As a recruiter, you need to stay on top of your game to find strong candidates and attract good applications. Remaining loyal to a set of techniques is not effective on the long-term and also kind of dull. So you decide to release your inner creative demon and come up with an amazing new strategy that could innovate how you attract talent. But before you can actually use it, you need to get the OK from your C-Suite.
When preparing your presentation, it is helpful to pay attention to three main aspects in order to have a successful first pitch.
No. 1 Build your presentation in a progressive manner that will strike their concerns
Managers who are not closely connected with the tech team cannot totally empathize with the pain of being understaffed. Therefore, you need to make them understand how this has an impact on the business.
Therefore, make sure to clearly outline what makes your idea a great one in their business context and how valuable it is. Speak their language!
For example, the vice-president of Marketing does not employ developers in his team so he can’t fully grasp their role. However, when the marketing team needs to develop some software to use in campaigns, they will need to come to the developers hired by you. Here is your cue to paint them a picture of the developer hiring process and its importance. Show them how your strategy is important to them, not to you.
No. 2. Key Performance Indicators should be your best friends
Numbers tell great stories. This is why you need to be able to explain to your C-suite, in numbers, how you will assess the effectiveness of your strategy. During your presentation, you should deliver some expected numbers and results.
If, for instance, you plan to use salary ranges in your job advertisements, talk to them about the increased traffic this change would bring. More traffic means more applications to sort through. Be ready to explain to them how you’re planning to check whether this change will positively impact recruitment.
No. 3 Listen to their opinions and use them
Listening to feedback is a power tool. But not just polite nodding while you stick to your idea, but actual active listening. Even if you have a strong strategy in place, more ideas can lead to even better plans. Not to mention that your relationship with executives will grow stronger.
It doesn’t mean that you need to accept all their ideas. Be brave and out-spoken when their pitch isn’t good for your initiative and they will respect you more. Make this presentation a conversation instead of a one-man speech looking for applause in the end. Whatever you do, always place yourself in a position that shows you have the company’s best interests at heart.