A guest blog from Jobadder as part of our From Surviving to Thriving: Practical Ways to Boost Margins Right Now series.
Crack the code. Win new clients. Master your business development.
In recruitment, success isn’t just about who you know, it’s about how you use that knowledge. Top billers don’t stumble onto success – they relentlessly follow their curiosity, drive to learn, and ability to turn interactions into opportunities.
Business development involves thinking differently, spotting opportunities in the unexpected, and using tools and insights to stand out from your competition.
This sneak peek from our eBook, Mastering the ‘X’ in recruitment business development, gives you a taste of the actionable strategies that will elevate your results and build a BD engine that works with you.
1. Your candidates know more than you think
You might be surprised to learn that your most under-utilised resource is often right under your nose: we’re talking about candidates.
Candidates typically hold insider information, including:
- Current interview processes organisations are using.
- Jobs they’ve declined.
- Organisations they admire or avoid.
By asking the right questions, you can uncover valuable business leads and unique selling points for your pitches.
Bonus tip: If a candidate turns down an offer, that employer might still be hiring. This could be a great time to reach out with another standout candidate.
2. Market your candidates like prospects
Have a high-quality candidate in your talent pool? Don’t wait – actively market them.
Identify their ideal employers and use this information to initiate conversations. This approach is beneficial as it:
- Showcases your proactive service.
- Differentiates you from competitors and increases your visibility in the market.
- Helps you build stronger client relationships.
- Shows your commitment to candidates’ careers, which in turn attracts more top talent.
Bonus tip: Leveraging Most Placeable Candidates (MPCs) is much more effective in opening doors than traditional methods, such as cold emailing (which only has a 3% average response rate).1
3. Help clients help themselves
You’re more than a recruiter; you’re a strategic partner.
You can showcase this by assisting clients in refining their hiring processes:
- Implement standardised phone screens to reduce bias.
- Prepare candidates thoroughly to enhance interview performance.
- Streamline processes to expedite recruiting decisions.
By improving your clients’ recruitment strategies, you become an indispensable asset, and the first call they make whenever they have a placement to make.
Bonus tip: Your role doesn’t have to end when the job is filled. Offering post-placement support shows you care about long-term success, not just the transaction. You can do this with a simple check-in with both clients and candidates after onboarding.
Bonus power moves to supercharge your BD strategy
These pro-level hacks will keep your pipeline humming, without additionally burdening your team:
Set up Google Alerts
Create alerts for target companies to stay ahead of news like funding rounds, leadership changes, or hiring surges.
Use personality-based selling tools
Tools like CrystalKnows.com can help you tailor your messaging style based on the recipient’s personality, creating a more unique and thoughtful communication experience.
Send warm follow-ups
It takes an average of six touches for someone to recognise your name. By using personalised emails, social media comments, and check-in calls, you can stay top of mind and show how much you care about their business.
Acquire mobile numbers
Your email might get lost. But a well-timed text? That gets read. Always ask for a mobile number (but use it sparingly and wisely).
Promote niche talent
Candidates with hard-to-find skills (especially in emerging tech or compliance-heavy roles) are conversation starters. Use them to lead BD outreach.
Unlock more with the full eBook
Want to delve deeper into mastering recruitment business development?
Download our comprehensive Mastering the ‘X’ in Recruitment BD eBook, and access a wealth of tools, scripts, and strategies designed to transform your approach, including:
- Example scripts for turning reference checks into warm leads.
- Candidate interview questions you can use to reveal hidden BD gold.
- Tips for standing out in a saturated agency market.
- 8 benefits of marketing candidates (with messaging examples).
- A more comprehensive dive into the top tips for successful business development.
Ready to take your business development game to the next level?
Unlock exclusive insights, proven strategies, and expert advice from the industry’s top recruitment leaders inside the BDX Hub. From AI-driven workflows to practical BD playbooks, this is your one-stop resource to win more clients and grow faster.
1Source: Recruitment Benchmarking Report
