Embarking on a job search is enough in and of itself. If you’ve already started your search and have sent out countless resumes, applied for what feels like a million jobs online and have gotten nowhere with leads or referrals from friends and acquaintances, it sounds like a good time to enlist the help of a recruiter.
Finding a good recruiter to assist you with your search is an important step in the process of finding a job that is right for you. The questions is, how do you know if you’ve found a good recruiter and what are the benefits of working with one?
A recruiter is actually a great resource for you during your job search so let’s talk about some of the biggest benefits of working with one first. While there are many benefits of working with a recruiter, here are some of the major reasons:
- Confidentiality – If you are starting a job search while you are currently employed, confidentiality is of upmost importance. Searching on your own, you may have to post your resume on public spaces and risk it being seen. A good recruiter will ensure employers know you are open to new work without the risk of you being exposed online.
- Connections – Anyone who has searched for a job before is familiar with the blackhole your resumes, emails and calls seem to disappear into never to hear back from anyone on the other end. A recruiter will have a vast network of connections they will send your resume to which will greatly increase the likelihood of someone getting in touch with you.
- Access – Recruiters have contacts with hiring managers who attempt to fill positions privately before sharing it publicly. Since these unpublished positions are only available through the recruiter, you may never even have the chance to apply if you were to carry out your own job search.
- Job Fit – The main goal for a good recruiter is to find you a job that is a good fit with the right company. This fosters a good relationship between the recruiter, employer, and you.
- Interview Prep – You will first interview with the recruiter so they can get to know you a little better. The recruiter will then schedule you for any interviews with an employer you are qualified for and will prepare you for the interview in advance and let you know what skills to highlight and focus on.
Now that you’re convinced you need a recruiter, you might be wondering how to find one. Forbes offers a quick checklist to help you seek out the best, most-appropriate recruiter for your job search. Most importantly, you want to find someone you feel comfortable working with who has a proven track record of successful placements – someone who is going to represent you and present you with the best employment opportunities.
There are lots of recruiters out there who would love to help you find your dream job. So how do you know if you’ve found a good recruiter and what should you expect from them? Here are several signs that will tell you you’ve found a good one.
- They really listen to you. They take the time to get to know you and understand exactly what you are looking for and only show you jobs that make sense based on your conversations. They know the jobs where you have been the happiest and the situations that set you up to succeed. This shows they truly want to help you find the best fit for you.
- They can be trusted. If you are searching for a job while currently employed, they are discreet. They call when they say they will, they show up for meetings and always follow up.
- They treat you like a client. They understand that their only client is the candidate because if the candidate is successfully placed, everything else falls into place – including the employer feeling like the money they spent was well worth it because they found exactly who they were looking for.
- They communicate clearly. They ask the right questions, they are direct, they tell you the truth and know how to deliver difficult messages. They give you honest feedback that will help you in future interviews. And they keep in touch and continually build a relationship with you because they know you have a lot to offer.
- They know the market. A good recruiter will help you get the compensation you deserve based on your skill set and will help you negotiate during the process.
- They know their clients. If you ask a recruiter questions about an employer they are pitching, they should know most of the answers. You want your recruiter to have established relationships with the clients they are trying to connect you with.
- You like them. You want to work with a recruiter that makes you feel confident and good about yourself. They connect with you on a personal level rather than sending generic email blasts. They make you feel special – like you are the only one they are considering for the job. A good recruiter will build a relationship with you that lasts for years to come so it may as well be someone you enjoy talking to!
At Corps Team Dallas we work day in and day out to match candidates with the right job. We want our candidates to feel like they’ve found a partner they will have throughout their career. We are great recruiters who take the time to get to know our candidates and listen to what they are looking for and then do everything we can to make the best fit possible. We can expose you to job possibilities, guide you throughout the interview process and negotiate on your behalf. We are here and ready to help you with your next job search!
