Maintaining Relationships During the Pandemic

 Has there ever been a more testing time for relationships? Unable to see friends, family and colleagues (at least, in person), millions of us have taken to our phones and laptops like never before. We’ve been Zooming, Skyping and WhatsApping. Many have remarked that if their relationships can survive 2020, they can survive anything. So, in recruitment – an industry driven by relationships and in-person meetings – the impact of Covid-19 and national lockdowns makes every single aspect of our jobs more challenging. Whether our clients and candidates have been furloughed or made redundant – or because we’re working part-time or on furlough ourselves – there simply hasn’t been the opportunity to catch up or check in quite as regularly as we would usually do. If you ask any recruiter what the secret to a successful career is, they’ll no doubt mention good relationships. Having good two-way communication with our clients is at the heart of everything we do. I like to ask questions and build a relationship that is closer to a friendship than a business transaction – for me that has been the absolute key to my success over the years. Everyone involved in any recruitment process is human, after all, and it’s important to establish a personal touch. On the candidate side of things, I’ve never considered myself to be just a 9 – 5 recruiter. I’ve always been there around the clock – no matter how small the issue. Obviously, owing to flexible furlough rules, I am restricted as to when I can be in touch. But I’d like to think that my candidates haven’t seen a difference in the level of service. It’s not all about ‘making a fee’ - it’s about being that go to consultant that they can seek advice from regardless. People remember when you have treated them well or gone above and beyond and that helps you open up the conversation further down the line. Candidates remember the little things, such as checking in on them once they have started in their role or simply being at the end of the phone to confide in. It’s about being authentically yourself. I consider myself to be the same person inside work as I am outside – there’s no veneer that goes up when I’m speaking to my clients and candidates. On a basic level, I treat people how I would like to be treated if I was looking for work or a new employee. Everything has been so different and changeable over these past few months – but I’d like to think that my level of service has been incredibly consistent for both my clients and candidates. After all, we’re all going through this together and are all looking for answers and support. If you’d like to get in touch with me to discuss call and contact centre roles across Edinburgh and the East, click here to drop me an email. I look forward to establishing a new working relationship with you.