Confiance Career Connection LLC
10 Tips on Working With Recruiters
By Daniel M. Rover, CEO
- Establish Your Ultimate Career Goal
Before you begin your job search, it’s important to have an idea of what type of position you are looking for. This will ensure that any matches include the skillset with which you’re comfortable.
When discussing your search with a recruiter, be sure not to misclassify yourself by asking them to find “any job.” You should keep an open mind, but also be able to provide a list of desired job titles, so everyone clearly knows where your interests lie.
A method of doing this is to create a wish list before beginning the job search. You can start off vague but then narrow it down once you’ve done more research on available positions in order to target in on your job.
- Honesty Is The Best Policy
It is critical to be honest about your background when working with recruiters.
This includes being honest about your resume, work history, experience level and salary expectations. It’s important to be upfront with them so they can match you with the perfect position. Nothing is more upsetting than being caught in a lie that destroys the trust between you and the staffing agency. Recruiters want the truth to avoid complications with employers. Employers will always find out about the lie at some point and your work status will be in jeopardy.
Be sure to have both professional and friendly references readily available to build more trust. Include someone who knows you well, can speak about your character, and help develop your candidate profile.
- Discuss Salary, Benefits, & Compensation Package
Talking about money with a recruiter is essential. Expect recruiters to ask about your salary requirements and other benefits you would need to make a career match. In fact, a recruiter will be unable to negotiate for you if they don’t know your salary expectations.
Ask for more details on benefit packages, including bonuses, vacation time, sick days, and life insurance policies. Some companies include 401K matching, childcare reimbursement, travel reimbursement, and educational scholarships. Always ask about benefits before you agree to interview.
- Find Recruiters Who Specialize In Your Industry
A general recruiter isn’t always the best option, and is never the right option if you have a unique skillset. Many recruiters specialize in a particular industry or type of work. Look for recruiters with the expertise in your field and industry. They can offer advice about specific companies, introduce you to a hiring manager they have previously worked with, and help you understand what their expectations are during every stage of the interview process.
- Use Recruiters Who Keep A Resume Bank
Ask your recruiter if they keep a resume bank. A resume bank is a database of people who may or may not be currently looking for work, but are interested in future opportunities. Recruiters use contacts in the database to source and match qualified talent to a role. Once you are in the resume bank, it is much quicker and easier to maintain a relationship with you and to present you to hiring managers with new job opportunities.
- Talk About What You Don’t Like To Do
Your job search is about finding work you like to do and roles you are comfortable in. It’s just as important to talk about what you don’t want to do. Being upfront about what you don’t want will save time for both you and the recruiter. It’s always better to be honest rather than mislead recruiters just because they’re offering an interview or two.
- Let The Recruiter Suggest Modifications To Your Resume
If the recruiter suggests changes to your resume, please do it. They are the professional in this field and have years of experience negotiating for job seekers. They will know what needs to be done better than you do. If there is something that they think you should add or remove from your resume, just do it. They’re not judging you; they believe it will help you land an interview faster.
- Don’t Contact Employers Directly
Keep job searching yourself, but don’t contact companies directly. Let the recruiter do it on your behalf. Send them a link to the website or job board you stumbled across. The recruiter is already in touch with local companies, and by contacting employers directly, you are stepping on the recruiter’s toes, making your chances worse for obtaining the position.
- Stay Committed: Don’t Skip Or Miss Interviews
Whatever you do, don’t miss an interview. If something comes up, let your recruiter know, but don’t give them any kind of story or excuse, just be honest. Poor communication reflects badly on your professionalism. They would much rather reschedule a pending interview then hear you no showed and left their client hanging.
When interviewing, don’t forget your manners. Be on time or early and make sure to ask questions about the company and job opening during your meeting so you can tell whether this is the perfect job for you and show the employer that you’re serious about obtaining a position with their company.
- Consistent Communication Is Key
Communicating regularly with your recruiter is the key to your success. Provide regular feedback, asking questions about local companies, and even pointing out new job listings. It’s not just about getting employed, it’s about making professional connections for yourself too!
