When Colleagues Become Unfriendly Recruiting Competition

If you’ve been in the recruiting business  for even just a year, chances are good that you’ve already seen some turnover among the recruiters in your office. Maybe it’s a little, maybe it’s a lot, but it’s there.  It can be a sad occasion with office friends moving on. Other times it can be a relief…the guy with the bad attitude is finally out the door.  But either way, there’s a good chance you’re going to be running into that old office mate at your clients someday soon.

Competition is like gravity; it’s always pulling at you, whether you realize it or not.  Dealing with competitors, big and small is a day to day reality in this business.  But what about that competition who has the inside track? The competition that’s using your contacts and your work to benefit themselves?  And what about when it gets nasty?  Here are some tips on being the better Recruiter and beating out the cranky recruiting competitor.

1. Keep it Classy:  Sometimes competition can degenerate and get dirty quickly.  You may have an occasion where you suspect (or even know) that an old colleague is telling tales out of school and trying to cast doubt on you, your abilities or your professionalism.  (Hello Pot? This is Kettle. You’re black.)  Keeping it classy and remaining true to yourself is the only course of action.  You may want to take revenge.  You may want to point out all the myriad bad things about your old colleague.  And you may be perfectly justified in doing so…but it doesn’t make you a professional.  Rising above the dirty words, the back alley stories and the trash talk will prove to your clients that you’re the real professional. They can trust you to be circumspect, professional and at the top of your game every day.  While the stories from your colleague might be entertaining for a time, no one will take that person seriously.  So rest assured that if there is trash talk going down, it’s going to backfire miserably.
2. Go the Extra Mile:  So you’re being the bigger person and keeping it clean.  Awesome.  But take it even a step further.  What little extras can you provide to the client that would show you going the extra mile?  (nothing obvious that will just make it appear that you’re trying to curry favor).  How about bringing some pizza in for the team?  Maybe getting coffee and doughnuts for the folks hard at work?  I found that taking the time to ensure that the ‘team’ knows you well and that you’re taking good care of them always makes a difference.  When I’ve brought coffee and doughnuts in to my clients, I generally don’t leave business cards or make a stir.  I bring the goodies in, say a couple of hellos and get out.  You don’t need to toot your horn…at that point it doesn’t look as good.  Know that someone, somewhere saw you bring the goodies in and put them down.  And like all good offices, people will talk.  So take some time, identify some opportunities to do a couple of small favors for the team and get it done. But again, it’s all about subtlety here.  If you create a lot of hoopla, they’ll still appreciate it…but they’ll know why you’re doing it.
3. Put the Blinders On:  You rock-star, you.  You’re being a professional, being classy and taking good care of the people at your clients.  But here’s the most important part…wrap it up and move on.  Taking a bunch of time worrying about your nasty competitor is a waste of time and energy.  If you’re spending all of your time concerned about someone taking your clients from you, you’re doing the work for them.  One of the most important qualities and skills a Recruiter can nurture over time is their ability to compartmentalize.  Let the bad stuff go and focus on the good.  You’ve done your job, you’ve been a professional; now it’s time to go back to focusing on business.  Putting the blinders on and keeping your thoughts focused on the positive things (making placements) is the best favor you can do yourself, and the worst harm you can do your competitors.

Remember, competition is natural and frankly, you need competitors to differentiate yourself and prove your worth.  Being better than the office down the street is where success and reputation come from.  But know that competition isn’t personal, even when the other guy is trying to make it.  Be a professional, keep your head up and move on.  That’s where true recruiting success comes from.