Tips for Working With a Recruiter: How to Get the Best Out of Your Job Search
Searching for a new job can be an overwhelming and stressful process, especially if you are doing it on your own. You may consider working with recruiting agencies, staffing agencies, or headhunters to help you find the perfect position to fit your skillset.
But what exactly should you expect from this relationship?
And how do you make sure you get the best possible outcome out of your job search and each other?
In this article, we outline tips that will help ensure your experience is as beneficial and rewarding as possible when working with a staffing agency recruiter:
Establish Your Ultimate Career Goal
Before you begin job hunting or visiting job boards, it's important to have an idea of what type of position or dream job you are looking for. This will help ensure that any potential matches include the skillset and responsibilities with which you're comfortable.
When discussing this goal with a recruiter, be sure not to pigeonhole yourself by asking them to find "anything." Job seekers should keep an open mind, but also be sure to provide a specific list of desired job titles, job openings, and types of work so everyone clearly knows where your interests lie.
A good way to do this is by creating a wish list before beginning the job search, as it may take some time to find something perfect. You can start off broad but then more specifically refine it down once you've done more research on available positions in order to hone in on your dream job.
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Being honest about your background when working with recruiters is critical!
This means being honest about your resume, work history (jobs), experience level, salary expectations, and desired locations (commute). It's important to be upfront with them so they can give you the best possible positions that match your preferences.
If you use drugs or have a criminal background, just be honest! Nothing is more alarming than being caught lying or omitting important details that destroy trust between you and the staffing agency.
Recruiters aren't the cops - they don't report or "tattle" on you by knowing this private or undesirable information you share. Rather, they want the truth to avoid positions & employers who require screening to help find you the best company culture, role, and work environment, regardless of your history. 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.
Recruiters Don't Work For You
Remember recruiters work for hiring managers and the companies hiring, not the candidates! It's up to you to stay in communication and to nurture the relationship as much as them. You might feel pressure to take a job at all costs because the recruiter has spent so much time and energy shepherding you through the process, but it's important to remember that your interests are aligned with theirs ONLY when you have an offer in hand.
The best recruiters will always be upfront about how they'll make money from working with you. Their compensation is paid by the hiring company, and is usually a percentage of your total salary and any signing bonuses. There is no cost to you. They should also be transparent about the hiring process as it differs for each of their clients.
Discuss Salary, Benefits, & Compensation Package
Don't be shy in your job search - talking about money with a recruiter is an essential thing! Expect recruiters to ask about your salary requirements and other benefits you would need to make a move. In fact, the recruiter will be less likely to negotiate for you if they don't know what your salary expectations are because they are missing key information on what you are looking for in your next job.
When discussing compensation with a recruiter, it's important that both parties walk away from the conversation feeling like they've had their needs met. It is always in the best interest of any hiring company to make sure there is an equal balance between employer and employee satisfaction so as not to discourage future talent or leave them unhappy when considering whether or not to take another offer down the line.
Ask for more details on benefit packages, including vacation time, sick days, life insurance policies - anything related to how much time off work you'll have during year one, etc. Some companies even include 401K matching, quarterly bonuses, childcare reimbursement, travel reimbursement, and educational scholarships. Always ask about the job seekers’ benefits before you agree to interview.
Find Recruiters Who Specialize In Your Industry
A recruiting generalist isn't always the best option, especially if you have a unique skillset. Many recruiters specialize in a particular industry or type of work. Seek recruiters with the experience and expertise in your field & 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.
For example, redShift is a technology recruiting & IT staffing agency. We help many other industries, but tech is our bread and butter. Those seeking tech jobs should come to us vs. another local employment agency.
If you're looking for recruiting specialists on LinkedIn or use this search: "Recruiting Specialist" AND (industry OR job title), the results will show recruiters who specialize in that particular field - not only generalists who may or may not be able to help a qualified person like yourself.
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 & match qualified talent to a role. Once you are in the resume bank, your profile has been "vetted." It is now 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 as it is to discuss what you do want to do. Being upfront about what you don't want will save time and energy for both you and the recruiter.
Talk to recruiters about roles in your field that are not a good fit. It's always better to be honest rather than mislead them just because they're offering an interview or two.
Recruiters understand that candidates have preferences, so it is likely they already know there may be some areas where there isn't mutual interest between employer and candidate. As long as other parts of the conversation were positive, another opportunity may open up down the line!
Let The Recruiter Edit & Modify Your Resume
If the recruiter wants to make changes to your resume, please let them! 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 want to add or remove from your resume, just let it go. Remember- they're not judging you; they're editing because 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. You'll get through faster than someone without a relationship with that particular employer.
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. They're not going to be as interested or impressed with your resume if you upload it directly vs. letting headhunters present and champion on your behalf.
Stay Committed: Don't Skip Or Miss Interviews
Whatever you do, don't miss an interview! Recruiters often have to keep track of all the candidates they've been in contact with and, as you can imagine, this is much easier if only a few people are dropping out or missing their interviews.
If something comes up, feel free to let your recruiter know, but don't give them any kind of story or excuse - just be honest about what's going on so that they can work together to find another time for you. Poor communication reflects badly on your professionalism and reliability and could damage your professional relationship with the recruiter. They would much rather reschedule a pending interview then hear you "no showed" and left their client hanging.
The recruiter wants to help you get a job. It is in their best interest for you to do well after all! They want the employer they are working for to be happy, and more importantly - not disappointed. They also don’t want to place you in a company where you aren’t happy, so just be honest if you don’t think a job description is the right fit.
And 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. Recruiters usually have more contact with employers than candidates. Show them that you're serious about finding a great opportunity right away.
Help Recruiters Help You
While they are working on your job search and even after they have placed you in your new job, continue to communicate and help your recruiter! Stay in contact and maintain the relationship.
One of the best ways to help your recruiter is to provide referrals to friends & family that are seeking work or a change in career. Recruiters will always be grateful for a referral to a good candidate, and who doesn't want friends working together?
Consistent Communication Is Key
Communicating regularly with your recruiter is the key to your success. Providing regular feedback, asking questions about local companies, and even pointing out new job listings is helpful.
You also want to make sure you're getting the most out of your recruiter. When they place you in a new job, ask them what their recruiting pipeline looks like so that you can keep an eye on any opportunities before other people find them first! You'll be glad to know that recruiters always appreciate feedback from new hires too - let them know how you're liking your new company and if there are any changes or updates since your placement. This keeps the door open to change companies if you decide the new workplace isn't for you.
In short, communication is key when working with a recruiter, so stay connected with yours as much as possible. It's not just about getting employed, it's about making professional connections for yourself too!
Working With A Recruiter FAQs:
Is it better to apply for a job through a recruiter?
Recruiters can filter the best jobs for you and offer expert career advice on how to prepare for a job interview, so it's definitely better than going at it alone! However, if a recruiter can't find anything that fits your skill set or preferences after an agreed upon amount of time, then go ahead and apply directly - just let them know first! Don't apply direct to any company if you are actively working with a recruiter without checking to see if they have a connection there.
Can I work with one recruiter exclusively?
There are no “exclusive relationships” when working with a recruiter, but be honest if you are working with more than one staffing agency! They will be checking in every few weeks or months depending on what stage of the process they're currently at.
Do recruiters charge fees for their services?
No, recruiters don't charge candidates fees. Only employers get charged the placement fee. Avoid any recruiter who wants to charge you - it might be a scam!
How can I make sure my resume is up to par?
Make your resume easy-to-read by using a simple font and layout. It should be concise with no more than one page of content.
Make sure you include all pertinent information:
education
previous work experience
skills/accomplishments
industry knowledge (software & tools)
certifications (if applicable).
Use tangible data whenever possible to reinforce your past performance and don’t forget to create a mission statement with your career goals!
Do I Need LinkedIn to Work with a Recruiter?
No, but it makes your search much easier! LinkedIn is a popular tool for finding top talent, regardless of role. Be sure to include a friendly headshot in your LinkedIn profile and a clear statement about what you are looking for. These two tips / areas are the most important part of LinkedIn's website.
Job Hunting for a Dream Job? Work With a Recruiter!
Ready to search? Working with recruiters is easy! Upload your resume now and someone from our team of recruiters will be in touch ASAP!