How to Excel as a Contract Recruiter
Published: 15/10/2021
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In this article, we want to help recruitment consultants to excel in their careers. A contract recruiter gets to wear many hats, but one must not spread themselves too thin. So, what should your priorities be?
The landscape of recruitment agencies is known to be highly competitive. As independent working has been steadily scaling, contract recruitment specifically branched out to become its own industry.
Although this created a new market, the contractor hiring space is just as competitive. Most contractors are senior in terms of their skills and the permanent job market is facing a shortage of experienced workers. In other words, contractor acquisition can get very expensive for contract recruitment companies.
This is why they should focus on retention and low turnover rates. Simply put, keeping a contractor long-term is much cheaper than replacing one after every placement. And the art of ensuring they stick around is contractor management.
Contract recruiters help their clients find and connect with outsourced niche specialists for temporary work placement. It can be defined by a time frame, the duration of a project or focused on a specific task.
Here is what goes into contract recruitment:
matching relevant contract workers with clients who are looking for their specific skills;
taking ownership of the collection and maintenance of the contractor’s documentation;
being the middle person between the contractor and the client in the event of performance-related issues;
a constant stream of communication and feedback with the contractors.
The above-provided list may not look like much. And yet, each of the points can be broken into a separate set of skills. To save time, repetition and explaining the differences, we instead outlined three key stills for an outsourced workforce recruiter.
A recruiter can be a high performer even if their technical knowledge is a little shaky. On the other hand, a recruiter who has no personal relationships with the contractors is more likely to damage the agency in the long run.
When we have a relationship with someone, we are naturally more empathetic and understanding of their circumstances. We are less inclined to view them as a cog in the corporate machine. Through human connection, we get to understand their thoughts and feelings better, becoming more willing to forgive their errors.
So, if a contract recruiter who’s kept a close rapport with their contracts makes a mistake, it is less likely to be a big deal. When contractors form a relationship with their agent, they develop trust in their goodwill and genuine attempts to help them secure a suitable placement. Based on a personal connection, they will be more forgiving of occasional hiccups.
But when there is no connection, the contractors won’t take a mistake from their side as lightly. Even if there’s a good reason why an otherwise over-achieving recruiter underperformed, it’s irrelevant to the other party. They have no relationship, therefore their circumstances don’t matter to the contractors; only the result.
This is an easy example of how being genuinely invested in the success of your contractors will keep them around. Relationship building is a key skill to becoming great in contract recruitment.
Remaining mindful of details is both, technical knowledge and a people skill. Recruitment is filled with little things to pay attention to. And therefore, attention to details is crucial for a successful contract recruiter.
The smallest error like a typo in an invoice can have disastrous consequences. A single mistyped number can lead to substantial losses. Legal issues, even. From a relationship perspective, it is likely to land a blow on the trust between you and the client/contractor. One that’s difficult to recover from, while at it.
But to err is humans, is it not? Is there a way to avoid those little yet impactful admin mistakes? Yes! Our Recruitment software is built to minimise the need for manual data insertion. It therefore takes away the need to be extra vigilant and wins back the time spent typing and checking.
But process automation doesn’t mean the skill of being attentive to details is no longer relevant. It simply allows you to focus on areas that require human judgment. Being attentive still remains vital when managing contractor and client communications, providing feedback and setting goals.
To summarise, most of the focus-driven manual tasks can be passed to automation. However, this means you need to re-invest that focus into tasks centring on human interactions.
The recruiter’s role is heavily focused on collecting and distributing information to relevant people. There is a lot of administrative work involved, which can only be successful when a steady flow is established. Given high volumes of documentation that differ in nature and importance, a recruiter needs to be highly organised. Shortcomings in this department can hurt the whole agency and its relationships with clients. The right software can help you with that.
Namely, a centralised document storage platform. Most SaaS tools already come with it as a module, meaning you won’t need a separate system. However, while digital software makes organisational tasks easier, your human input will still be needed. Scheduling calls, 1:1 meetings, feedback delivery and other processes require your direct involvement. To an extent, they can also be automated via integrations of different solutions - but more on that in the next chapter.
Core responsibilities of contract recruitment can be aided by software. And the market is filled with solutions that cater to any demands. Application Tracking Services (ATS), Client Relationship Management (CRM), time tracking solutions, e-signature services and many other digital aides are designed to allow you to focus on people by reducing manual work.
We have briefly touched upon how integrations can expand your automation opportunities. It is a topic of its own because integrations enable seamless business scaling. They allow the software you currently use to grow along with your organisation.
Integrations unlock new functionality of your digital toolset that would otherwise be unavailable. For example, by integrating an ATS with a work management system, you will have the contractor’s billing details and placement information appear on both platforms by only filling it in one.
Additionally, different solutions collect different bits of information. They then put them together in a context that enables you to spot patterns, find new opportunities and mitigate risks.
Recruitment agency workers work with documents a lot. High volumes increase the probability of errors which can turn out very costly. Let’s expand on a previously mentioned centralised document management system. Its functionality isn’t limited to storing files only.
There may be other features added to aid document management. For example, Timesheet Portal integrates with a digital document signing solution. Instead of exporting, signing and re-uploading a signed document, you can sign it directly on the platform.
Our system is also designed to keep track of the documentation status of your contractors. Using Timesheet Portal, you can easily spot missing documents and keep an eye on certificate expiration dates.
Working with personal data, security and data protection measures must always be at the top of your priority list. When using SaaS software, it becomes the provider’s responsibility. The developer is under obligation to ensure the platform’s security alongside affiliated integrations and networks.
SaaS vendors use different methods of data encryption to prevent data breaches. Some even give you full control over encryption keys, therefore stripping themselves of the ability to decrypt your company’s data.
However, security measures will vary depending on the provider. While some will go the extra mile to protect your data, others provide the bare minimum. Here’s a useful guide on what questions to ask to determine whether the vendor can be trusted.
Our online timesheet software for recruitment agencies is built to cater to contract recruitment needs. We provide deep knowledge and coverage of construction, healthcare, IT, education, and other industries. Rich in integration options, Timesheet Portal is a valuable addition to any digital toolset. Whether you’re just starting to build yours or are looking to upgrade, it’s a great addition to your strategy.
Smoother contract management was the primary goal when Timesheet Portal was launched in 2006. The additional features, integrations and customisation options came based on feedback from our clients. We are focused on delivering exactly what the market needs, not what we presume it wants. To learn more about our story and values, visit our About Us page.
Being a contract recruiter is a tasking job. Being a successful one is an art, relying on a perfect balance of technical and human skills. While there is no short way to becoming the industry’s best, there are certainly little tips and tricks that will unveil a couple of shortcuts.
One of them is adopting an integrated software toolbox to minimise manual tasks. You can then focus on polishing skills that get better with practice. Just like any job, contract management requires resilience, patience and consistency. But it doesn’t mean you can’t use tools to aid the process.
Are you ready to become a star contractor recruiter? Let us know or, even better, let us help you.