Recruiters, are you being held back because of your fears? We know that to get the job done, you need to overcome these fears, but that’s sometimes easier said than done. So what are these fears and how can you conquer them? Read on!

Easy Fears to Settle

While the fears we’ll be discussing aren’t career threatening, they can still produce anxiety. Just remember that they have simple solutions that will help you easily overcome them.

Are you constantly worried that you’ll miss a phone call, either because you don’t hear it or because your phone has died? If yes, then feel free to turn up the ringer volume, and remember to charge your phone every night, whether it needs it or not. See, easy as pie to fix.

Are you worried about how your candidates will do during their interviews and tests? This might be a valid worry, but a lot of this is outside of your control. You need to know that you picked the best person and have faith that they’ll do well. Don’t be afraid to step into the role of mentor. Speak with your account manager or the client, if you have a direct connection. Learn all you can about the requirements of the role, the company culture, and the ideal career path envisioned. Once armed with this information, you can coach candidates on how to ace the interview.

If you’re still worried, always have a backup plan or another candidate in place since that will give you a little more control over the situation.

Are you afraid of using social media for recruiting or think it’s a waste of time? Some recruiters think that social media is more for socializing than recruiting so they avoid using it. But, really, LinkedIn is made for connecting with active job seekers, and Facebook and other platforms are good for sourcing passive candidates. More than job boards like Monster of CareerBuilder, these are the sources of optimal recruiting. Start small by posting lightly or stick to specific groups and pages to make it easier to get your feet wet.

Overcoming Inhibitions

As the poet Ogden Nash famously quipped, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.” Still, you don’t need booze to conquer your inhibitions.

The fear of failure brings many people to their knees: they’re frozen with indecision since they don’t want to move forward in case things don’t work out. You need to keep in mind that you are good at what you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be in this field. You need to have faith in your abilities and your goals. Yet, you should never stop trying to hone your skills. Ask for feedback from employers and candidates alike to see where you can improve.

This fear of failure neatly dovetails into the fear of being fired, but just remember that so long as you keep performing, you’ll be fine.

Are you scared of feeling alone? As recruiters, you talk to many people every day, but you rarely connect with anyone too deeply. If you are feeling lonely or adrift, try to make friends with other recruiters (if you’re an independent recruiter, try to find other independent recruiters since they know what you’re going through). Try searching on LinkedIn or going to networking events to give yourself a support group and people to bounce ideas off of.

Do you have a fear of talking to total strangers? This fear can range from being mild to quite debilitating, but it is a necessary skill for any recruiter since you need to connect with unknown candidates. This fear is most likely because you can’t control the situation/conversation like you can with leaving a message or emailing. You don’t want to sound lost, after all. An easy way to alleviate some of the anxiety is to fully prepare in advance. Learn all available details about the company, the job, questions you want to ask, and those most likely to be asked of you. This will give you some control over the situation, which will make it easier to get through.

Are you avoiding using a more personal touch because it could be considered invasive? There’s a delicate balance between personable and personal. Find it. Embrace it. You need to remember that people like getting attention, so give them a call or ask to meet in person, if possible. No one wants to feel like an afterthought or undeserving of a phone call. Also, some candidates prefer more hand-holding, so use that to build up your relationship with them.

Now that we’ve addressed some of the more common fears, and why they won’t be a concern for long, you can see that you aren’t alone if you’ve experienced any of them. Even better, you know that they can all be overcome. It’s time to acknowledge those fears and work toward conquering them to become an even better recruiter.