How to Work With a Recruiter | Top Five Tips to a Successful Business Relationship
With the unemployment rates soaring and the number of companies hiring through the traditional job boards and classified advertising down, what's a job seeker to do when you're considering making a change? The truth is in spite of the current economic conditions, there are many companies who are hiring. The problem is that as their staffs have been cut, they are turning to headhunters to quickly fill the positions - because they simply don't have the manpower to follow the recruitment process from beginning to end.
Where does this unique situation leave you - the job seeker?
I've compiled the top five tips to finding and creating a successful business relationship with a Recruiter. How do we define success, you might ask? The bottom line is you want to develop relationships with talent acquisition specialists that will provide you with results!
Consider distributing your C.V. (resume) through a quality resume distribution service.
Here's how this works. You enroll in this service, and your resume is emailed to a high volume of Recruiters who specialize in placing candidates of your job and industry. The Headhunters immediately get in touch with you if they are currently working on a position that matches your criteria, or when they know of an appropriate job. This can often lead to a successful business relationship with one or more Recruiters, because they connect with you only if and when they believe they can get you placed. After all, a contingency Headhunter does not get paid until you have started your new job.
Google local Recruiters, and do a little research to find out who specializes in your field.
If you work in a niche job, chances are you will find a talent acquisition professional who works exclusively with people like you. Why not do your due diligence, seek them out, and keep in touch. You'll find that if you can find the Headhunter who works in your niche, you'll be on your way to finding the right job.
Utilize the big three social networks to connect with Recruiters.
When I say "big three," I'm talking about LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Being a Recruiting specialist myself, I don't personally know of anyone in our business who does not have a profile on these three websites with contact information. As a career minded individual, if you don't have an active profile on these sites, you're missing the boat. Use these websites to find and be found. It's well worth your time in creating a professional profile.
Consider posting your C.V. on an Association job board, versus a general, large volume board.
Every Recruiting expert knows to access professional Association sites to find professionals in your field. For example, if I'm working on filling a Nursing Director position in Michigan, I know to check every single day on the Nurses Association website, to see if any new candidates post their resume. So if you are a Nursing Director or high level Nurse who is qualified to fill a Director position, you are going to receive a call within 24 hours by those Recruiters who have appropriate positions available for you to consider. When you use the general job boards, what happens is you will receive calls from Recruiters who may or may not have a position they need to fill urgently. In this case, you spend your time providing formatted resumes, references, and completing preliminary telephone interviews, only to find that you will be chucked into a database for future consideration. I'm not saying you may never get an opportunity to interview when you post your resume on the major job boards, but I am saying that if you work in a specialized field that has an Association - that is definitely your best choice.
Create a list of the companies you want to work for, and have that list handy when you speak with any Recruiters.
Did you realize that you have the ability to direct the search for the Headhunter you are working with? It's absolutely true. In fact, if any Recruiter who contacts you about your resume does not ask you your top five target companies - I would consider connecting with someone who is going to work more aggressively on your behalf. Keep in mind, Headhunters are paid by the employer, but you are one of the most important pieces to their puzzle of earning a commission check from their client. Many contingency Recruiters have a problem seeing past their current stack of searches, and this should indicate to you that they may not be the best person for you to work with.
Working with a Recruiting professional can be rewarding for job seekers, and provide more job leads than any other search method. I suggest considering using a quality Resume Distribution service, researching your local Recruiter market, utilizing the "big three" social networks, posting your Resume on the appropriate Association job board, and providing any Headhunter you choose to work with a list of the top companies you wish to target for a job. If you follow these simple five steps faithfully, you will connect with quality Recruiters who specialize in the placement of professionals in your field, and have quality business relationships that will positively affect you for the remainder of your career.
Article by, Christina Archer, Principal, Christina Archer & Associates, Partners in Healthcare Recruitment.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.
Originally posted on Young Urban Professionals' Nook
Leave a comment