As I continue to reflect on the last 10 years Cormack has been in business, one of the things that stands out the most is how much the technology I am using to support my processes today differs from what I used in the beginning. There have been SO many advances with automation and AI in the last few years in particular that sometimes it feels like it's hard to keep up, and as someone who runs a Recruitment Firm that prides themselves on creating a more personal, human connection with their Candidates and Clients alike, I'll be honest, it was a difficult thing for me to embrace at first. I was terrified of creating a cold, robotic experience and assumed that all tools would feel the same on the recipient end - generic, impersonal and unauthentic. Definitely NOT the vibe we are going for at Cormack. That being said, what I've learned over the last 2 years in particular, is that when you find the RIGHT tools, they can actually ENHANCE your customer experience, not hinder it. So, if you are a boutique Recruitment Firm Owner reading this, I'm here to save you some of the trial and error pain I went through and share my favorite tools for enhancing your overall customer experience.
1. Recruit CRM
Having a strong ATS system is the backbone of any good Recruitment Firm, but having one with nurturing CRM capability built into it, THAT is game-changing!
I honestly can't say enough good things about Recruit CRM and stress how much migrating over to it has impacted my business in a positive way. From their incredible customer service (literally a 24/7 chat available where you can connect with a REAL human if the bot can't answer your questions) to their sequencing capabilities that allow you to create personalized follow-up message instead of just blasting generic templates, you won't regret investing in this powerhouse of a system, TRUST ME!
2. Quil
Having detailed notes, in my opinion, separates the "good" Recruiters from the GREAT ones. And, I don't know about you, but trying to build detailed notes during an interview resulted in one of three things for me:
- I was partially distracted during the interview and never able to give my absolute, 100% dedicated attention to my candidates
- My notes were in such "Amanda short form" that they might as well have been in Klingon or some ancient language no one else could speak or undersatnd
- I had to "decode" my notes after the interview and manually upload them into my CRM system.
All 3 of these scenarios were not ideal, but I honestly didn't think there was another way, until I met Quil.
Transparently, Quil was not the first AI note taking system that I attempted to leverage and I quickly found out that they are definitely NOT all created equal. What separates Quil from the pack, in my opinion, is the fact that it was created FOR Recruitment Agencies. It is compatible with nearly every major ATS under the sun and not only does a stellar job of accurately taking notes and uploading them directly into your system (that's right it's freaking AUTOMATICALLY ADDED) but they also have a ton of useful templates built into the system that you can use for candidate submittals, client communications, business development, etc. 11/10 recommend!
3. Calendly
Ok folks, this is a PSA for all my fellow calendar control freaks out there, not only is Calendly NOT the devil, believe me, if you set it up correctly, it will absolutely change your life and your business.
My calendar is EVERYTHING to me, and the thought of "giving over control" of it to the general public to book things in it just "willy nilly" terrified me. I had no idea, until I actually looked into it, how powerful the tool can be. Firstly, YOU are completely in control of your calendar at all times. You determine how many meetings you want, when you want to have them and can block your availability at any time for whatever reason and all the general public sees is when you ARE available, not why you AREN'T available. This was mind-blowing to me. SOLD.
Then, when I finally "gave myself over to the Calendly Gods" I discovered all the incredible automation available that not only saves me so much time, but allows for me to provide personal follow up messages to anyone that books time with me following the call, significantly enhancing their experience with me. SOLD. SOLD.
And perhaps most importantly, Calendly makes the process to schedule meetings with ANYONE absolutely seamless on both ends, once again, enhancing my overall customer's experience even more. SOLD. SOLD. SOLD.
Ultimately, what I've learned 10 years into this wild ride, is that I am NOT Superwoman (shocking, I know) and that I cannot create more hours in the day, but what I CAN do is utilize the tools available to me to be as intentional, efficient and effective as possible with the time that I DO have. Embracing this technology isn't a "Sophie's Choice" between having a real human connection vs. an automated, cold connection. When you find the RIGHT tools that work FOR you in the way that aligns with your brand and ultimate mission, THAT is when the magic happens.
Until next time, stay classy and stay connected!
Amanda Cox
