Good news! Job-hunting and recruiting doesn’t have to be daunting or difficult. Working with a recruiter can be a match made in heaven as a recruiter will act as the middle-ground, facilitating the hiring process between the jobseeker and potential employers. We sat down with General Manager Mike Westbury to bust the myths associated with engaging a recruiter, and get into the nitty gritty of what recruitment really entails. Read more below to find out how recruiters define success and why it can be one of the most rewarding industries to get into. 

The basics

Recruiters act as a go-between for both the jobseeker and the employer – but how does this process work? It can go two ways; either an employer has a need/job vacancy they need to recruit for, or a One Eighty recruiter meets with a jobseeker who they know will be well suited to a potential employer. Once One Eighty has met with the employer and collected a detailed job brief, understood the company culture and other specific information, a One Eighty recruiter will actively source, advertise and engage potential job seekers. On the other side, One Eighty recruiters will continuously meet with jobseekers who might be a fit for clients/employers and then the recruiter uses a network of clients on file to find a potential match and arrange an interview. If successful post-interview and recruitment process, the recruiter will maintain a relationship to ensure all is going smoothly.

Defining success

A good result for a recruiter can be defined by the success of the placement from both the employer and the employee’s perspective. This has been One Eighty General Manager, Mike Westbury’s key objective over the years, he says. By going through a thorough process, we can quickly identify if the match isn’t the right one, and it’s the recruiter’s responsibility to let both parties know when this is the case. “It’s a challenging industry,” Mike says, “but an incredibly rewarding one, knowing you are part of a major life decision for someone.”

Stereotypes

The recruitment industry is often associated with several myths, which leads to recruiters being classed in a less than positive light at times. So, what’s the reasoning behind this? Mike says this is mostly due to a lack of regulations in the industry which make qualifications non-essential. Long-term, Mike hopes this won’t be the case and this is why One Eighty chooses to follow up with both parties well into the placement. In this way, the focus is on the relationships built as well as a good result.

Origins

One Eighty have built their reputation from the ground up and these days are known for being leaders in the industry. When asked how One Eighty has grown to where it is now, Mike explains that it’s taken time and hard work to get there. The growth, he says, is organic and the key has been to foster relationships over a long period of time. It was also necessary to find what it was that would help One Eighty stand out in the crowd. Specialising in the ‘built’ environment and construction more generally wasn’t necessarily driven by a gap in the market, he says, but because the industry can be highly relationship and personality driven, so building trust with clients long-term is crucial. In a country like New Zealand, he says, it’s important to embrace our ‘smallness’ and foster those long-term connections where possible, because “most humans genuinely want to help you if you do a good job for them.”

Reflections

If done right, recruitment can be an especially rewarding industry to get into. When asked what he has found most rewarding across his experience in the industry, Mike says it’s the very end of the process – “when you’re closing a deal and succeeding while doing it,” explaining that bringing the two entities together like that gives him a kick. The recognition that comes with the hard work that the One Eighty team as a collective have put in is a bonus, and something he and the team are proud of.

Job-hunting and recruiting can be an overwhelming and challenging process for many people. Unsure where to begin? A recruiter can help with this, acting as the middle ground between you and any potential jobseekers or employers. Given the key role recruiters play, it’s crucial to bust some of the key myths surrounding the industry and what recruiters actually do. Whether you’ve approached a recruiter before, or maybe you’re considering doing so to get help with finding your next job or employee, what are your reflections?