Look, we know the recruiter may not have the best reputation...but they can be a life saver in a difficult job hunt! In 2017-2018, recruitment agencies placed over 1 million candidates. They literally exist to help you get a job. So how can you make the most of their help? Read on for our top tips for working with a recruiter.
Know what you’re looking for
We can only work with what you give us. The recruiter-candidate relationship works better when you have an idea of what you want to get out of it from the get-go. Obviously you want to get a job out of it. But there’s more to it than that. Different people will thrive in different types of jobs and environments. Some people want something really fast-paced and exciting, others will want a role in a calmer, more tight-knit environment.
Some questions to ask yourself in preparation for working with a recruiter:
What are your career goals, both short- and long-term?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
What kind of work culture are you looking for?
What salary are you looking for? (There is a salary checker here that can help you establish this)
Be flexible
Okay, we did just say you need to know what you want. But that doesn’t mean being completely one-track minded and refusing to settle for anything but your ultimate dream job! The truth is, the perfect job doesn’t exist. There will always be some compromises to make. If you have an idea of your career goals, you will know where you can be flexible. Sometimes, a job that you don’t initially love the look of can put you on the right path to get to your ideal ultimate destination. So be open-minded and willing to look at jobs that maybe aren’t exactly what you were hoping for, because they may still provide you with some great progression opportunities, or they may offer what turns out to be your dream work environment!
Of course, you may have certain requirements that you are just not willing to budge on, even if you are flexible in other areas. Be clear about these from the start so that your recruiter doesn’t waste either of your time by chasing down false leads.
Another area of flexibility that is helpful when working with recruiters is being open to temporary roles. Many people are put off by the thought of a temporary contract, but there are actually a lot of benefits to temporary roles. It can be a great chance to gain new skills and experience in what may otherwise have been a lull in your career, as well as a networking opportunity. Temp roles are also a way to get your foot in the door, and if you play your cards right, you may be able to swing a permanent role when your initial contract is up. It’s never guaranteed, but you can find some tips for achieving this here.
Keep your CV up-to-date
This one’s a no-brainer. Whether you’ve been on the job hunt for a while now, or are in a comfortable job but looking for a change, make sure you’ve brushed up your CV before you send it to your recruiter. Make sure all your recent roles are on there, with information about what you personally brought to each one. And don’t forget to proofread!
Of course, recruiters can always give you some constructive criticism and advice for improving your CV, but if they’re going through it picking out typos that you didn’t edit out, that’s a waste of your time and theirs. The process will be quicker and easier for everyone if you have refined your CV as much as possible beforehand and your recruiter can immediately use it to start finding the right job for you.
Open and timely communication
Communication is essential for getting the best out of your recruiter. There are two key elements to this: open communication and timely communication.
Be as open as you can. From the get-go tell your recruiter what you are looking for, what compromises you’re willing (or not willing) to make, what your salary requirements are. If you get through to interview stage, let your recruiter know how it went. If you have agreed to a call with your recruiter and find you can’t make it, let them know in advance and reschedule for a time that suits you both. The more open you are about all aspects of your job hunt, the better equipped they are to help you.
Be timely in your responses. If you get an email or a text from your recruiter, respond as promptly as possible. This is less for your recruiter’s benefit and more for your own - if you take too long to respond to an email, you may miss out on a crucial opportunity. But responding quickly will also generally improve your relationship with your recruiter and make the whole process a lot less painful.
Don’t back out of commitments
This mostly applies to the interview stage. If your recruiter has organised interviews and you have confirmed that you are available, make sure you actually turn up to them! Not showing up reflects badly on both you and the recruiter, and hurts your chances of finding a job. Make sure not to double book yourself so that you don’t need to miss anything. In the event that something unpredictable and unavoidable really does come up, make sure to let your recruiter know in advance so that they can relay the information to the interviewers and reschedule.
Working with a recruiter can be a great way to navigate the job market and find the right opportunity for you. With the help of our tips, you can establish a strong relationship with your recruiter and get the best results for everyone involved! If you don’t have a recruiter and need help with your job hunt, get in touch with suze@rubymagpie.com and we’ll see what we can do for you.