Top 10 things you can do this year to achieve your 2023 billings target.
#1 Master the art of the follow-up.
We’ve spoken countless times on Limitless Learning (as well as the Recruitment Mentors Podcast) about the importance of following up and how powerful it can be for growing your network and your desk.
Ensure that you are following up beyond a “check-in” email or a quick call. Schedule lunches, coffees, and in-person meetings where you can build the foundations of a relationship that will benefit you in the long-term.
#2 Don’t ask? Don’t get.
Never pitched a retainer before? Do it.
Don’t feel comfortable asking for exclusive work? It’s time to get rid of this mindset.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. What’s the worst that can happen? Someone says no!
#3 Stick to the basics.
The basics are there for a reason: they work incredibly well.
Sure, everybody has their own variations on what does or doesn’t work for their desk – but the reality is that the basics can enable you to stay on track when you hit a rough patch.
Whether you’re a 360 or 180 consultant, ensure you’re hitting your basics daily to achieve the best results.
#4 Have a long-term view.
Recruitment is a long game, more so now than ever before.
You’re going to have months (or even quarters) where your performance may not be where it needs to be.
But, embracing a long-term view and going into each call or meeting with the mindset that it will be developed into something is a great way to be.
Not only will this enable you to have a better outlook on your billings overall for the year, but it will force you to prioritise this method of working (which clients and candidates are much more receptive to).
#5 Prioritise self-growth.
We speak a lot about mindset in this newsletter, and for some of you – you may not see the link between mindset and hitting your billings targets.
But, prioritising your self-growth will enable you to adopt a mindset that sees negatives as learnings.
#6 Know your worth.
Saying “no” to a client or candidate can feel difficult at first – but 2023 is the year that you need to know your worth.
Not every role is worth taking on – not every meeting is worth having. Be honest with yourself, check in with yourself, and take on things that are going to be valuable. If a client or candidate doesn’t see your value, then are they the type of client or candidate that you want to be working with?
#7 Step out of your comfort zone.
It could be running an event – starting a podcast, or creating a closer-knit candidate community; there are so many things you can do this year to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
The by-product may not directly be better billings, but embracing change and creating a more holistic approach to your desk will benefit you in the long-run.
It doesn’t have to be as crazy as starting a podcast, either – think small and go from there.
#8 Create financial goals that are realistic.
There’s nothing more demotivating than feeling like you’re never going to hit your targets.
Ensure that your monthly, quarterly, and annual goals are realistic.
There is nothing wrong with pushing yourself – we all need to aim high! But, assess what you’ve set for yourself and be honest.
#9 Seek advice from those around you.
Peers, colleagues, or even competitors….
We are all in this incredible industry together.
Seek advice and learn from those who are better than you: what did they do to get there? How can you potentially help each other? What can you do differently this year?
#10 Embed business development into your daily activity.
To hit your billings target, you’re going to need to ensure that your approach to business development is a positive one.
For a lot of recruiters, we are often taught business development and candidate management as two separate things – which for the most part of our jobs, are.
But, the reality is that you should be embedding business development into your daily activity – your candidate can become a client, and vice versa.
These are our 10
If you think we are missing anything on this list, then let us know?
We would love to hear what you think the best recruiters will be doing consistently this year to ensure they smash their targets.