What are the most important recruitment skills in a post-Brexit world

It’s been a year since the UK left the EU and the recruitment industry has changed remarkably in a post-Brexit world. The recruitment sector has been affected in a variety of ways and organisations and recruiters have had to adapt to keep up with an evolving market. Working as a recruitment consultant is exciting, challenging and highly rewarding. For people who thrive in competition, the current market provides the ideal environment and here, we discuss the most important skills needed to succeed in a post-Brexit recruitment world.

Promoting growth

Most recruiters will be aware that the UK currently has a record number of vacancies in a range of critical roles including engineering and science. Competition is fiercer than ever, and recruitment consultants have had to adapt to thrive in an ever-changing market. As a result, consultants are finding that it is now more important than ever to build new skills in promising candidates to ensure that they are qualified for more roles.

For consultants, it’s about looking beyond the CV and focusing on the talents and skills that an organisation could nurture to help the candidate become a valuable asset. Identifying the candidate’s skillset and advising on training and guidance is imperative in today’s market and a skill that all recruitment consultants must possess.

Marketing skills

Although primarily a sales role, recruitment consultants should also understand the importance of marketing themselves and their business. They should be an ambassador for their brand and for the brand of their client. In a competitive market, displaying why you and the company you are representing are the best options for the candidate can make a world of difference.

Consultants should be ready to construct their own online and offline networks and share their own knowledge, insights and advice to demonstrate their wider capability. Asserting yourself as a trusted source of valuable recruitment knowledge and information can help you leapfrog your competition. Showing expertise in company branding and the recruitment industry is important in ensuring any consultant can market themselves and their client effectively.

Communication and interpersonal skills

Any consultant with ambitions to be successful within the industry should possess both strong verbal and written communication skills. Effective communication can result in a 25% increase in productivity, so in a market where selling the value of a company takes priority, communication skills are essential. A recruiter will spend a large portion of their day liaising with clients and candidates to understand their requirements, career aspirations and skillsets.

Therefore, it is crucial that a consultant is able to listen and assure all parties that you are providing the best service for their needs. Both clients and candidates need to know that their requirements are understood and being met, and communication is the best way to ensure that they can be confident in your ability. Possessing these skills will allow a consultant to secure a range of top talent for their clients and rapidly progress their career.

Teamwork

Although recruitment can often sound like a solitary role, consultants often find themselves relying on the knowledge of their team to help them succeed. Consultants work closely with colleagues in their own team, as well as other departments within the organisation. In today’s competitive market, it can be tricky to find the perfect candidate for a client’s role.

Recruitment Consultants should be constantly looking for opportunities to use their team members and collaborate to identify a top candidate. Consultants have to be prepared to work together to pitch to clients as well as recommend candidates to one another. Those looking to thrive in recruitment should relish working as a team, both internally and externally.

Put your skills into practice

Now that you know the skills that you need to succeed in a post-Brexit recruitment environment, it’s just a matter of getting out there and putting them to the test.

At Quanta, we’re big believers in personal growth. This is why we offer 1-1 coaching to every team member, no matter their experience. We have award-winning training delivered by our in-house coaching team and external industry leading trainers, who are there to help our employees structure their career plans so they can progress within their roles.

If you’re interested in joining our team, you can learn more about life at Quanta or explore our latest jobs.