We’ve noticed that quite a few Business Communication grads have chosen careers as recruiters in a variety of industries. Charlie Taylor (in the photo at left during his internship experience) is working as a technical recruiter at TEKSystems; Julia Cooke has worked as a recruiter for Baltimore Research; and Tiera Willey currently is a talent acquisition specialist for Network Building and Consulting, previously in the same position with MGM National Harbor. Jess Demko, Frederick Terry, Mike Edwards and Matt Bratter are recruiting for Aerotek, and Travis Douglas is working as a recruiter for StaffEx — just to name a few! What is it about the Business Communication major that prepares students so well for a career as a recruiter? Let’s take a look at what LinkedIn describes as the most essential qualities of a a modern recruiter.
The 9 Essential Qualities of Modern Recruiters, from LinkedIn’s Talent Blog
1. Is a good listener and clear communicator.
For Business Communication majors, this skill is taught from the first day of Public Speaking, and reinforced in Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, and a variety of other classes in which communication skills are stressed.
2. Creates a sense of urgency so that matches actually get made and no time is wasted.
Two semesters of Journalism are instrumental in teaching students the importance of meeting deadlines, getting interviews completed in a timely manner, and turning in homework and research on time.
3. Has a keen sense of timing, patience and the ability to act quickly when the time is right.
The faculty in the department hold their students to standards regarding assignment dates, and the curriculum in Business and Professional Communication, as well as a required internship experience, help students to develop these skills. Internship site supervisors help their interns learn the rhythms of the business world.
4. Can filter through a laundry-list of requirements and decipher which are truly motivating factors — aka. the must-haves vs nice-to-haves.
Learning how to prioritize is taught in Organizational Communication, and is a skill most interns develop during their experiential learning semesters, when multi-tasking is often demanded on a daily basis.
5. Can motivate, support, and whip someone into shape when needed.
An interesting fact — many BizComm majors are NCAA or club sport athletes, so they understand the importance of motivation and support. Their ability to communicate clearly and effectively helps them with interpersonal relationships.
6. Understands available recruiting tools and ability to identify the right bait to lure your catch.
Majors graduate with a clear understanding of the many tools available to them, whether on a MAC or a PC. Their knowledge of Microsoft and Adobe software prepares them for transfer learning as well, and they graduate adept at picking up software demands.
7. Creates an optimal process that can be customized for individuals.
Courses in Conflict and Negotiation, and in Public Relations, for instance, teach students in the major how to address the needs of specific audiences. They have learned that language can be adapted to meet the demands of others and know how to do so.
8. Manages egos and expectations.
By the time Business Communication majors are ready to graduate, they have become exceptional listeners and are able to peel away any interference in the communication channels. They understand the importance of realistic expectations and are able to communicate directly about their ideas.
9. Pays attention to the details. All of them.
The demands of the major’s many writing courses teach students how to be careful readers and writers. Additionally, in Intercultural Communication, students learn to pay attention to the details of their language choices and assumptions.