Working With a Recruiter

Have you ever asked a job seeker their thoughts about working with a recruiter? No doubt, you will hear comments such as "I love my recruiter. She/he helped me land my last two positions." Or you may very well hear the total extreme end, "I hate recruiters. I've sent countless resumes to recruiters and never hear back from them." Or, "they don't seem to care about finding me a job!" So, here is my personal take on what candidates should keep in mind when working with a recruiter.

Professionalism
One thing I personally value from all my candidates, is utmost professionalism. After all, we are trying to determine whether or not to present our candidate to our clients. Our COO, Jennifer Tomlin, had this to say on the topic of working with a recruiter, "First impressions are lasting impressions. A recruiter's focus is to make the match for both the candidate and the client. Matching includes skills, experience, professional presentation, communication, ethics, commitment, past performance and reputation."

If you haven't read the book, Professionalism is for Everyone: Five Keys to Being a True Professional by James R. Ball, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy. (www.goalpower.com) In his book, he highlights these five keys that distinguish true professionals:

1) Character - who you are and what you stand for
2) Attitude - your mental outlook
3) Excellence - your commitment to quality
4) Competency - your degree of expertise
5) Conduct - how you deal with others

Recruiters seek out top-notch professionals from the largest of candidate pools. Not sure where you stand? Ask us for our honest feedback.


Try to understand our role
You must try to remember that we are not working "for" you. Don't get me wrong, we want to see you succeed, but in order to establish a successful recruiter/candidate relationship, you must first understand that we work for the client or company that has given us the search criteria. It is the client that pays our fees. It blows me away when a candidate acts so entitled and outraged because their recruiter hasn't been able to find them a position. Did we charge them a fee to register with us? Have we been "retained" for their job search? Hardly. Although we work hard to cultivate excellent relationships with all our candidates, ultimately, we must satisfy our clients if we are to get paid for all our hard work. We cannot accept every phone call during a normal working day and at times, we may not be able to reply to every single email received. We are busy trying to reel in new opportunities for you. We are networking, talking to decision makers and trying our best to create employment opportunities - with you - in mind. I once read that if a job seeker could pay the recruiter $10,000-$25,000 to find him or her a job, the job seeker might find a shift in attention from a recruiter. It's so very true. If you fit the bill we are actively recruiting for, you can rest assured knowing we will do everything in our power to make sure you are introduced to our client and considered for an interview. After all, we are paid when we place you.



Liza Parker, has been an Accounting & Finance recruiter with Don Richard Associates since 2005. I recently asked her, "What would you say is the most important thing a candidate (job-seeker) needs to keep in mind when working with a recruiter?" Liza replied, "A recruiter is a resource, an extension of a candidate's search, but certainly not their primary resource. They are solely responsible for finding themselves their new position - not us. You certainly want a recruiter to be aware of their candidates. We should remember them in a positive and professional light so we can call them when an appropriate opportunity presents itself. However, it's a bonus to any candidate if a recruiter lands them a fantastic position. It should not be an expectation." She adds, "A great recruiter may market a candidate proactively - I do it all the time, IF I view my candidate as having a unique skill set. They must stand out as an above-average professional or have exceptional presentation or leadership qualities. But our economic times have really brought out aggressiveness and entitlement to the table." And, that's a turn off for any recruiter.


Be honest at all times
When meeting with a recruiter for the first time during an interview, be open and honest about your background, career aspirations, future objectives and your experience. Do not exaggerate your substantive knowledge in a particular industry or job function. You are setting yourself up for failure by stretching the truth. We need to know as much about your professional life as possible to find the perfect position for you. If you were terminated from your last position, do not tell us you were "laid off" or "downsized." Tell us about other interviews, offers on the table, relationships formed with other recruiters and any leads you have on your own. The last thing we want to do is duplicate efforts and waste time running in circles. If you accept an offer on your own, tell us immediately so we can inactivate your file. I tell all my candidates that I expect all cards to be "faced up" during the entire process. If we don't establish a trusting relationship from the very beginning, we're not going to get very far together.


Follow up immediately after interviewing with our client
Call to let your recruiter know how your interview went immediately after your interview. Your candid feedback can provide us with pertinent information that can be leveraged in follow-up communication with the employer. Help us, help you! We may need to schedule a second or final interview. Here are some questions you can expect us to ask you immediately after your interview with our client: Did you meet with anyone other than our main contact? How long were you there? Were benefits discussed? Did salary requirement come up in discussion? Are you still interested in the position at hand? Did they give you an office tour? How did you feel as you walked away to your car?


Working with a recruiter can definitely be a rewarding experience
Brenda Bigelow, an IT and Professional Office recruiter had this to say about what you can expect when working with a recruiter. "We assist you in fine-tuning your skills through testing sessions. We sharpen your resume by reviewing it and offering suggestions on needed changes. A recruiter can give you tips on keeping your resume ahead of the competition. We can help you become more familiar with social networking and the importance of 'being out there'. We're a tool, but it is a candidate's responsibility to do the groundwork, to make the improvements on their resume and keep themselves out there. Of course, the best payoff I can experience as a recruiter, is to score that perfect job for you!"

We can share market intelligence with you, help you prepare for interviews, give you the inside scoop on the hiring company and assist you with negotiating your salary. A qualified recruiter will also help you prepare for counter offers. We want nothing more than to help you land your next great position. Being upbeat and cheerful goes a long way! Showing enthusiasm and flexibility makes our roles so much easier!

In essence, recruiters are a wonderful resource and a complement to your search strategy....but they are not your "agent."


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