Jim Clapp, Chief Lending Officer at Assurance Financial, was recently quoted in National Mortgage News discussing the challenges of mortgage recruiting and the importance of ethical hiring practices.
As mortgage recruiters ramp up efforts, many loan officers are tuning them out. Clapp believes the most effective way to recruit talent is through authenticity and long-term relationship-building.
“You can have the best sales guy recruiting for you, and he could do this or say that, but if he doesn’t have [ethics, morals, and genuineness], you’re just not going to be successful,” Clapp explains. He stresses that strong company culture and leadership—not aggressive recruiting tactics—are what truly attract top talent.
Clapp also cautions against relying too heavily on sign-on bonuses. “If a sign-on bonus is the biggest lever you have to pull, you’re going to have a revolving door,” he says. Instead, Assurance Financial rewards loan officers based on production and long-term success.
With recruiter cold calls at an all-time high, Clapp believes the key to attracting great talent is creating an environment where employees want to stay. “The good recruits are very thoughtful, but they take a while to be recruited,” he adds, reinforcing that sustainable hiring is a long game built on trust and value.
Read the full article on National Mortgage News: Mortgage recruiters are calling—but LOs aren’t picking up.