These career-altering events, achievements, and goals should be front and center if you want to be a top-shelf recruiter. What you do connects people with their dreams and finds human solutions to practical problems. Add these to your Recruiter’s Bucket List!
Conferences add a lot of value to the industry. You can get the scoop on the latest industry news, learn from the greats who are changing the game, and meet a host of new and familiar faces to extend your network. Start with these top 5 recommendations:
These are movers and shakers in the staffing and recruiting industry. Who are the award-winning leaders and visionaries you aspire to be? Meet these individuals in person if you can, read their books, listen to their podcasts, sign up for their newsletters, reach out on LinkedIn, or join a group they’re in—find ways to soak up everything they have to share. Here are a few heroes and influencers in the recruiting space to follow and connect with:
New tech comes out all the time. With AI seemingly taking over many arenas, HR and recruiting are no exception. Stay abreast of new developments, put them through their paces, and put the best to good use. Check out LinkedIn’s top software recommendations.
A career fair attracts local and burgeoning talent who want to know more or talk to someone face-to-face before jumping into a new role. As a recruiter, you also capture more about who your candidates are that paper resumés simply don’t capture.
Set a goal for your career fair and choose a format that is organic for your niche. Find the best date for your network, location, and venue, and get the word out early and often. Recruit other vendors and industry partners to sponsor and participate. Release resources in advance to promote preparedness and engagement. See more helpful tips from Eventbrite.
Who you have in your circle is directly related to how effective you will be as a recruiter. Your primary function is to connect people with other people. This requires an extensive professional network that’s mutually beneficial for you as a recruiter and the individuals in your circle.
Start goal-setting for your network. How many people do you want to connect with? Hype yourself up on your value and the skills you bring to the table—be confident and excited. Identify key players in your industry and local market. Connect with people you already know and see how far their network extends. Have meaningful conversations with them on shared interests, industry challenges, and more. Seek out opportunities to connect with new people and repeat.
This goes beyond the company you work for and breathes life into what you bring to the table as a professional. Be seen as a recruiter first and an employee second. This will help you stand out in your industry, build trust, and establish credibility. Check out these 5 simple steps to help recruiters build a personal brand, and dig into this free masterclass on personal branding for recruiters here.
Cultivate a deep understanding of each company’s needs and thoroughly vet all candidates you send their way. Help hiring managers identify potential talent gaps and streamline their hiring process as much as possible.
This could be on any topic related to both candidates and clients. You know the industry best, so take the opportunity to write about topics your audience will care about while putting your insightful spin on every piece. Browse our archive of past articles to get inspired, or start with these trending topics for recruiters:
Good recruiters are always looking for new opportunities to learn and better themselves personally and professionally. It augments your existing skill set and provides another touchpoint or common ground with others. What new skill or software do you want to learn next? Find a course for recruiting or soft skills here and dig in!
Giving back is something that aligns with our core value of Going All In here at IDR. Every year, we partner with St. Jude at all our locations and participate in their Walk/Run fundraiser to raise money and awareness for children’s diseases. Find something that resonates with you, and GO ALL IN! See what we raised last year here.
Who doesn’t love the jet-setting life? Whenever possible, hop on a plane or train, or gas up your rig and set off to new locations to meet new people, see new places, and connect with potential clients. It shows a high level of commitment and quickly builds trust when you open yourself up to new opportunities not necessarily close to home. Some of our nation’s top destinations for recruiting professionals are Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, Seattle, and more—each with exciting sites, scenes, and history to explore. Check out more top cities, according to LinkedIn.
You can be “that” team member who is always making work fun. Food, festivities, games, prizes, trips, events, challenges—you name it. It instills a sense of loyalty and creates a positive company culture. We went all out for IDRPalooza 2025, taking our work fun to the beautiful coast of Mexico! .
If you’ve been in the recruiting game for a minute, you know more than someone just starting out. Share your knowledge and expertise with someone new to the market. Build a meaningful relationship, and let’s build up the next wave of top-shelf recruiters. Get started with Forbes’ 14 tips to start cultivating a mentoring relationship.
It’s a tough job as the person fostering a change in careers, starting a new one, or hunting down a promotion. Candidates rely on recruiters like you to hold their hands and simplify the process as much as possible. Always stay in communication with your candidates and try to anticipate their needs.
If you’re ready to start or advance your recruiting career, IDR is hiring! Learn more about us and what to expect here.