Recruitment a challenging but rewarding career

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Joan Hefer

Joan Hefer

In order to be successful at recruitment, you need to be a chameleon. You need the speed of Usain Bolt, the energy of Beyonce, the perseverance of Natalie du Toit, the business acumen of Richard Branson, as well as Nelson Mandela’s ability to treat people with dignity and respect.

Being an agent of change does not happen overnight. To be successful in recruitment requires experience, a go-getter approach, a willingness to learn, passion and, above all, a positive attitude.

Someone who has mastered all of this is bound to reap the rewards, not the least of which is generous financial compensation. Indeed, the career of a recruitment consultant can be a lucrative one.

But terms such as “positive attitude” and “go-getter” are very generic these days when it comes to inspirational tales of successful career-making. What does it really take to be successful?

To some, it means an early start. My day begins at 6.15am. If you want to succeed in recruitment, you cannot be a 9 to 5 person.

Not everyone starts their day at the crack of dawn. But putting the hours in is essential. At DAV Professional Placement Group, our consultants typically know that to create opportunities they need to make the most of every moment.

The job is challenging, but if you have the right training and business acumen, you will meet these challenges.

A typical day in the office can throw many curve balls which threaten to ruin carefully laid out plans. For example, clients could suddenly decide to put a position on hold or change the criteria for a particular job. In addition, dealing with people and their personal issues can be tricky. A candidate may initially accept an offer, and then three days later decline it.

You should leave no stone unturned in trying to find a gem when hunting for the perfect candidate.

In this industry, you have tremendous highs and tremendous lows, but when you hit the lows, there is always someone to guide and fully support you through this.

Many junior recruiters look to the successful senior recruiters for inspiration and rely on their guidance. This goes hand-in-hand with continual learning. In our case, we have mentoring and planning sessions with recruiters, and graduates can begin as recruitment co-ordinators.

This system offers excellent opportunities for career development, as junior colleagues can progress to become team leaders. This culture of learning is driven from the top. Our CEO, Ingrid Kast, is a self-confessed knowledge junkie.

The training and learning individuals undergo, underpins several crucial services offered to DAV’s clients. These include the many hours spent interviewing candidates; keeping clients abreast of changes and trends in the labour market; advising them on managing their human capital; and providing insight into their competitiveness regarding salaries and the efficacy of skills retention strategies.

Learning and growing are non-negotiables for us. We are known for having had many training awards bestowed on us.

A career as a recruitment consultant can be hugely gratifying and lucrative. The most rewarding part of our job is that we have the opportunity to make a profound difference to the life of a candidate, as well as the immediate family.

By the same token, we are contributing to SA’s economic upliftment by placing the top 20 percent of professionals in the country, which directly impacts the growth of our economy.

l Joan Hefer is an executive: Talent Resourcing at DAV Professional Placement Group.

For more information, contact her at 011 217 0000.