Is Nice Agency Recruiter an Oxymoron

Is Nice Agency Recruiter an Oxymoron I start with the premise that to be successful in recruitment, or in fact any career, you can be nice and there is really no need to be  nasty. I would go as so far to say I think that nicer recruiters are actually way more successful,  and more importantly, have greater longevity in their market than those who play  dirty. Is this notion rather naive on my part? Perhaps some whimsical utopian-style ideal that I can spread love and joy throughout the recruitment world by being nice? *happily skips around the office* Nasty or nice? Does being nice in my job mean I am pushover? I dont think so. I am not a  walkover nor am I nasty, but I am firm in how I operate.  Nice recruiters are open, honest and transparent. They have the right intentions of all parties at the forefront of their minds. Now conversely, we have to ask ourselves what constitutes a nasty and not-so-nice recruiter. What would make someone transcend into the sphere of bad recruiter?  Those who never update or feedback to candidates (what  would appear to be the norm based on a lot of social media moaning) might fit this category.  Only being driven by the cash, with  the  only motivation being  the commission cheque, not servicing the client and candidate properly, is another sure-fire way to find yourself with the bad recruiter label. Some recruiters are incapable of  working as part of a  team with a  collegiate approach, never sharing information. On the other hand, I do believe many are the opposite of this, thinking about others  altruistically and being proud advocates for leveraging  one anothers skills and relationships for mutual gain. A matter of opinion Should you run a business promoting the notion that you are a nice recruiter? I asked for the opinions of two fellow recruitment business owners whom I have known respectively for 13 years and 1 year. I consider these guys the good kinds. Mark Noakes, owner of Integritas Resourcing says: To be honest, I dont think it is about being nice, and more about being genuine / yourself.  In my opinion, a good recruiter has the trust of their  candidates and clients, developed over time. This isnt about being nice, it is about be honest, genuine and knowledgeable. Our clients and candidates are partners, no matter how junior/senior they are.  I have relationships over 12 years old, they are not down to simply being nice; clients and candidate see through all that.  I would rather lose a fee because it wasnt right for both parties and retain my relationships than steal a quick fee and never work with them again. Julie Edmondson, owner of Perfect Fit People says: Recruiters constantly get bad press and to be fair, there is  a sizeable majority who can wear the rip off badge with pride.   But what gives a recruiter longevity are their ethics, their values and their ability to nurture long term relationships.   Every recruiter is only as good as their last placement, but those who build strong relationships, are accountable and consistently deliver, no matter what the conditions are the ones who grow a successful business. In  summary So what we can summarise is that it is not just me who thinks being nice is much too simple a notion, and really, being nice is great but it goes deeper than that into your core integrity.  I see that there are all sorts of recruiters (as there are humans) and that it takes all kinds of people to make a business successful. Interestingly, I have often smirked that maybe people find me like marmite.  I make this jibe in relation to the fact I am very honest and candid: some people like their egos stroked,  and lets just say I dont do that.  To a small few, I am brutally honest. I want to leave you with  this idea;  if we all just take  time to empathise with the people we represent, stand in their shoes for a day and think about how we  would wish to be treated if we  were in their position, perhaps we  would be kinder, nicer and more understanding than we  would have been yesterday.