6 Habits of Highly Successful People Recruiters Should Follow

Creating a uniquely structured lifestyle has helped many of the world’s most successful people we recognize today – from Obama to Steve Jobs, Tony Robbins, Gisele Bündchen and many more. They prioritize specific daily habits, knowing that it will help them accomplish goals in the long run.

We all aspire to be the best versions of ourselves and seek successful outcomes in everything we do. If you’ve been wondering how to become an even better recruiter, then keep on reading. The most accomplished people are doing these things, and so should you…

Wake up early

Highly successful people are early risers. Tom Corley, an author, conducted a five-year study of 177 self-made millionaires and found that about 50% of them woke up at least three hours before their workday began. Are you wondering which well-known folks are early risers? Here are just a few of them:

• Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, starts his morning routine at 3:45 a.m.
• Indra Nooyi, Director of Amazon, wakes up at 4 a.m. and is in the office by 7 a.m.
• Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, wakes up at 5:45 a.m. to exercise before work
• Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, starts her day at 5:45 a.m. by playing tennis

Waking up early allows you to fit in plenty of time to complete difficult (or time-consuming) tasks without interruptions. You can choose to get your exercise routine out of the way or check emails before you arrive at the office. Whatever you do, make sure you’re setting yourself up for a productive day ahead.

Reading

Successful, wealthy people devote 30 minutes or more each day to read materials that either educate them, or help their wellbeing.  These people typically gravitate to biographies, history and self-help books. Carving out time everyday to learn and expose yourself to new ideas stimulates your mind.

For example, if you want to know how to be a good recruiter, you should consider reading tips and insight from industry experts every single day. Reading books on how to strengthen your communication and presentation skills are examples of beneficial materials. Simply put, reading and gaining new knowledge is essential to achieving success.

Exercising

Everyone knows that exercise is good for overall health—but did you know that exercise can help you focus and concentrate better? This is neuroscientific research that Anders Hansen, author of The Real Happy Pill: Power Up Your Brain by Moving Your Body, revealed in his work. Exercise also slows the brain’s aging process.

It’s no wonder that highly successful people prioritize exercise. It keeps them in top physical shape and sharpens their mind. As a recruiter, you always want to be on your A-game—you have to field questions and concerns from clients and candidates (and sometimes put out “fires”). Daily exercise will help you keep you on your toes at all times.

Making time for hobbies

Contrary to what you might expect, these workaholics do fit in “me time” for themselves. Having a hobby outside of work is important for self-care. As well as being enjoyable, creative hobbies can actually help people perform better at their jobs.

Bill Gates enjoys playing bridge while Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, likes to bake in her spare time. When speaking with San Francisco magazine, she said “my hobbies actually make me better at work…They help me come up with new and innovative ways of looking at things.”

Hobbies are also an excellent way to connect with others. It gives you something to talk about and relate to with candidates—an easy but effective way to build a strong rapport.

Improve communication skills

Some of today’s most successful icons emphasize the importance of having strong communication skills. After all, what’s the use of having great ideas if you can’t communicate them properly? When asked to share some advice to young graduates, Warren Buffett—well-known investor and billionaire—said this:

“Invest in yourself. One easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now at least is to hone your communication skills. If you can’t communicate, it’s like winking at a girl in the dark: Nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you’ve got to be able to transmit it.”

As a recruiter, it’s a no-brainer that you need to have sharp communication skills. You speak with candidates and clients every day; as you hone your written and verbal communication skills, you’ll become even better at engaging candidates and closing deals. Tim Ferris, author and host of The Tim Ferris Show, enjoys practicing his communication skills through continued lessons and seminars, including the renowned Toast Masters community. Give it a try!

Time management

Time is money, and successful people don’t like to waste one minute. If they need to attend meetings, they keep them short and productive. Take Sheryl Sandberg. The Facebook COO and Lean In founder uses a notebook for meetings. In it, she’s adopted a checklist system to help attendees stay on track.

As she goes through each bullet point, she checks it off once it’s been covered. The meeting is over once every point has a checkmark. If the meeting gets off track, she brings it back to the bulleted list. With this system, there’s no room to drag meetings on—all of the important points get discussed and that’s it.

Recruiters have jam-packed days. While you can use Sandberg’s approach to stay focused, there are several tools and systems available to manage your time efficiently. When used effectively, an applicant tracking system can significantly cut time spent on menial activities – freeing up your day to focus on important tasks.

How to be a good recruiter

Taking the time to develop and improve your mind and body is vital to securing long-term success. While you may not be able to practice every single habit we discussed right away, it’s okay to start small. Choose one (or a few) that you know you can follow through on a daily basis. Then do them EVERY DAY until they become habit. At that point, throw in another challenge. Be consistent and prioritize yourself and your time, then watch your recruiting success flourish!

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