What Does It Take To Become a Recruiter?
Today we are talking with Stafferty Baltics Head of Recruitment Department Gintarė Levickienė, who shares her thoughts with us on what the work of a recruitment specialist is like and what character traits and skills are needed so that, after trying this speciality a person will understand that this is his or her destiny.
Gintarė, we would like to begin with a simple, maybe even trite question – how did you understand that recruitment is something that you want to do in life?
“I would say that it was an easy decision that I made even before I started climbing a serious career ladder. I studied psychology at university and the reason behind my choice was purposeful: the inner world of a human attracts me. I am interested in everyone, I always feel a strong desire to know others, understand their needs and help them find answers in the most important moments of their lives.
Before starting my career at Stafferty, I conducted self-awareness training, where we explored stress management and personal effectiveness together with the attendees of my courses. I also provided advice on career choices.
Knowledge of psychology, face reading and personality typology methodologies are especially useful in my career. So, I feel the strongest in human resources and recruitment because I can share my experience and knowledge.
The decision to change jobs or even career paths is an important step in everyone's life, so I feel a strong sense of meaning when I can help someone else find the job they love or the employer of their dreams.”
When you started working in recruitment, did you encounter any difficulties that no one warned you about?
“I have this attitude - every job has its own specific challenges, but a person can overcome all of them if he or she is seeking to find a solution. Personally, I have never emphasized the challenges of my profession. I see every difficult situation as a unique opportunity to gain experience and learn something new.“
What do you think are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of working as a recruiter?
"Every recruitment specialist has an extraordinary opportunity to get to know and delve into various and unusual specialities and positions, each selection is like a unique opportunity to broaden your horizons. In addition, you undoubtedly develop excellent communication, negotiation, and project management skills.
I would name the current situation of the labor market, when there is a shortage of workers in all professional fields, as a difficulty in the recruitment world. This forces the employer to change: to improve employee search tools and search and selection processes."
What personal qualities, in your opinion, are the most important to become a recruitment specialist?
"In the field of personnel search and selection, a sincere interest in people, the desire to understand and get to know them, and help them on their career path plays a huge part, so I would emphasize these character traits. The recruitment specialist should also be communicative and not afraid to interact, have an open personality, and be able to establish a relationship with the candidate from the first moment."
Aside from character traits, what skills do a recruiter need most?
"In order to organize the recruitment process smoothly and efficiently, very good time planning and project management skills are required. Good negotiation skills, the ability to find a compromise with candidates, clients or employers, and mutually beneficial solutions should not be excluded from this list."
Do you have any advice for those who would like to step in the recruitment specialist’s shoes?
"If you think that the field of recruitment attracts you and you would like to try to become one, the most important thing is to just do it, right? Only after trying and gaining some experience, you can answer the question 'How do I feel in this position?' and consider what your future career in the field of recruitment could be."
