Technical background for recruiters: A must?

Global development recruiting has its own unique set of challenges, and recruiters must often be able to identify highly specialized professionals for projects. Kate Warren, Devex director of global recruitment services, sat down with Kelly Tobin, recruitment manager for Engility, to find out how important it is for her team to have a technical background in the area they’re recruiting. Just a year ago, Engility didn’t have division-specific recruiters, Tobin explained in our video conversation (see below). But she now has energy, agriculture and conflict and stabilization recruiters, to name a few. “This being D.C., you can find someone with a master’s degree in agriculture who’s not only willing, but excited to have the opportunity to work as a recruiter on food security and ag positions,” Tobin said. And the context and knowledge they bring, from discussions with candidates to team meetings, is extremely valuable, she added. “It helps them to take their seat as a thought leader in meetings,” Tobin said. And if you’re not as fully versed in the sector for which you’re recruiting? Tobin offers a few tips in this video.