A
common misconception about recruiters is that we are, in effect, salespeople.
I’ll admit that I held this belief myself before entering recruiting field. I’d
spent the beginning of my career working in customer service and as a
substitute teacher. Some people are naturally talented salespeople and enjoy
the challenge of the sales process. I am not one of those people. I wasn’t
entirely sure about how my skills and my passions would translate into an
industry centred around crafting clever pitches and closing deals. All the
same, I had a feeling that perhaps there was more to it. During my interviews,
everyone I spoke with at Hanover seemed genuine and kind. They didn’t seem like
the salespeople I was accustomed to. I took a leap of faith and accepted the
position of Associate at Hanover last fall.

The
first few months were certainly an intense period of immersion into the world
of recruiting, and the learning curve was steep. There’s much to download when
it comes to what is okay to say and do in the recruiting process. I learned how
to identify candidates who might be open to new opportunities. I also learned
that candidates can be all-in one day and the next day have a complete change
of heart (not my most favourite lesson to date).

The
most important knowledge I’ve gained since starting, however, is that being a
recruiter is so much more than being a salesperson. Our work centers around
providing the opportunity for someone to realize their career aspirations. Not
every opportunity is right for every person, but there is a person who that
opportunity is right for. As recruiters, we are giving a candidate an
experience that they would not normally have by just applying to a job online.
We are here to understand their background and goals. We hold their hand, help
them to prepare for interviews, answer their pressing questions, and assist
with communicating effectively with our client. The service we provide isn’t
just transformative for our clients, but for our candidates as well.