The Art of Building a Recruiting Business: What Nobody Tells You
Nobody teaches you how to be a technical recruiter. They just throw you in and hope you swim. When I started, I got exactly one hour of technology overview before being unleashed on the world of software engineers and developers.
But here’s the thing about recruiting - it’s not really about knowing everything. It’s about being honest about what you don’t know.
I discovered something fascinating: candidates actually respect you more when you admit you’re learning. “I’m new to recruiting, but I’m genuinely interested in understanding your work” opens more doors than pretending to be an expert. It’s like learning a new language - you start with basic phrases and gradually build your vocabulary through real conversations.
The business side follows a similar pattern. Everyone talks about sophisticated CRM systems and expensive tools, but we built our entire operation starting with free software. Think of it like building a house - you don’t start by buying expensive furniture. You need a solid foundation first.
Our approach to client relationships is deliberately different. We don’t play the numbers game of traditional recruiting. Instead, we focus on companies hiring multiple positions and offer them full access to our work product. It’s more like a partnership than a transaction.
Here’s what nobody tells you about finding the right business partner: it’s not about complementary skills (though that matters). It’s about matching energy levels and work ethic. My partner and I had a 14-year relationship before we started this business. We knew how each other operated under pressure.
The most revealing question we ask candidates isn’t about their technical skills. We ask them what they’d do with $5,000 in professional development money. Their answer tells us more about their career direction and growth mindset than any technical assessment ever could.
Remote work is great, but relationships still matter. We balance virtual efficiency with real human connection. Sometimes that means getting together for team building, other times it’s just making sure we’re really present in our video calls.
The secret sauce? It’s not about having the most sophisticated tools or the biggest network. It’s about building systems that let you focus on what really matters: understanding people and helping them connect with opportunities that matter to them.
Start small, be honest about what you know (and don’t know), and focus on building genuine relationships. The rest will follow.