Working with a recruiter while job hunting can be highly rewarding--it multiplies your connections and opportunities many times over, making you more likely to not just find a job, but find a job that’s a perfect fit for your skills and needs.
Many people, however, don’t get the most they could out of the experience. They register to hear about vacancies and then wait weeks to get a call. In the worst-case scenario, the job seeker ends up feeling like they’ve wasted their time.
The truth is, there are a few essential steps you need to take when working with a recruiter in a highly competitive job market.
- Tell them everything. The more they know about you and your job search, the better their shot at helping you. Giving them your CV should only be the beginning--tell your recruiter in detail what kind of role you’re looking for, the type of company culture where you do your best work, and any specific needs or preferences you have like commute options or benefits. Reflect on your career and be prepared to have a conversation about what you like and dislike in a job. This will narrow the field and give your recruiter more to go on.
- Keep in touch. Most recruitment agencies don’t have the resources to call every candidate every week, so the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep your recruiter up to date on your search and your situation in general--have you learned anything in the process of applying and interviewing that you’d like them to keep in mind? Have you realised you need to widen or narrow your field of potential options? Again, the more information they have, the more they can use it to help you.
- If you see something you like, go for it! Check your recruiter’s website every day, and if there’s a job you think you’d be perfect for, give them a call as soon as you see it. They can give you valuable information that can help you nail the questions on the app and ensure your questions about the company are answered. Remember, recruiters are trying to fill the positions they’re advertising--if you’re a good fit, that’s a win for them too.
A relationship with a recruiter is so much more than just access to another job board--it can be one of your best assets as you look for the next step in your career. Their expanded networks and knowledge of the current job market can supercharge a search that was losing momentum alone. And all of this can be accomplished for free.
So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with Morgan Spencer today--and then keep the lines of communication open. The perfect position for you is out there somewhere, and they can help you find it--and help companies find you.