is ask to be introduced.
LinkedIn automation tools like Expandi can also help you maintain relationships within your network significantly. Simply set it to send a message or two each day to 10 contacts you haven't spoken to in months. This way, you will stay in touch and strengthen your professional relationships.
LinkedIn is far from the only place where you can utilise automation as a tool for building relationships. For example, you can streamline processes that reduce the burden of administrative work for contractors, such as invoicing. This will save their valuable time and can result in loyalty and goodwill moving forward.
The processes we recommend automating are billing and payroll. We have designed our Recruitment product to assist you with just that. It’s a centralised platform for online timesheets, online expenses, client invoicing, pay, document signing, document management, and much more. All of this can save contractors a great deal of back-office hassle.
The streamlined service provided by Timesheet Portal can foster strong relationships with your contractors, enhancing the likelihood that they will return to you in the future.
Being a good recruitment agent means understanding your clients' needs and your contractors' offerings. You need an accurate picture of availability and terms. Equipped with this knowledge, you can secure deals as promptly as possible.
For example, if a client calls to discuss a project, you are more likely to secure the work if you have a prepared list of contractors. The process will be even quicker if you have their availability and recent CVs with references readily available.
If you’re discussing an opportunity with contractors, you will make better progress by informing them of pay rates and start dates. You want to avoid the vague period where you say you’ll check and get back to someone. This is when the door is left wide open for a competitor.
Effective administration will support your success. The best way to stay organised is to keep all your documentation in one easily accessible place.
Our Recruitment solution features a centralised document management platform. It is excellent for storing relevant contractor information, such as copies of their documents and past invoices. And it’s always right at your fingertips.
A good contract recruiter must never forget that, at the end of the day, they are working with people. A trust-driven relationship begins with empathy and a genuine interest in providing value to the other party.
By consistently being relevant and helpful, you will build long-term connections with your contacts and clients. This is not an easy task, but you don’t have to shoulder it all alone. Technology is on your side.
Are you curious about how our software can help you build and maintain work relationships? Sign up for a free trial and discover it for yourself.