There are dozens if not hundreds of ways to source for candidates. Often sourcing comes down to your budget and your personality. There are many helpful, industry specific websites. Independent contractor websites, networking websites, and topic specific chat rooms, are starting points. I always consider ROI and that includes my investment of time.
I know companies who spend wisely on traditional media print ads and utilize every scrap of information that's generated from those ads. I tend to opt for the reliable direct contact with passive candidates approach. Why? Because basically I'm lazy and cheap.
Once you develop the skill of asking questions up front that matter most to the candidate and listening carefully to the answers, your focus becomes laser like as you fill the job orders at hand. If you work for yourself and arrange one smart send-out a day, you'll be very successful and very wealthy.
Any website or chat room that provides a name and phone number for someone within the industry you've targeted for recruiting, is a springboard to success, in my opinion. Pick up the phone and talk directly with industry contacts. Keep calls focused and short, until you identify a candidate. Remember, on average, once you're comfortable with the process, you'll find a good candidate for every 13 - 20 (maybe fewer) recruiting calls you make within your targeted industry.
Generally, I don't recommend leaving messages. If someone is particularly hard to reach leave a message like, "Jason, one of your business associates recommended I contact you. My name is John Smith and I'll call you back." No phone number is mentioned. Business people who don't answer their phones or screen their calls to specifically not talk with anyone new miss out on business and opportunities. Business is a contact sport, as are relationships. Focus on the people who DO answer their phone!
Research some software programs that can capture candidate information, securely. Again, keep it simple. If they can complete a short survey on line, that's even better. You don't need every detail of a candidate's life to contact that person and have a short conversation. You're on a hunt. Make sure you know what industry they're in, what position they hold currently, and a little something about their qualifications. Allow candidates to state 3 or 4 of the most important things you should know about them. Don't demand someone take THEIR precious time to complete YOUR application, especially when there's a perception that they'll never hear from you. Ever. Don't just collect resumes.
Qualify the candidate and set up a time for a thorough interview, get names, or move on. Focus on your searches and don't get sidetracked with time wasting busy work. One thing you can trust for sure is this: people appreciate sincere, direct contact with a professional who knows what they're doing and gets to the point. Don't waste anyone's time.
As soon as you know someone fails to meet the criteria of any searches you're working, let them go. "Cindy, You have very solid credentials however they don't match what my current client is looking for....when I have a search that incorporates your background, I'll be back in touch. Thanks for your time." Don't give people the run-a-round.
Manage your process and respect others as you do so and you'll find people will go the extra mile for you when you need it, on a regular basis.
One of the most vitals parts of business planning for real estate professionals is the planning to keep in touch with past clients and prospects. During a recent survey conducted by Reliable Business Solutions in 2007, over 50% of Realtors?? state that the majority of their business comes from past clients and referrals. It can also cost you ten times more to obtain a new client than to keep an existing one. With all that said, follow-up would seem to be the key to a successful business. With all that is involved in the day in the life of a real estate professional, it is possible for vital leads and contacts to fall through the cracks. So what can a real estate professional do to make sure that they keep in touch with these very important leads?
Having a first-rate follow-up plan is as essential in the real estate business as having a high-quality business card. In downtimes, it can produce that much needed closing and in up times it can keep the good times rolling. The key to creating your follow-up plan is to first figure out who you are going to follow-up with. This should be a combination of your sphere of influence, past clients and people who have sent you referrals. Then schedule your follow-up just as you would any other appointment. Remember, this is a necessity in keeping your business going and it should be completed on a consistent and ongoing basis.
One of the major concerns with real estate professionals who are about to implement a follow-up program is what to do if they just don???t have the time to follow-up. Not following up is simply not an option. You either have to make time to do it yourself or find another way of getting it done. If you do not have the time to follow up yourself, there are companies who specialize in providing follow-up management services. These companies provide services such as direct marketing, drip campaigns and cold/warm calling. These services are usually available separately or in a combination depending of your specific needs. For example, you have just sold Mr. and Mrs. Sample a home. The day following their move in date, they receive a basket with all the essentials one would need when moving in to a new home. The next week they receive a thank you for your business card with a how was my service survey. That would be followed up by a phone call to see how things are going in their new home. Once a month, they would receive a direct mail letter or postcard. All of this would be completed on a schedule that you and your follow-up management company have created in advance and you would not even have to lift a finger other than contacting your company to notify them of the addition to your database and which database they should be added to. We are by no means telling you this is how it should be done. This is just an example, but it could be that simple.
If you would rather have a more hands on approach but are still limited on time, some of these companies offer do it yourself packages. These can include form letters, postcard templates, call scripts, sample e-mails and schedules. These are handy for the real estate professional who is just not quite ready to hand over their leads to another company but still need assistance.
There are many ways you can choose to follow-up. The keys to a successful follow-up program Include planning, scheduling and consistency. Image the possibilities when saving money by keeping clients instead of searching for clients. And remember, Happy Follow-up!
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Both Kimberly Schenk & Ben Needles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kimberly Schenk has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Recruiter and Work From Home. Kimberly Schenk has over 25 years experience in business. For 17 of those years she has been an Executive Recruiter and Trainer. She shares her production secrets with Recruiters in her eBook, Top Recruiter Secrets. Kimberly Schenk's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Ben Needles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Anger Control and Business Credit Cards. About the Author (text)Lisa Mullins is President of Reliable Business Solutions. Reliable Business Solutions specializes in providing virtual follow-up and leads management to real estate professionals.. Ben Needles's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.