So why do we keep hearing prominent figures in the recruitment industry telling us about how poor the general standards of recruiters are? It’s an easy band wagon to jump on and probably the easiest way to find common ground with someone who’s had a bad experience, but is perpetuating bad PR a productive way to tackle this issue?

All recruitment models work best when they are implemented in partnership with clients and candidates. The expectation of a poor service can too often become a self-fulfilling prophesy. We’ve all been there: a client or a candidate believes they will receive a poor service, so they hold you at arms length; you can’t form a full working relationship and are not in the best position to help. Of course I’m not suggesting we look at the industry through rose tinted glasses, nor am I suggesting that we ask our customers for blind faith, but those of us who have a voice in recruitment should be using it to champion the successes and good, ethical practices that are developing, as well as the areas that need to be worked on.

The past two years has seen sweeping changes across recruitment. Treacherous market conditions, the rise of the outsourced solution and ever advancing social media technologies have pushed recruiters to raise standards.

The ’CV scattergun’ approach is being beaten back by the use of social media to network and generate a greater number of unique and passive candidates.

Using sites such as LinkedIn as a method of referrals, referencing and testimonials is allowing clients and candidates to see which recruiters deliver against expectation. E-reputations are increasingly important. The last two years gave us all a refresher course in why you should stay close to your clients. In doing so many recruitment businesses know more about their clients, work more closely with them and as a result deliver a higher standard.

Recruiters are increasing their market knowledge. Most people now have the web at their fingertips, so there are no excuses not to do research. In turn this information, along with closer partnerships with clients, is allowing for better advice and better prepping of candidates.

As a result recruitment is staging one of the best bounce backs from the recession of any sector. But these accomplishments are beset by the cliched cries of ’it wasn’t like this in my day’ and even worse, the covert sales pitch of ’everybody in the industry is terrible… with the exception of me, of course’. These are not helping your cause. The industry cannot raise its profile as a respected professional service and effect a change in mindset if we are inwardly cynical.

Change needs to be driven by progressive industry professionals rather than governing bodies or trade associations. As recruiters we should be proactive towards finding solutions and this issue is no different. Inward and outward perceptions need to be proactively changed along with practical changes to how we operate. So drive change; do not be satisfied with how it is now, strive for continuous improvement, but please, please stop the incessant banging of the ’standards in recruitment are so poor’ drum - it’s not getting us anywhere.
Richard Clarke is sales director for Midas Rec2Rec