Building Candidate
Rapport
Julie Smith – Professional Recruiter
April 30, 2015
Agenda
• What is Rapport?
• The Basics of Building Rapport
• What we are doing now
• What more can we do?
• Pipeline Rapport
• Success Stories
January 27, 2016
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition 2
What is Rapport?
January 27, 2016 3
0 20 40 60 80
The capacity to evaluate anothers point
of view
Why you are attracted to someone
The process of building a relationship
with someone
A close connection marked by common
interests or similarity in values
Rapport is
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
What is Rapport?
• A close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups
concerned understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate
well.
◦ Mutually beneficial relationship
- Help each other achieve individual goals
• Company and job-specific
◦ Understand each other’s feelings
- What do we want to accomplish
◦ Communicate well
- Timely, accurate communication
January 27, 2016 4
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
Helps us connect People and Possibilities
Basics of Building Rapport
January 27, 2016 5
RapportBe honest
Be
professional
Be positive
Be polite
Be specific
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
What are we doing now?
January 27, 2016 6
What more can we do?
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Following through on my commitments
Making small talk
Respecting their time
Referring to them by name
Letting them talk
Answering their questions honestly
Being transparent with them
I build rapport with my candidates by:
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
• Start the conversation by asking questions, NOT by pitching our company
or positions
◦ Ask open-ended questions that keeps the focus on them
- Keep it light and legal
- Can provide valuable information about what motivates them and what
they are looking for in a new employer
◦ Applies to electronic communication, as well
- What interested you in their resume/profile
- Mutual connections or interests
- Do your research
January 27, 2016 7
Initial Contact
Make your first impression count!
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
The Interview Process
• Create a conversation, not an interrogation
◦ Get to know the candidate
◦ One size doesn’t fit all
• Use their questions as an opportunity to sell them on FedEx Office
◦ Goes beyond tangible benefits, talk about work/life balance, etc.
• Good rapport can help keep an interview on track
◦ Utilize information you’ve learned about them to guide conversation back
to job-specific territory
January 27, 2016 8
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
“You mentioned a
passion for
developing others…”
“I noticed you won
an award for sales
attainment…”
Offer Acceptance and Beyond
• It’s time to celebrate!
• Create a calendar appointment to follow-up with them on their service
anniversary and birthday
◦ Make it personal
• In tough-to-fill or high turnover markets, make it a point to check in every
few months
◦ Express an interest in their career with FedEx Office, both current and
future
◦ Great time to ask for referrals on open positions
◦ Help identify an at-risk TM before they leave
January 27, 2016 9
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
Pipeline Rapport
• What can we learn about
the candidate?
• Available resources
• Legal considerations
Identification
• Not likely to have
resume available
• Listening vs. Hearing
• Future wants/needs
Qualification • Catching up on what
has/hasn’t changed
• Recruiter and
candidate
• Importance of timelines
Status
• Don’t make assumptions
• Check for interest
• Explain position duties
• Ask for application
Opening
January 27, 2016 10
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
Success Stories
January 27, 2016 11
Building Candidate Rapport│
Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
“Based on my rapport with
the candidate, I knew
more about her as a
manager than the
interview told us.”
“ By establishing a
connection with her and
sharing my own experience
in the same situation she
was able to make her
decision to come to Office..”
“…built on mutual network
connections that provided
critical information on the
core competencies of the
candidate…”
“…communicated thru LI for
almost 1 year, staying in
touch, keeping her abreast of
any situation that would be of
interest to her in her
location.”
“This allowed me to speak
specifically to opportunity we
offer that matched what they
liked in their current role as
well as what was important
to them to find in their next
job. ”
“He wasn't a good fit for that
job, but because I got to
know him, I was able to help
him find another job within
the company.”
Questions?

Building rapport with candidates

  • 1.
    Building Candidate Rapport Julie Smith– Professional Recruiter April 30, 2015
  • 2.
    Agenda • What isRapport? • The Basics of Building Rapport • What we are doing now • What more can we do? • Pipeline Rapport • Success Stories January 27, 2016 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition 2
  • 3.
    What is Rapport? January27, 2016 3 0 20 40 60 80 The capacity to evaluate anothers point of view Why you are attracted to someone The process of building a relationship with someone A close connection marked by common interests or similarity in values Rapport is Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 4.
    What is Rapport? •A close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well. ◦ Mutually beneficial relationship - Help each other achieve individual goals • Company and job-specific ◦ Understand each other’s feelings - What do we want to accomplish ◦ Communicate well - Timely, accurate communication January 27, 2016 4 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition Helps us connect People and Possibilities
  • 5.
    Basics of BuildingRapport January 27, 2016 5 RapportBe honest Be professional Be positive Be polite Be specific Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 6.
    What are wedoing now? January 27, 2016 6 What more can we do? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Following through on my commitments Making small talk Respecting their time Referring to them by name Letting them talk Answering their questions honestly Being transparent with them I build rapport with my candidates by: Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 7.
    • Start theconversation by asking questions, NOT by pitching our company or positions ◦ Ask open-ended questions that keeps the focus on them - Keep it light and legal - Can provide valuable information about what motivates them and what they are looking for in a new employer ◦ Applies to electronic communication, as well - What interested you in their resume/profile - Mutual connections or interests - Do your research January 27, 2016 7 Initial Contact Make your first impression count! Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 8.
    The Interview Process •Create a conversation, not an interrogation ◦ Get to know the candidate ◦ One size doesn’t fit all • Use their questions as an opportunity to sell them on FedEx Office ◦ Goes beyond tangible benefits, talk about work/life balance, etc. • Good rapport can help keep an interview on track ◦ Utilize information you’ve learned about them to guide conversation back to job-specific territory January 27, 2016 8 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition “You mentioned a passion for developing others…” “I noticed you won an award for sales attainment…”
  • 9.
    Offer Acceptance andBeyond • It’s time to celebrate! • Create a calendar appointment to follow-up with them on their service anniversary and birthday ◦ Make it personal • In tough-to-fill or high turnover markets, make it a point to check in every few months ◦ Express an interest in their career with FedEx Office, both current and future ◦ Great time to ask for referrals on open positions ◦ Help identify an at-risk TM before they leave January 27, 2016 9 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 10.
    Pipeline Rapport • Whatcan we learn about the candidate? • Available resources • Legal considerations Identification • Not likely to have resume available • Listening vs. Hearing • Future wants/needs Qualification • Catching up on what has/hasn’t changed • Recruiter and candidate • Importance of timelines Status • Don’t make assumptions • Check for interest • Explain position duties • Ask for application Opening January 27, 2016 10 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition
  • 11.
    Success Stories January 27,2016 11 Building Candidate Rapport│ Julie Smith│ Talent Acquisition “Based on my rapport with the candidate, I knew more about her as a manager than the interview told us.” “ By establishing a connection with her and sharing my own experience in the same situation she was able to make her decision to come to Office..” “…built on mutual network connections that provided critical information on the core competencies of the candidate…” “…communicated thru LI for almost 1 year, staying in touch, keeping her abreast of any situation that would be of interest to her in her location.” “This allowed me to speak specifically to opportunity we offer that matched what they liked in their current role as well as what was important to them to find in their next job. ” “He wasn't a good fit for that job, but because I got to know him, I was able to help him find another job within the company.”
  • 12.

Editor's Notes

  • #6 Be positive and professional You are a Brand Ambassador for FedEx Office Be polite Using words like “please” and “thank you” go a long way Don’t assume you’ve caught them at a good time Be specific You are the expert guiding candidates through our interview process Be honest Provide open, honest and candid responses to their questions