One year ago, I became a talent recruiting Area Director with Goodwin Recruiting. I’m no stranger to talent acquisition, leadership roles, or the broader world of human resources, but I had no idea what to expect. This role comes with the unique challenge of leading and mentoring a group of fellow recruiters while still maintaining and growing my own recruiting desk.  

If you’ve set your sights on becoming a talent recruiter or moving up in this rewarding industry, this article is for you. I hope you find my experiences and insights helpful along your journey.  

So, one year in, here are a few things I’ve learned. 

1️⃣ Area directors cannot help everyone succeed  

I’ve had quite a few recruiters come and go over the past year, and for a variety of reasons. For example, being a 1099 talent recruiter working strictly on commission isn’t for everyone. Being solely responsible for one’s own success doesn’t come easily or naturally to everyone, either. And as much as we want every recruiter to succeed, we can’t want it more than they do. 

2️⃣ Being a talent acquisition leader is a hard job 

There are days when I don’t want to show up. That’s part of being human. But when you’re in a leadership role that sets the example for a team of recruiters you’re responsible for leading, you show up anyway.  

3️⃣ PROTECT. YOUR. TIME.  

It took me more than three months to get a firm grasp on my calendar – to learn when I need to be fully available to my team and when I need to be on Do Not Disturb so I can actually manage my own workload. Both are important. And both need dedicated time.  

4️⃣ You learn a LOT from the people you lead 

Everyone in talent recruitment has a different approach to business development, candidate sourcing, how they communicate with candidates and clients, and how they organize their days. If you stay open-minded, you learn as much from the people you lead as they learn from you. That’s one of the most incredible parts of the job. 

5️⃣ You will probably experience imposter syndrome 

This hit me hard early on. Not long after my promotion, it was hard not to wonder if I really belonged in a room full of leaders, having never been in this type of role before. Some days, I still feel that way. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t belong. And every day I add to my experience as a leader solidifies in my mind that this is what I was meant to do. It just took me a little longer to get here. And that’s okay. 💙  

6️⃣ Genuinely care about the people you’re tasked with leading 

This might be the biggest lesson of all. Acknowledging team members’ humanity outside of work fosters a culture of empathy, respect, and trust where they feel valued as individuals, not just for their professional contributions. 

Show interest. Stay curious. You’re leading people, not robots.  

💙 What did you do this weekend? 
💙 How did your kiddo do in the school play? 
💙 How’s your family member doing? 
💙 How’s your cat or dog doing after their vet appointment?  

Gratitude and relationships are everything 

I’m truly grateful that I get to do what I do every day. I’m grateful for the talented Recruiting Partners in my group who show up, work hard, trust me to help guide them, and are building successful talent recruiting businesses of their own.  

And I’m grateful for everything that my first year taught me about recruiting, leadership, and myself. One year down. Many, many more to go! 

At Goodwin Recruiting, we prioritize relationship building, meeting in person with clients as often as we can. Shown below are two members of my group on a recent visit with one of our valued clients. They are Rob McDermott, Senior Recruiting Partner (left) and Andrea Dunne, Recruiting Partner (right). Not pictured is Katherine Clark, PHR, Senior Recruiting Partner, who was there, too.  

Learn about opportunities to become a Goodwin Recruiting Partner  

Goodwin Recruiting is an excellent company for professionals wanting opportunities to enter or advance in the exciting and lucrative field of talent acquisition. Year after year, we’re ranked as a Forbes Best Recruitment Company, focused on combining innovation with a people-first approach. 

See how the partnership works – and bet on yourself, with Goodwin behind you!