Need a recruiter to get a
job?
Want to know how to approach these elusive
gatekeepers?
The following advice will help you work
best with these job placement specialists, become the
desired candidate that receives the best job offers, and
keep you off the HR do not call list.
Develop relationships
with recruiters before you need them
Unless you have an
impeccable job record and skills that are in high
demand, it’s wise to contact a recruiter before you need
employment. It’s also important to look for a recruiter who
specializes in your industry.
Before I became a
recruiter, I was a great resource to headhunters who
would call my office looking for candidates. I answered
their questions and helped them find candidates without
requesting a referral fee or any favors in return. When
I needed a new position, those same recruiters I
helped when I was employed, were my biggest supporters.
Tell the truth
If you don’t want a 20
minute work commute; hate working in a cubicle and
really need $85,000 dollars a year to survive; tell your
recruiter upfront. Fired from your previous position
because you failed a drug test? You might want to
mention this incident.
In the long run, blemishes on
your record and your work preferences can be big deal
breakers. You don’t want to stall negotiations between
you and your new employer because you failed to mention
important details concerning your job history.
Show me in ten
seconds why you are qualified
Most recruiters take an
average of 10 seconds to read your resume. After you
reply to a job announcement, recruiters take a quick
scan of your job titles, the companies you've worked
for, the highest level of education reached to determine
whether you are a match for the position.
The desire to
find the right candidate is there, however the time and
energy is not. That type of quick overview is the reason
why most candidates never receive a response to their
resume. If your experience doesn’t fit the job
description exactly, you won’t be called in for an
interview.
Dress the part
Meeting the recruiter for
the first time? Dress to impress. If you are
interviewing at IBM, Coca Cola or UPS, don’t wear flip
flops with your business suit. Forget the blue or red
hair, bright orange nail polish, body piercings, too
tight clothes and provocative attire. It’s better to be
overdressed in a casual work environment, than be
underdressed in an environment that demands traditional
and conservative attire.
Interview the recruiter
first, before you meet the client
It’s important to have a
face-to-face meeting with a recruiter. Prepare a list of
questions to ask about their experience,
approach and relationships with clients. Ask the
staffing professional for their references. Think of the
recruiter as a matchmaker. If you and the matchmaker
don’t have a great understanding of your expectations,
skills and needs, you will be poorly represented to the
client.
Ignoring the rules above
will put you in a position of weakness and can effect
your negotiating power with these important gatekeepers
in the future.
