Client Case Study – Syntech Recruitment saved us money, time and helped us realise the value a specialist agency can add.
In todayâs competitive aerospace industry, finding the right talent is crucial. Recently we partnered with a…
Is working in Recruitment Stressful?
Anyone working in Recruitment is screaming “God Yes” ….and it’s true, recruitment can be very stressful. In the words of Ronan Keating … “life is a roller coaster” and if you work in recruitment its a very emotional one!
But with that stress comes plenty of highs, job satisfaction, and laughter! Of course, some of that is relevant to the company you work for and the team but there are days when you leave the office and even though you’re mentally exhausted you walk away content and smiling.
Yes, you will have some lows, but that’s part of any job and life.
In my career in recruitment I have seen many recruiters suffering from stress & anxiety, its much more spoken about now than when I started in the 90’s. I think back then more people smoked and drank at lunchtime to help them through the day đ Thankfully times have changed, and due to an increase in awareness surrounding mental health struggles, companies are facilitating helpful measures to support their employees, and an increasing number of individuals are recognising the symptoms of stress and anxiety and are seeking help to manage it.
Whilst recruitment can be a very rewarding and a well paid career, there are several challenges associated with working in the industry, from lack of control in the process to rejection and high targets. With some recruitment agencies doing better than others when it comes to supporting their teams, maintaining good mental health in recruitment must continue to be a priority and a topic of conversation for those working in recruitment.
Absolutely. Just like any other job, working in recruitment is stressful at times. Amazingly and Im not sure I agree but âRecruitment Consultantâ was listed alongside a number of other jobs including, teachers, nurses, welfare professionals, and legal professionals, as the top most stressful jobs.
So what are the challenges & stress points in recruitment:
Recruitment is often described as a two-sided sale. You need to sell a business and a job to a candidate, and then sell a candidate to a business. For a deal to happen, you need multiple people to agree to and action their part in it â whether thatâs the HR Manager giving feedback on CVs, the hiring manager offering the candidate the role, or the candidate accepting the job offer. It can all go wrong at any stage through no fault of your own!
There are multiple stages in the recruitment process where communication can fail and things can go wrong. Be it a candidate dropping out or receiving a counteroffer, or a business changing their budget last minute or enacting a hiring freeze, the recruitment process is full of risks that can turn a normal day upside down!
To an extent, these issues can feel like they are out of your control. However, there are plenty of actions you can take to minimise the risks of a placement falling through, such as strong communication and transparency, and regular check ins with all stakeholders in the process.
If things do go wrong, thatâs part of recruitment and accepting that is important. The key is to not focus on these issues and to move on to the next role.
Recruitment is a sales job. Usually, at least part of your target will be based on securing deals. As mentioned in the point previously, this part of recruitment can be stressful and might impact your mental health. If aspects out of your control go wrong, you may not be able to secure enough deals to hit your target.
KPIs and targets are goals, but they should be achievable. However, some recruitment agencies donât tailor KPIs and targets to individuals and you could end up with a goal that is out of your reach and then receive criticism for not achieving it. This can result in anxiety and feelings of dejection.
Ways to counteract this can include working hard to focus on yourself and your individual goals, asking for help when needed, and not comparing yourself to others. If you are given unrealistic targets, have a chat with your manager about them. However, if you are experiencing a negative work culture, you might want to consider looking for a different agency that will be more supportive of good mental health in recruitment.
Rejection is very common in recruitment and something any newbie Recruiter must get used too very quickly! Being resilient is an important part of maintaining good mental health in recruitment, and at times it will be tested. You need to be okay with facing rejection. Whether thatâs from hiring managers not wanting to talk to you, or candidates ghosting you, unfortunately, they are regular occurrences in the recruitment world. Many recruiters will develop a thick skin within their first few years in the role and soon hearing rejection will be like water off a duckâs back!
A lot of stress in recruitment can be attributed to the very chaotic highs and lows. One minute, your candidate has accepted an offer, and youâll be getting great commission from it. You feel great and on top of the world. Then, the next, something goes wrong and that feeling can be taken away from you. This can happen on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, though it varies between industries and sectors.
The constant highs and lows can induce stress or problems with anxiety. Someone once said to me “Dont go too crazy when things go well”. Keep yourself grounded so when things go wrong, itâs not too dramatic a fall.” How true is this, and it has stayed with me ever since.
Recruitment can be stressful. Itâs likely your colleagues also feel the pressure sometimes. Itâs important to create an atmosphere where you can support each other by giving advice and being known as someone who is happy to listen. I love it when I hear colleagues cheering each other on, or sharing knowledge and advice. Even something as simple as buying a coffee or a bag of Gregg’s sausage rolls can cheer someones day!
If you are struggling with workload and targets, discuss your troubles with your manager. They may be able to move around your workload to make it more manageable or give you tips and support for tackling the challenges you are facing.
Whether thatâs going to the gym or for a walk, take time to move your body. Anything active during the day will release tension and calm your mind. I love to walk around when Im on the phone, it makes me feel confident and change lift your tone and pitch. One of the biggest problems in recruitment is the feeling of never switching off! Taking time to disconnect from work, from your phone and emails, this is crucial.
Make sure that you take breaks from work when you can, particularly using your lunch break to separate yourself from work and switch off. Working through lunch is a necessary evil for all professionals on occasion, but make sure itâs not a daily occurrence.
The great thing about recruitment is that there are always lots of small wins. Whether thatâs getting a candidate to interview or finding a great candidate for a companyâs role, focus on these achievements. Putting all your attention on whether a deal goes through or not, means that you are ignoring all the smaller achievements youâve had along the way.
The âwork hard, play hardâ mentality doesnt always work! While that can mean some great work socials, drinking too much can lead to anxiety, particularly if you worry about something youâve done or said at a work event. So be cautious!
Some people thrive on being competitive. However, if you are constantly comparing yourself to others, particularly if youâre having a slow period, this can make you feel worse. Competition can be healthy and push you to greater heights, however, it can also be some individualsâ undoing.
If you are in a recruitment lull or having a bad month, it doesnât mean the end. Dwelling on a negative week can make you feel worse. If youâve had a bad day, week, or even, month, dust yourself off and continue to do your best.
Remember the recruitment industry is like Marmite “You will either love it or hate it” and that’s ok. For those that can ride the waves its a great career and will teach you a good few life skills along the way!
For more information on a career in recruitment, please email natasha@syntechrecruitment.co.uk
If you are looking for a job in general please visit our website.
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