Regular contact
This one is an exceptionally fine line and difficult to get right. You can’t disappear off the face of the earth once they’ve signed the contract, and similarly, you can’t blow up their phone every week because it’s annoying. In the first week or two of their new job keep in touch to make sure everything is going okay and they’re happy in their new environment. Then ease off. Give them some space, but make sure every couple of months you’re reaching out to them. We built Access Recruitment CRM to help consultants stay in touch with their candidates with customisable emails, reminders and bespoke dashboards.
Make it social
When you do reach out to candidates, keep things social and friendly. It allows you to build your relationship and not make everything about business. Of course it always is about business somewhere as you need them and they need you, but that’s not to say you can’t make friends along the way. Take them out for dinner or lunch or drinks. Relax, have fun, enjoy yourselves and try not to talk about business too much. And always, always, make it about them. How they’re doing, their family, dreams, ambitions etc. You get the picture.
Ask them for advice
Your candidates are specialist in their areas and subject matters, and as such have their fingers on the pulse. They know what’s going on in the market and are aware of upcoming trends. Asking them for advice is a good excuse to meet and build the relationship, it’s also a good way to keep yourself aware of what’s going on in an industry you recruit for. Not to mention, everyone likes to be asked for their opinion. It makes people feel good. And if you have the opportunity to make your candidate feel good, you should absolutely take it.
Ask for feedback
Everyone needs feedback and constant evolution is imperative in this world. Ask your candidates what they enjoyed and hated about the recruiting process and what you could do better. It’s not always easy to sit and listen to criticism of any sort, but it will help you understand what you should and shouldn’t be doing with your candidates. Even if they only tell you the things that are relevant to them, it will still help you improve relationships with them personally at the very least.
Be there
It’s easy to dismiss the candidates we no longer need, but remember, everything in recruiting especially comes back around. You will need them again one day, and you want to be in good standing when that does happen. Take their calls, listen to their concerns and always reply to the emails. It will do you the world of good in the long run, we promise.
Hear from our CRM specialist on why Access Recruitment CRM software can place more candidates quicker: