Get out of your jim jams and meet your candidatesPosted almost 4 years ago by Nick Boulton

A while ago I wrote a blog about how important it was to meet your candidates. Oh, I remember those balmy day, being able to stroll to the pub, have a beer or six with a candidate, build a relationship, trust, empathy...

BAM! Covid-19 and the biggest reality check of our careers.

So, building a relationship just got a lot harder. Rocking up to interview a candidate or take a job description from a client at their home could, be frowned upon somewhat.

Your mind-set shouldn’t change. The old rules of the game still apply. We’re a people business and you need to invest time in people.

But you do need to change your tactics.

Here are some truths you need to realise while working at home.

1. It has never been easier to get hold of anyone. I mean, where else are they going to be?
2. There is a huge desire for market intel and information about what’s happening in the tech sector.
3. People are looking for a dollop of positivity.

If you can provide any of these, you will become a valued, trusted and important part of a job hunt or recruitment process.

But… there’s one mistake you’ll make without even realising it – and it’s a biggie.

I bet most recruitment consultants are relying purely on the phone at the moment, even more so than usual. Makes sense, right? It’s your safety blankie when things get tough.

NO, I say! You need face time, even if it’s via webcam.

Get out of your jim-jams, put aside your pipe, slippers and hair curlers, have a shower and put on something a little more respectable. If you do decide to sit in your underwear from the waist down, make sure your camera only has your top half showing, I’m talking from experience here….

You need to be thinking:

• How can you form the strongest relationship with your candidates?
• How can you make them feel comfortable and at ease, at what is a very scary time to be looking for a job?
• How do you convey poise, professionalism and confidence, even now?

The easy option is to hide behind your phone and join the long list of faceless consultants they have spoken to, but why not make more effort? Hit-up Zoom conference, Google hangout or Facetime – Show your adoring audience of clients and candidates you’re still in the game and happy to ‘meet’.

Human interaction (and not just with your family) is what we all crave most at the moment. Seeing the expression on people’s faces when you know you have nailed the right job for them, found them their perfect candidate, or your colleagues shared joy in a job well done, really does give you a boost.

So why should that change now?

Different times call for different methods and tactics.

Your candidates and clients are doing video conferencing and interviews all the time, so why shouldn’t you be doing the same?

So dust off the work clobber, tidy the decks of beer cans, wine bottles and last weeks laundry and try change your “three day bender” look, into bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready for business.