RECRUITMENT AT UNIVERSITY FAIR
taking initiative to guide leads through the sales funnel
My role as a Marketing & Communications Assistant
As a member of RHL’s Recruitment and Admissions Team, I supported the recruiters by providing marketing collateral, executing email campaigns and analyzing customer data. However, I have never interacted with prospects because my role was more back-facing. Therefore, I seized the chance to cover a recruiter’s shift at a graduate school fair even though it was not in my job description. At these fairs, students visit different booths representing different universities to connect with recruiters. My reason for volunteering to take my colleague’ shift is two fold — I wanted to interact with prospects and have a better understanding of my target audience. I also wanted to experience the life of a recruiter, so I can support them better in my auxiliary role.
Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed
because I did not have any formal experience as a recruiter. Additionally, a majority of the leads attending these fairs were business professionals with 7+ years of working experience whilst I was only a co-op student.
In response to my fear
I extensively prepared for my recruitment shift by researching RHL’s graduate school programs. By doing so, I could provide robust answers to leads’ questions and facilitate a productive conversation. As well, I reached out to my colleagues and asked for advice on what to expect at my first recruitment fair.
All my efforts paid off
because I had a blast! I immensely enjoyed interacting with leads and learning why they wanted to take the next step in their career and education. Before prospects were anonymous emails in a database or two dimensional customer profiles. Though at the recruitment fair, I was able to gain that human perspective by connecting with leads and listening to their backstory. As well, I learned more about the recruiters by stepping in their shoes.
Overall, I found this experience very rewarding because I learned more about my target audience and the recruiters – knowledge which I could use to excel in my role as a Marketing & Communications Assistant. Additionally, I was able to identify high-performing prospects for RHL and guide them further along the sales funnel.
What I learned
RELATIONSHIP BASED SALES
Used interpersonal skills to connect with people from a variety of backgrounds and guide them down the sales funnel
INITIATIVE
Created a learning opportunity by taking initiative; resulting in an expanded skillset and insight into customers and team
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Used communication skills to field difficult conversations from prospects and conduct productive conversations