19 Inspirational Quotes for Recruiters

Recruiters and Talent Acquisition professionals have incredibly difficult jobs. We all know that people are the lifeblood of every organization – nothing can drive business success quite like star talent. And given how tough it is in the market right now, it’s never been more tricky to find and hire these perfect candidates.

Throw in some demanding hiring managers, unrealistic requisition loads, never-ending tech developments, and skills scarcity and you’ve got yourself a bit of a nightmare situation! So finding moments of inspiration are important.

We’ve pulled together 19 quotes from some of the industry’s biggest names to deliver that jolt of adrenaline. With some practical tips from SocialTalent’s platform authors, thought-leaders, and celebrated experts, these sage tidbits are sure to reinvigorate any struggling recruiter!

1. “How we hire impacts who we hire” – John Vlastelica

CEO and Founder of Recruiting Toolbox, John Vlastelica is a renowned TA expert and a font of visionary and motivational insight. Recruiters and hiring managers are the gate-keepers at any organization. So, it’s vital to ensure that you’re on your A-game. Remember – top talent demands engaged and effective interviewers, they won’t settle for ‘good enough.’ If you want to land the best candidates, you need to create a hiring process which reflects this.

Learn more: Looking to level-up? With SocialTalent’s recruiting training you’ll learn the knowledge and skills needed directly from experts like John Vlastelica.

2. “Changing jobs is one of the most stressful things you can do in your life. And if you as a recruiter don’t treat it with that level of reverence, you’ll never be good at this industry.” – Jeff Moore

It can be easy to forget that there’s a person at the end of the hiring process at times. But this quote from Jeff Moore, VP of Talent Acquisition at Toast, really puts it into perspective. Always remember the human element of recruiting.

3. “I consider the most important job of someone like myself as recruiting.” – Steve Jobs

This is one to show the leaders. Hiring can make or break an organization and it’s so important to get it right. Recruiters and TA folk need support and sponsorship from even the most senior people at a company to ensure that the talent coming through aligns to the business goals. When leaders understand their role in this, you know you’re on track to build a culture of hiring.

Learn more: Download our eBook – “Building a Culture of Hiring.”

4. “Never forget what it feels like to be on the job market.” – Andrew MacAskill

SocialTalent’s candidate experience expert, Andrew MacAskill gave us this nugget on an episode of our podcast. If we infuse candidate experience with this kind of empathy and authenticity, you’re sure to create a process which not only entices top talent, but also bolsters your employer brand and improves awareness. It’s win-win-win!

5. “When people are marginalized, they fail to have opportunities in employment. They don’t become productive members of society. So I believe that organizations, have a responsibility to provide work and opportunity for all people.” – Joanne Lockwood

A resounding reminder for all recruiters about the imperative of hiring for diverse talent. Joanne Lockwood is an expert on all things DEI (and also a SocialTalent author!) and her point gets to the heart of the matter – no matter how a person identifies or what their background might look like, it has no bearing on their ability to succeed in a role. Do not let bias impact your hiring decisions. Provide opportunity for all.

Learn more: Discover the types of bias which can impact recruiting.

6. “A modern recruiter is one who is targeted, builds relationships and knows how to not only find candidates but also get them to respond!” – Stacy Donovan Zapar

Stacy’s klaxon call for relationship building should never be forgotten. It’s not enough to just source the best candidates, you also need to be able to engage with them on their level and entice them to take interest in the role you are looking to fill. This is key to making great hires.

7. “Talent acquisition is not a perfect science.” – Kris Clelland

A reminder that it’s okay to make mistakes and to learn from them. There is no one-size fits all approach to finding and hiring the best talent. It takes iteration, innovation, and constant learning to understand what works best for you as a recruiter and what works best for the company as a whole.

Learn more: Kris Clelland, Director of TA at Wipro recently joined us on our podcast, take a look below:

8. “Internal mobility is not just increasing the number of recs that are filled with internal talent.” – Zohra Yafai

Internal mobility is becoming a hugely important source of talent for recruiters in every industry. Skills shortages have meant that organizations are looking inwards to find the people they need to drive success. But Zohra’s quote is worth remembering for any TA professional who is hiring internally – the candidates aren’t just a number and it’s important to see the value of the process as a whole.

Learn more: Zohra Yafai, Global VP of TA at Cisco, joined us on our recent SocialTalent Live event.

9. “Time spent on hiring is time well spent.” –  Robert Half

Every recruiter would agree with this, but often it’s a struggle to buy-in from other areas of the business. Sometimes hiring is seen as a secondary activity, something that is tacked on to a to-do list. But if it isn’t given the credence it warrants, you will end up making bad hires. And bad hires cost companies a lot more than you may think…

Learn more: What is the cost of a bad hire?

10. “Hiring needs to transform if we’re going to tackle the skills crisis. The talent and skills are out there, but traditional recruiting methodologies simply cannot cut through this kind of noise.” – Johnny Campbell

The skills shortage is one of a recruiter’s biggest issues right now. And SocialTalent’s CEO Johnny Campbell is right, traditional hiring methodologies just won’t be as effective in this environment. Recruiters must look to the future and recalibrate their efforts if they want to truly succeed.

Learn more: Skills vs. experience in today’s job market.

11. “Language informs behavior. How we speak informs how we treat people.” – Salma El-Wardany

We all know the power that words occupy, particularly when it comes to diversity hiring. Used wisely and with compassion, they can make people feel included and at ease. But, words also have the capacity to cause offense, even if that isn’t the intention. Author and DEI expert, Salma El-Wardany urges us to be conscious of the words we use. They carry great weight and recruiters need to keep this in mind.

Learn more: The language of diversity.

12. “Every time you jump in to fix a problem when you should let your team do it, you’re taking away someone’s opportunity to learn.” – Kelly Jones

We LOVE this quote at SocialTalent! Kelly Jones, CPO at Cisco, gave us this sage insight when she appeared on our podcast. And it’s applicable to any leader, not just recruiters. If you manage a team, you have to relinquish some control so they can learn and develop into better employees.

13. “The secret to a successful hire is this: look for the people who want to change the world.” – Marc Benioff

Look for those candidates who want to push beyond limits. The ones who get excited about change and are agile about how they approach work. That drive and determination for ‘better’ will be worth its metaphorical weight in gold. Truly wise words for any recruiter from the Salesforce CEO.

14. “The applicant is the centre of our universe.” – Janice Bryant Howroyd

Founder and CEO of ActOne Group, Janice Bryant Howroyd, hits the nail on the head with this concise quote. Recruiters must consider candidates as the center of their universe. Treat them with respect, ensure a smooth and consistent hiring process, communicate clearly, and be authentic – it will do wonders for candidate experience as a whole.

15. “We’re not all the same. To treat people equally we sometimes have to treat them differently.” – Yasmin Sheikh

Yasmin Sheikh, Founder of Diverse Matters and SocialTalent author, gave us this tidbit in a recent interview. An expert on attracting and enabling candidates with disabilities, Yasmin here is perfectly encapsulating the need for equity in the hiring process. Every recruiter should remember these words and understand that certain people need accommodations.

16. “Be brave. And know your worth.” – Anne Carrigan

Anne Carrigan is the Head of Talent at eightyseven group and has over 20 years of experience in this field. Her advice is about empowerment for recruiters – understand that you bring so much more to the table than just being the vehicle for filling a role. Never underestimate the knowledge, data, and insight you can offer leaders to make better hiring decisions.

17. “Engagement has to be human. Because people trust people more than brands.” – Ana Alonso

When you are interacting with a potential candidate, it’s imperative to build a level of trust with them. Be human, be kind, and be respectful. Applicants will react in a much more positive way if you don’t come into proceedings acting as a complete mouthpiece for a company – that won’t sway anyone, let alone top talent.

18. “TA is the most rewarding job in a company. You are creating careers for people that are life changing and super impactful.” – Nick Mailey

A pat on the back! It’s always worth reminding yourself how important the work you are doing is as a recruiter. Every day you are changing lives and have the opportunity to make a difference, both for a candidate and the company as a whole. TA is tough, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

Learn more: Nick Mailey, VP of Talent at Equinix, was a guest on our podcast. Catch the full episode here.

19. “Tech is only as good as the people and processes around it.” – Jonathan Kestenbaum

In a world where AI and generative AI are steaming ahead in importance, it’s always worth reminding recruiters of the above quote. Given to us by Jonathan Kestenbaum, MD of Technology Strategy at AMS, it’s a useful reminder for anyone who is getting a bit worried about the future of hiring. While it’s important to understand and leverage tech, it’s not a replacement for your skills and capabilities.

Have these quotes inspired you to do more as a recruiter? SocialTalent’s recruitment training gives organizations everything they need to attract top talent and build a strong, motivated teams.