The One Skill Recruiters Need to Improve Business Beyond Referrals
Sep 03, 2025
The One Skill Recruiters Need to Improve Business Beyond Referrals
Struggling to bring in new business beyond referrals?
It’s probably not your CRM. Or your outreach tools.
It’s your EQ.
I’ve seen technically sharp recruiters spin their wheels, even with the right systems in place:
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They’re making the calls
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They’re sending the emails
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They’ve got Clay and automation running
But the results don’t come.
Why?
Because they’re not reading the room.
They’re not adapting in real time.
And they’re not actually connecting.
Emotional intelligence isn’t fluff. It’s a performance skill.
Here’s what strong EQ looks like in the recruiting context:
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Self-awareness — noticing when your tone or message is off
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Self-regulation — staying calm when a client pushes back on your fee
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Motivation — continuing to prospect even after a slow month
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Empathy — shifting your message to match the hiring manager’s real situation
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Social skill — handling hesitation and moving conversations forward with trust
Clients don’t hire recruiters for fun.
They’ve often had bad experiences with other agencies or with trying to do it themselves.
So when you show up? You’re not just selling your expertise.
You’re selling comfort.
You’re selling confidence.
You’re selling clarity.
Those are the things they didn’t get the last time.
If your content, messaging, or conversations aren’t landing, stop focusing on you.
Focus on them.
Their pain. Their context. Their hesitation.
That’s where trust starts.
And that’s how new business gets earned.
Ready for a Smarter Approach?
If you’re a consultative recruiter and want a clearer system for winning better work — without wasting time on the wrong roles — book a 30-minute LinkedIn Roadmap Call.
We’ll walk through your strategy and show you the exact approach we’d use in your seat.
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