At some stage during
your career it is likely there will come a point at which you interact with a
recruitment consultant. For many, these encounters will only be brief and
sometimes even frustrating. But there are those that understand the benefit of
a long term partnership with a professional recruiter.
So what do you need to
know in order to best leverage your time spent dealing with recruiters and how
can you make sure you are getting the best out of their service. Well, like any
strong business relationship: it is not a one-way street.
All productive
partnerships are the result of working together to mutually beneficial outcomes.
With that in mind, let’s consider ten top tips for engaging with sales
recruiters so that you can begin to harness these relationships for the better.
1) Have
Realistic Goals
It’s OK to dream,
setting your sights high is a great way to push yourself. But when it comes to
job hunting you need to be realistic. Recruiters are not magicians, they can’t
convince a hiring manager you are right for a role that is well above your
current level. And they can’t conjure up unrealistic salary hikes.
Be ambitious, yes, but
have realistic goals when looking for a new role. If you don’t, you may not be
contacted about a role that might actually
be just what you’re looking for.
2) Apply
For Relevant Roles
This is closely linked
with having realistic expectations but goes beyond that to ensuring that you
are actually applying for roles that you are qualified for.
Lack off feedback is a
major gripe of many job seekers and recruiters know they could do better. But
when we receive numerous irrelevant applications it is too time consuming to
respond to everyone. Check you actually have the skills and experience required
for a position before speculatively applying and chasing for feedback everyday.
If you’re not the right
match but still feel you’re suitable, at least provide a brief cover letter
outlining why you applied for the position.
3) Be
Articulate and Honest
We are looking for
candidates that can clearly and precisely describe their past achievements,
experiences and reasons for leaving former roles. If you can’t articulate this
to us in a comprehendible manner we will assume you will perform the same in an
interview.
4) Listen
As well as being a good
communicator you have to be a good listener. If you think you can’t learn
anything from your recruiter then you may miss a key point. Listening to their
interview advice, no matter what level you are at, is important. You may pick up one or two tips that could make all the difference.
5) Be
Committed and Punctual
There’s nothing that
puts us off a candidate more than someone who is late for interviews and
inflexible with meetings. We know it’s not easy to get out of work and
appreciate you can get caught up in traffic. But if you’re showing resistance
at making the effort to book interviews and don’t take steps to ensure you
arrive on tim, we won’t feel you’re serious about your job search.
Sticking to
appointments and being flexible with interviews goes a long way to building
trust with your recruiter and in turn your prospective employer.
6) Provide
Timely Feedback
When you interview with
a client of ours they will be as keen to find out your thoughts as you are
theirs. We will ask you to call us after your interview to relay your immediate
thoughts, this is an important part of the process and it is disheartening when
it isn’t carried out.
Again, this all relates
to your relationship being more than a one-way exchange. The more information
you give us the better service we can provide you. Even if you feel you
interviewed poorly, let us know. Some honest words of enthusiasm to pass on to
the manager can be the difference between getting a rejection and a 2nd
interview.
7) Prepared
to Meet
The dreaded coffee with
a recruiter. We know you’d rather be elsewhere, but what value do you place on
your career? And believe me we’re not all that bad. Meeting us helps you
realise we are human too and genuinely care about making sure we find you the
right position.
It helps to build
rapport, enhance relationships and who knows you might even make a new friend.
Some of our candidates have become long term friendships. OK, not an important
factor initially but it is rewarding nevertheless to work with people you like.
8) Forget
Your Perceptions
Despite what you might
hear and think, the majority of recruiters are not out to make a quick buck
with a total disregard for the wellbeing of others. We have very strong ethics
and fully understand the sensitivity and relevance of the information shared
with us on a daily basis.
For every horror story
you hear there are thousands of candidates finding their dream jobs because
they were open and honest with their recruiters rather than being cagey and
guarded.
If you are upfront and
honest with us, with a belief that we genuinely want to help, you’ll be
surprised what you get in return.
9) Offer
Recommendations and Referrals
If you’re happy with
the service your recruiter has provided you, they’ll be extremely grateful for
any recommendations or referrals you can provide. Think of it like a tip in
your favourite restaurant. By helping out now, you know you’ll be getting the
best service the next time you need us. Whether as a candidate or even a
client.
10) Be
Social
Don’t treat recruiters
like social outcasts who are only relevant when you are unhappy in your role
and are keen on a move. Even when you’re not looking, keep in contact, share
our job posts on your social networks and treat
us like you would any other professional. We will appreciate it and look forward to working with you!
