3 Things I’ve Learned in 2023 to Become A Better Recruiter

Written by: Kristina Liland

Now that the year is almost at a close, I’ve been reflecting on 2023 both personally and professionally and trying to distill all of the experiences I’ve had into learnings that I can carry with me as I continue to expand along with the rest of the world. Globally, it’s been a challenging time as we all know, and many people are experiencing global grief and a sense of helplessness, including me, but when I reviewed what I’ve accomplished this year, I’ve discovered that I’m proud of my growth and how I’ve found my place within my team simply by connecting to some essential mindset shifts as I continue to evolve my partnerships with clients, colleagues and loved ones.

How have I adopted a more successful mindset over the past year?

1. I’ve developed a time management system that works for my brain

I’ve improved how I use my time when I’m not fully booked with meetings and hard deadlines more effectively. I’ve learned the times of day when I’m most productive and which tasks I excel at depending on this new understanding. Transparently, this is a work in progress for me. I’ve struggled with the transition from a career in hospitality where I was lucky enough to to work in some amazing, and very busy settings that kept me on my toes for an entire day pretty consistently.

I didn’t have to develop the skill of transitioning from one administrative task to another, so, while I was excellent at multitasking in a physical, action-based restaurant setting, the lack of ability to seamlessly skip from a Zoom call to completing paperwork and back to a meeting led to a lot of wasted time. I’ve since discovered something called “waiting mode” which is a characteristic of some individuals with ADHD (I have not been diagnosed but I have some tendencies) and it resonates with me. It means that if I know I have an event coming up, it’s challenging to do anything other than fixate on that event, even if you technically have time for other tasks in between.

My adaptation has been to create a list of micro tasks to check off my list during those waiting periods that don’t require as much focus. If I can get them crossed off my list, then I can block out windows of flow time when I can relax and focus on creative project work such as writing articles. Shifting my mindset in this way means a lot fewer days bleeding into my evening due to not completing work that needs to be passed on to my clients (Oh, hi there, candidate profiles!)

2. I’ve learned to surrender to the moment that’s happening.

I’ve had anxiety for as long as I can remember. I can remember my first panic attack when I was six and all the subsequent ones that robbed me of enjoying many experiences over the years. As I’ve been deepening my understanding of how my mind works, I’m discovering how to release my vice grip on anxiety, focus on the moment, and stop catastrophizing every small thing. Over-explaining and volunteering unnecessary details isn’t being transparent, it often comes across as defensive, leads to a lack of trust in my capabilities and ultimately can lead to a breakdown in communication.

What I once saw as good communication now looks like self-justification which was never the intent. Now, I can breathe and seek advice from my own experts when needed so that I can offer up strategies that will actually enhance my bond with clients and result in a positive outcome.

3. I’ve learned to talk to myself as a mother talks to her child.

How would I look after my child? Would I let them stay up all night, overdo it with processed foods on a regular basis, or stay glued to a screen without sunlight and fresh air? No, I wouldn’t and I bet you wouldn’t either. I’ve had a hard time doing what’s best for my mental and physical health, and being kind to myself. I’ve spoken harshly to myself more often than not in the past which hasn’t been helpful for my anxiety and I sadly never gave it a second thought. I would pass off my comments as humourous or “ just being honest” and it was difficult for me to understand what loving myself actually looked like.

I viewed it as BS and couldn’t fathom that anyone could consistently speak kindly to themselves, until I broke down what a mother’s kindness looks like by observing my incredible female friends who are raising children. It’s not all about “I love you” and “You’re doing a great job”. It’s “eat your vegetables and then you can have dessert” or “step away from your phone screen and let’s go outside into nature”. It’s important to be loving, but it’s also important to tune into what can really make you happier and more grounded - and that’s a little bit of structure. This mindset has propelled me forward and restored my confidence in myself, and confidence is an important trait of an outstanding recruiter.

How has this affected me this year?

Professional Development

In establishing these mindset shifts, but work-life has thrived. Nourishing myself by establishing better time management, surrendering in moments of anxiety instead of stuffing it down, and speaking gently yet firmly to myself has built my confidence, allowed me to explore taking chances (like writing article), and opened up my capacity for taking on more responsibility and having a bigger impact on my team at rhum as well as my clients. I’ve been building a greater level of trust in my capabilities in those around me, and I’m reaping these benefits more consistently now in all my work relationships.

Personal Growth

I love myself now. That still feels a little uncomfortable to say, but I’m happy to be practicing and believing it. I recently had a profound experience that taught me about love as a state of being instead of an emotional reaction and it’s now programmed in me far deeper and in a more grounded way, than I expected it to. I can’t exactly put it into words, but it’s a knowing, and it’s because of the investment I’ve made in myself.

Mindset is a powerful thing. I’ve learned that the only thing standing in my way of achieving my own perception of success is myself. There is no mystery to why I cannot reach the goals I set for myself except that I stop meeting the milestones necessary to get to the end. Any excuses I make are simply me choosing to quit. And, this isn’t always a negative thing - priorities shift and take us in new directions.

The lesson is to evaluate and make an intentional choice instead of letting projects fall away. Knowing where I want to go and checking in with myself along the way has flipped the conversation in my head from “you’re a quitter” or “you have no follow-through” to “my priorities are evolving”.

Stronger Relationships

I’ve learned the power of vulnerability and putting myself out there - being the first to speak and knowing the value in sharing my struggles has opened up my understanding of the wonderful humans I allow into my professional and personal space. It’s like watering the garden so that the flowers can grow.

If I am present, and show up for those around me in an authentic way and with integrity, the reciprocity will give me what I need back tenfold. I’ll continue to work on building strong relationships by asking deeper questions to uncover what motivates those around me and genuinely being curious about what I can do to create an atmosphere of collaboration, understanding, and trust.

Onward and Upward

These are pieces of 2023 that I’m excited to take with me into the next chapter. I invite you to reflect on your year and celebrate the ways in which you’ve grown and the lessons you’ve learned and drop a comment if you’re keen to share your journey!