Right now, students everywhere are returning to school with renewed energy and curiosity; however, they’re not the only ones with the opportunity to begin anew. The start of a new season marks the perfect time to think about revitalizing your recruitment strategy with the following “back to school” tips:

Ensure you have the proper supplies. Every student needs fresh supplies to equip themselves for the coming school year, such as notebooks, textbooks and laptops. Take stock of the resources you already have and see what needs refreshing. Is your technology out of date? Have you been neglecting your network of talent? Do your source and screen strategies feel stale? Consider adding something entirely new to your process, such as one of the the latest recruitment technologies available.
Establish rules. Almost every classroom has its own rules, like waiting your turn to speak and refraining from shoving. Take a cue from this idea and think of guidelines you can establish for yourself to streamline your recruitment process. Perhaps you could block off 15 minutes a day to read relevant industry news, force yourself to attend an industry networking event once a month, or create a reminder to check in with candidates once a week. Staying organized, establishing goals and keeping yourself accountable will ultimately help you provide a better experience for both candidates and clients. Even if you’re the only one who knows about your rules, stick to them. (Naturally, “no shoving” should be a rule everywhere).
Make new friends. The start of the school year allows students to catch up with old friends – and each new class provides an opportunity to meet new people. Follow the example of the most outgoing students and work to establish and strengthen relationships. Get to know your candidates better by checking in with them on a regular basis (see #2 above). Knowing their personalities and working style will help you find them a better match. You could also benefit from engaging with professionals outside your organization. Consider joining a professional association such as the American Staffing Association, the Society for Human Resources Professionals or Staffing Industry Analysts in order to network with industry peers and meet new people (e.g. potential clients and candidates). You may learn something that’s beneficial to you and your team.
Do your homework and then some: Every year in school is about advancing, learning new skills and increasing your knowledge. Top students often go beyond the minimum requirements to stay ahead. Likewise, you can “go beyond” with clients and candidates by providing superior service. Show them that you’re an invaluable resource by becoming a trusted expert in your field. How?  Take the initiative to educate yourself on industry news, recruitment trends and talent intelligence with the many free resources available – from industry newsletters to webinars. Such efforts will not only help you become a subject matter expert in your “major” of recruiting, but they’ll give you the intelligence you need to find the best and brightest candidates.


Don’t limit yourself to waiting for a new year to make changes – feel free to turn over a leaf no matter what month it is. You can capture the “school spirit” at any time and create new habits.


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