Inside the minds of Australia’s best recruiters

Getting advice from really successful recruiters is difficult.

How have these people built great recruitment companies? Why are they able to grow consistently, survive downturns and make big profits in the upswing? What are they thinking, and doing, about technology? Hiring? Marketing?

Well at last a source is available to answer those very questions.

A new book by Nicholas Beames “Different Thinking – 20 inspirational Recruitment leaders” is launched today in Melbourne, and is available for sale now.

I was given an advance copy to review for The Savage Truth, and it’s a very good book indeed.

Getting real insights from people who have succeeded as builders of recruitment companies is pure gold. And this book has it in spades.

Firstly I liked that the ‘20 Leaders’ are not all the usual suspects. Yes, some of Australia’s legendary recruiters such as Andrew Banks, are quite rightly included. But there is also a whole slew of new names. Young recruiting leaders on the up and up. People with fresh ideas and a different perspective. Some of their achievements are remarkable. Built and sold several businesses, or listed their companies on the stock exchange. And that makes this a must read for all recruiters, but particularly owners and managers.

Importantly, the book is clearly and consistently laid out. The recruiters are asked to share their views on a range of key topics, such as advice to young recruiters, key attributes of high-performers, technologies they are investing in, biggest mistakes they regret, and advice on generating growth.

And my take is that they have shared openly, and without restraint.

The pages are full of little pearls of wisdom that had me nodding in agreement, or underlining for further thought.

Andrew Banks sets the tone. ‘Cash is the oxygen of corporate life’, while Dalia Klein makes the observation that ‘bravery is a core value – willingness to try something new, to push yourself’, a sentiment I heartily endorse.

Giles Keay and David Marriott reckon success in recruitment is more about attitude than aptitude, Graham Jenkins says specialise and remember karma because you get what you give, while Ian Hamilton believes in process and differentiation.

I enjoyed the attitude of Jo Burston who puts the emphasis on service and networking, and hiring people ‘far better than you are’, while John McCluskey advises us to embrace competition and always be prepared to change and adapt.

This book is no lightweight. Over 200 pages of insights, tips and advice make this a serious, thought-provoking read, and one you will dip into time and again.

What I particularly enjoyed was the diversity of backgrounds that these people have, the obvious passion for what they do, and the incredible hard work successful recruiters are prepared to put in to thrive.

It truly is ‘inspirational’.

There are few places one can go for recruitment-specific business advice. For a while, at least, Different Thinking alleviates that problem.

Disclosure: Greg Savage, the author of The Savage Truth, is one of the ‘20 Inspirational Leaders’ profiled in “Different Thinking”. Greg has no commercial relationship with the book in any form whatsoever.

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