The most important factor in successful recruiting is the communication to the candidate that he or she is highly valued by the institution. The recruiter must take the candidate seriously, listen carefully to their description of their interests and impress upon the candidate that the institution needs a person like him. A meeting with a recruiter is possibly the first serious encounter the candidate has with the institution, and the recruiter must represent the institution in a highly welcoming manner.
Given the wide variety of choices every candidate has, it is the recruiter's responsibility to demonstrate exactly why this institution is best suited to the candidate. The recruiter must have a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of the institution as well as be able to answer questions easily and describe in detail the programs and services that are especially strong factors that match the candidate's interests well.
Certain questions are bound to be asked by candidates: a student applying for admission to a college will want to know about financial aid or a job seeker will want to know about employee benefits. A successful recruiter should have all this information available in written form, clearly and attractively presented to the candidate. The recruiter should also dress in a manner that demonstrates the values of the institution.