--- title: How to Be a Better Recruiter description: When you get down to it, being a better recruiter is as simple as providing a better candidate experience. image: https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-824899912.jpg --- [781.425.5005](tel:1-781-425-5005) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) [![HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr.png?width=327&height=79&name=HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr.png) ![HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204.png?width=204&height=49&name=HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204.png) ](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [home](https://www.hargerhowe.com/) - [Agency](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/) - [Our Work](https://hargerhowe.com/showcase/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://hargerhowe.com/contact/) - [Home](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [Agency](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [About Harger Howe](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [Q & A](https://hargerhowe.com/q-a/) - [Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/) - [Digital Media](https://hargerhowe.com/services/digital-media/) - [Inbound Marketing](https://hargerhowe.com/services/inbound-marketing/) - [Media Placement and Creative Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/media-placement-and-creative-services/) - [Social Media](https://hargerhowe.com/services/social-media/) - [Recruitment Marketing](https://hargerhowe.com/services/recruitment-marketing/) - [HH Direct Search](https://www.hargerhowedirect.com/) - Our Work - [Case Studies](https://hargerhowe.com/showcase/) - [Featured Content](https://hargerhowe.com/featured-content/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://hargerhowe.com/contact/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) [Refine your recruitment with HH Direct Search!](https://www.hargerhowedirect.com/) # How to Be a Better Recruiter - [Home](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - How to Be a Better Recruiter [recruiting](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/recruiting) [recruiters](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/recruiters) ![ThinkstockPhotos-824899912.jpg](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-824899912.jpg?width=723&name=ThinkstockPhotos-824899912.jpg) [Aug022017](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/archive/2017/08/02) **Audio version** We should tell you up front that this article isn’t a step-by-step guide on what media mix will make you more effective. It also isn’t a path towards being promoted within the Human Resources world. What it is though is an actionable plan that you can use to be better. Better at what matters. Better at providing a positive candidate experience. And really, when you get down to it, being a better recruiter is as simple as that. **Personalize Your Communication** This is an across the board rule! It doesn’t matter if you are sending a [LinkedIn invitation](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/how-the-best-physician-recruiters-send-linkedin-invites), an email regarding a resume through ZipRecruiter or [Indeed](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/recruitment-marketing-best-practices-for-indeed-job-postings) or trying to connect via phone. Chances are if you are chasing talented candidates, other people are too! Sending blanket emails that reek of templates generated by bots is a sure fire way to be marked as spam. Instead of being “spammy” try making a genuine observation about the person’s skill sets. Or better yet, if you’ve met the candidate in person, tell them! [Establishing that you are human](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/improve-the-efficacy-of-your-linkedin-recruiting-with-a-human-touch) is the first step towards a positive recruiter, employee relationship. **Lay the Process Out** We talk a good game about [careers microsites](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/2016-the-year-for-microsites-and-social-media-career-pages) ending the black hole of the [applicant tracking system (ATS)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/is-your-ats-helping-or-hurting-your-recruiting). And yes, our sites do make it easy for recruiters to get a quick idea of whether or not the candidate is a fit while taking a minimal amount of candidate effort. However, here’s the hard truth; the application and onboarding process is only as good as the recruiter waiting on the other side. If a candidate reaches out to you, you need to respond (even if it’s an automatic response stating that not all candidates will be contacted). There is nothing more discouraging to a candidate than spending an hour inputting all their pertinent information into an ATS only to receive…nothing. Furthermore, if a candidate participates in an interview they are entitled to a timeline of the decision-making process, a respectful rejection letter or call and/or updates if the process is taking longer than usual. First of all, candidates deserve those gestures so that they can make educated career decisions. Second of all, it is in your best interest to keep candidates on the hook if you think you may want them. Why? Well, if you have a great candidate, chances are they aren’t just interviewing with you. The worst possible scenario (for you) is when a company decides too late that they found “the one” and “the one” went with a less perfect job. **Leave the Door Open** This won’t apply to all candidates, but have you ever interview someone who was awesome, but not an awesome fit for a particular role? Or maybe they’re terrific, but they came up short in one area? Don’t outright reject those sorts of people! Tell them to stay in touch regarding future roles. Encourage them to enroll in your [Talent Community](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/why-you-need-to-build-a-talent-community) so that you can send them job alerts. Once someone has been outright rejected, they probably won’t reapply. If you nurture them though, you could be looking at future hire. *\*Pro-tip: Oftentimes your first choice ends up rejecting YOU. By not shutting the door to the runner up, you will ensure that you have options. Starting over isn’t fun --- and is actually entirely unnecessary in most cases. --* Another crucial aspect to being a successful recruiter is understanding where candidates are in the process. Check out our free e-book to learn more. [![The Job Seeker's Journey](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/559861/5a4e7868-ba2e-491c-8658-61bd6c142db9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/559861/5a4e7868-ba2e-491c-8658-61bd6c142db9) Category: [recruiting](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/recruiting), [recruiters](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/recruiters) [by Gillian Barnes](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/author/gillian-barnes) [August 02, 2017](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/archive/2017/08/02) ### Share This Article - - - - - ![Gillian Barnes](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gillbwsquare.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=gillbwsquare.jpg) #### Author:Gillian Barnes Gillian is Harger Howe's Creative Content Manager. She manages multiple social media entities and works on the overall inbound marketing strategy. [Previous New Recruitment Marketing Updates for Fall](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/new-recruitment-marketing-updates-for-fall) [Next Summer 2017’s Recruitment News Snapshot](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/summer-2017s-recruitment-news-snapshot) ### Recent Articles [![What The 2026 Residency Match Really Means For Recruitment](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1372638205.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/what-the-2026-residency-match-really-means-for-recruitment) [What The 2026 Residency Match Really Means For Recruitment](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/what-the-2026-residency-match-really-means-for-recruitment) *July 29, 2026* [![Your Careers Page Is Your First Interview](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1307162575.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/your-careers-page-is-your-first-interview) [Your Careers Page Is Your First Interview](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/your-careers-page-is-your-first-interview) *July 20, 2026* [![Every Vacancy Creates Invisible Work](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2096319765.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/every-vacancy-creates-invisible-work) [Every Vacancy Creates Invisible Work](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/every-vacancy-creates-invisible-work) *July 14, 2026* [![Physician Recruitment Is a Family Decision: Why Health Systems Must Market the Full Opportunity](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2259093025.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-is-a-family-decision-why-health-systems-must-market-the-full-opportunity) [Physician Recruitment Is a Family Decision: Why Health Systems Must Market the Full Opportunity](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-is-a-family-decision-why-health-systems-must-market-the-full-opportunity) *July 13, 2026* [![The Recruiter Is No Longer the First Source of Information](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2233005232.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/the-recruiter-is-no-longer-the-first-source-of-information) [The Recruiter Is No Longer the First Source of Information](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/the-recruiter-is-no-longer-the-first-source-of-information) *June 25, 2026* [![Physician Recruitment Has a User Experience Problem](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1305333546.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-has-a-user-experience-problem) [Physician Recruitment Has a User Experience Problem](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-has-a-user-experience-problem) *June 24, 2026* ### CONNECT WITH US [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Facebook](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [Facebook](https://plus.google.com/100866082476092210501) [Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Facebook](https://www.pinterest.com/hargerhoweadv/) [Facebook](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) ### LOCATIONS **Houston** 1800 St. James Place, Ste. 400 Houston, TX 77056 **Boston** 111 South Bedford St., Ste. 201 Burlington, MA 01803 *Need to talk now? 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