A simple tip but a very lucrative one, always call the references.  And the beauty is this is a necessary part of the process!  You cannot work with a candidate or make a placement without references.  These contacts are often influential people in their field, hiring managers who themselves have the need for a recruiter, and possibly potential candidates.

Working my desk I made sure to contact each reference personally.  I was not always successful with the calls and many times had to send a letter/email.  But my contact information was always included.  But when I was successful in reaching them to either confirm or obtain a reference I made the most of this time.  First explaining what I do,  maybe impressing them with some industry specific questions, and getting my name on their radar!  While tact is important while doing this, for your candidate and also your reputation, doing a thorough job, asking the right questions, and leaving your contact information can put you in a position to get a great referral for more business.

Finally, think about this:  how many references to you obtain for each candidate?  Three or more per candidate?  At least three multiplied by the number of candidates on your desk equals a great contact list of passive candidates, employers, and leaders in the field!

Do you have a success story you can share with us?  Or a simple tip that makes your desk successful?  Drop us a line at RecruitingDaily.com with a comment or guest post!

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By Noel Cocca

CEO/Founder RecruitingDaily and avid skier, coach and avid father of two trying to keep up with my altruistic wife. Producing at the sweet spot talent acquisition to create great content for the living breathing human beings in recruiting and hiring. I try to ease the biggest to smallest problems from start-ups to enterprise. Founder of RecruitingDaily and our merry band of rabble-rousers.