11:45 – Q&A with Zack & Justin

In this week's 11:45, Zack Jaynes and Justin Wilkins shared their insights on effective recruitment strategies, client management, and industry trends. The discussion covered a range of topics including sourcing techniques, job order management, and communication methods in an evolving recruitment landscape.

Key Takeaways:

Balanced Workload Management: Maintain a strategic approach to job orders and marketing efforts.

• Both Zack and Justin aim to work on 5-10 job orders at a time
• They strive for a 50/50 split between working job orders and marketing efforts
• Emphasize the importance of saying "no" to maintain focus on quality searches

LinkedIn-Centric Sourcing: Leverage LinkedIn as the primary tool for candidate identification and outreach.

• Zack estimates 80% of his sourcing efforts are conducted through LinkedIn
• Justin also heavily relies on LinkedIn, particularly for initial candidate identification
• Both use Boolean search techniques within LinkedIn Recruiter for targeted results

Multi-Channel Communication Strategy: Employ a variety of methods to connect with candidates effectively.

• Initial outreach often begins with a LinkedIn connection request or InMail
• Follow up with text messages for a more personal touch and higher response rates
• Use phone calls sparingly, reserving them for highly promising candidates or scheduled conversations

Relationship-Based Marketing: Focus on established connections for more effective marketing efforts.

• The majority of marketing efforts target existing client relationships
• Cold outreach to new potential clients yields lower success rates but can occasionally open new doors
• Use redacted candidate summaries when approaching new clients to generate interest

Exclusive Search Partnerships: While not always attainable, exclusive searches can be highly valuable.

• Zack doesn't typically ask for exclusivity but values the trust in established client relationships
• Justin sees exclusivity as a double-edged sword with both advantages and potential drawbacks. He prefer to have retainers in place when working on exclusive searches.
• Benefits: Allows for focused effort and deeper engagement with the search
• Challenges: Can be limiting if the search becomes difficult or the client isn't offering competitive compensation based on the market

By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your recruitment effectiveness and build stronger, more productive relationships with both clients and candidates. Remember, the key to success in this industry lies in balancing efficiency with personalized service, always striving to provide value to both sides of the recruitment equation.