The Best of Fordyce: New Year’s Resolutions for Recruiters

  1. I will do whatever is necessary to make the Year 2011 the best year of my career. I will divest myself of those activities that will not promote this objective.
  2. I promise to appreciate that, while my efforts will primarily affect my personal income, I am a part of a bigger picture and will do what I can to help my colleagues and my employer as well.
  3. I will approach every day optimistically, expecting that my activities will produce positive results rather than believing they won’t.
  4. I will spend a part of every day improving my business skills, even if I have to provide the training materials myself.
  5. I will treat every client as I would want to be treated as long as the respect is mutual.
  6. I will treat every job-seeker with consideration, realizing that their plight is urgent and that there, but for the grace of God, go I.
  7. I pledge to mentor colleagues as needed because I know that my firm is only as strong as its weakest link.
  8. I will participate more actively in those industry associations that elevate the entire profession. I promise to give more than I take.
  9. I pledge to add value to all my relationships with clients, candidates, and colleagues.
  10. I understand that my profession is a vital resource to the country’s economic health and well-being and I will do everything in my power to maintain the ethical standards necessary to promote that reality with everyone with whom I come in contact.

Editor’s note: Going back through some of the Fordyce Letter archives, I discovered Paul Hawkinson’s resolutions for recruiters for the year 2004. As you can see, these resolutions are timeless and certainly apply today as much as they did seven years ago. I proudly share them with you today as part of the Best of Fordyce – may they inspire you to make 2011 your best year yet!

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Paul Hawkinson is the editor of The Fordyce Letter, a publication for third-party recruiters that's part of ERE Media. He entered the personnel consulting industry in the late 1950's and began publishing for the industry in the 1970's. During his tenure as a practitioner, he personally billed over $5 million in both contingency and retainer assignments. He formed the Kimberly Organization and purchased The Fordyce Letter in 1980.

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