If there is a particular topic on recruiting that I have been asked about over the years more than any other, it is on the subject of: what attributes/personality/skills makes for a good recruiter and what makes the great recruiters stand apart from the rest?

To help us start to come close to an answer I would first of all like to ask you a question or two.  Why do some of the world's technically best sports men and women never break into even the top 50 in their field?  Why do some of the less gifted punch consistently above their weight (no pun intended) and why do some of the most technically gifted and best athletes who are at the top of their game start underperforming by their own extremely high standards?

We all know that the right amount of knowledge and skills, when combined with appropriate personality traits, will make a big difference as to whether someone is technically & emotionally capable of doing any given job.  When we take the role of the recruiter, on paper, you should be able to hire someone who will be able to perform to an agreed minimum acceptable standard every time. But will they all? No of course not.

So, is there something else that can make the difference? Something that can help us make fewer poor hiring decisions?  Something that can help us perform better? The answer I believe is "yes," and it's not just one factor, but three that will make the difference.  Number one is ATTITUDE.  Number two is CONSISTENCY. Number three is ENVIRONMENT. (‘ACE').

All three need to be right for both people and organisations to prosper. There are numerous examples of great recruiters flopping when they move organisations. There are scores of examples of underperforming recruiters positively thriving in a different environment.  Similarly, many recruiters have good weeks and then bad weeks, perhaps a great quarter and then a bad quarter.  That comes down to consistency and not relating to their own performance.  We all know just what a difference the right attitude can make (of employer and employee) to any given outcome.

Therefore, if you are a recruiter and want to be the very best: show the right attitude consistently in an environment that works for you.  Find an organisation that matches your outlook on life - not necessarily for life - but for long enough so you can get where you want to be on your ladder to success. If that ends up being the same organisation for the rest of your career, then all the better.

If you are an employer or manager, then, as well as making sure you do the above for yourself, hire people who will positively thrive in the environment you create. Make them fully aware of what life will be like working for and with you and what will be expected of them.  Be as sure as you can that you and the employee are right for each other.  When they leave, you wish them well knowing you have taken them as far as you can. Be far more concerned about them performing consistently well while they are with you - that way, they will be a lot less likely to leave you in the first place!

Todays Recruitment Blog was provided by Warren Kemp, MD of leading recruitment training company Recruitment Matters International - For information email info@recruitmentmatters.com or call Ken on 0800 0749289 or, if you're overseas, 0044 1945 461561