• Negotiation (Win-Win)
• Research (Speed Reading with Comprehension)
• Organizational Political Acumen
• Leadership (Managing w/o Requisite Authority)
• Graciousness (with Candidates and Hiring Managers alike)
• Copywriting and Spin Development (For Ads and Persuasive Conversation)
• Technical Adroitness (Explaining Roles Outside of Personal Experience)
• Interviewing
• Workflow Coordination
• Expectation Management

With limited upward mobility (except in well tuned organizations like the Military), we wonder why Recruiters ever stay in their jobs longer than the bare minimum requirements. The few great players do it because they either love the level of human interaction or they love the hunt itself.

In this high rush, low reward environment, it's difficult to find the time to plan. Most young Recruiting supervisors find themselves barely able to build reporting and status systems. The idea that the pace can be controlled through solid planning seems like an elusive bit of fantasy.