7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Working with a Recruiter
If you are on the lookout for a new job, working with a recruiter is a great way to gain exposure to exciting opportunities that you may not have known about. Being able to take advantage of a recruiter’s experience and connections empowers you to steer your career in previously unattainable directions. So how can you make the most out of this valuable recruiter-candidate relationship?
Recruiters love to help others. However, they also have a never-ending list of responsibilities to manage all at once. A little bit of help goes a long way when it comes working with them Listening and responding to your recruiter is all about helping you in the end. Pair a successful relationship with your great credentials and experience, and your job search will be a breeze!
Here is a list of tips that will make you shine as the perfect candidate – and help your recruiter find you a dream job:
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Be Honest with your Recruiter Right from The Get-Go
Honesty is always the best policy. You and your recruiter need to be on the same page in order for them to find you a position that you will love. Your recruiter can only do their job if you are open with them, and there is really no reason to overly embellish.
Be honest about your experience, because it will come out sooner or later if you are under qualified for a position. And it’s not just your job experience that they are looking at…you also need to be honest about who you are as a person in order for them to find a good cultural fit for you. As the saying goes, ‘don’t try to be a square peg in a round hole.’
Every detail you can offer will help them do their job better, so be upfront. Let them know about your working style – whether you prefer loud busy environments, or something better suited for an introvert. Tell them what your aspirations are and more. You can do this during your pre-screening interview in a friendly and professional manner. Your recruiter will know very little about you up to this point, so being upfront is the only way to gain trust and rapport.
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Be Prepared for your Pre-Screening Interview
Try to go in to the initial meeting with your recruiter as prepared as possible. Having an idea of the kinds of position you are looking for and what you are hoping to get out of the experience is one of the easiest ways to help your recruiter find you the perfect role. Your recruiter is going to have a lot of questions. Their intention is to present you to potential employers with clarity and accuracy.
Think of your first meeting with a recruiter as being as important as your first interview with an employer. Show up with an updated resume, be ready to have answers to common interview questions and dress to impress. Don’t expect your recruiter to do everything for you, because there is only so much advice they can offer to a candidate who is unprepared.
When it comes to searching for a job, being unprepared can make candidates look disinterested and unorganized – a big no-no. Recruiters want to present the best candidates to their clients, and they’re willing to bend over backwards for those who come to the table! Getting into the job search headspace as soon as possible will make for a much more productive encounter.
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Be Enthusiastic About Your Job Search
There are tons of people across America who are looking for a new job. Not everybody is going to put in the same amount of effort. Presenting yourself as one of the candidates who is passionate and enthusiastic will do wonders to incentivize the recruiter to go above and beyond to get you placed.
It is a competitive job market, and the task of embarking on a job search can be daunting. One sure fire way to make things a little bit easier is to keep an upbeat attitude. Keeping a positive and understanding demeanor will not only help to keep you level headed, but it will make you more enjoyable to work with. It will also be easier for your recruiter to present you to potential employers. Recruiters want to work with people who are professional, but even more so, with people who are enthusiastic.
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Be Communicative when Working with a Recruiter
Keeping an open and honest line of communication when working with a recruiter is absolutely necessary. Do you need clarification on something during the hiring process? Ask questions. If you aren’t happy with the job they are suggesting, speak up! Have you decided to change what you are looking for? Give them a heads up. While recruiters gave a ton of experience, they can’t call themselves mind readers quite yet. It is your recruiter’s job to help you, but they can’t help if they don’t know what you want. The more they know about you and what you are looking for, the better chance they will have at finding you a good fit!
Also, don’t be afraid to seem eager! They are just as excited about getting updates about your progress as you are. Taking the time to follow up with your recruiter shows initiative, which is an admirable quality in any candidate. However, make sure you don’t come off as aggressive or impatient when you do follow up. You have to trust that your recruiter is working around the clock to help you.
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Put Yourself in Your Recruiter’s Shoes
Practicing empathy is a good skill to have but it is especially important when working with a recruiter. One of the best ways to connect with your recruiter is to put yourself in their shoes and understand that they also have a lot on their plate. Trust that they are doing their best to juggle all of their responsibilities and deliver a top-notch service to you. Their intention is for the process to be smooth for everyone involved – you, the client and themselves.
It is likely that you aren’t the recruiter’s only candidate at any given time. There is a big chance (nearly 100%) that they are also working hard to help others find their dream job at the same time. This doesn’t make you any less important to them. Be patient, and good things will come.
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Take Your Recruiter’s Advice
Recruiters will always be honest with you. It is their job to find you a great match, but they are also answering to your potential employers. If they offer interview advice or feedback, listen and try to improve – this is their area of expertise!
Maybe you weren’t selected for a certain position for a specific reason. Something that you have never even considered could be hurting your chances of success. Don’t take offense to criticism, as it is always meant to be constructive. Recruiters really do want each and every candidate they work with to succeed and following their advice can help make that happen.
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Be Gracious If Things Don’t Work Out
Sometimes, it can take a while to get a placement, and sometimes things just don’t work out. This doesn’t mean that your job hunt won’t ever work out. Be patient and positive when working with a recruiter. New placements don’t always happen overnight. It is hard not to feel like the world is against you if don’t land your dream job right away, but this is not the case.
In addition, it’s nearly never the recruiter who turns you down. If you’ve made it through the pre-screening interview with them, it’s more likely that the employer decided not to move forward. Their job is to find you a job, so they’re rooting for you all the way. In the long run, working with your recruiter a little bit longer to find the perfect match is better than taking an ill-fitting position that will make you unhappy. Recruiters know this – so trust them!
The recruiters at Dunhill Staffing Systems work tirelessly to make sure each and every candidate is placed with an exciting and meaningful position. Ready to start working with a recruiter and take your job search to the next level? Reach out to Dunhill Staffing Systems today to get started.
