Know Your Recruiter
Posted May 20th, 2013
Companies that are having difficulty finding the talent they need are more often turning to recruiters for help. If you are looking for employment in such an area – and IT is certainly one – it could be a big help in your job search if you know how to work with recruiters.
Preparation is key here. If you have never been contacted by a recruiter, or it’s been some time since you’ve talked with a recruiter, do some research and learn about the process, or to refresh your memory.
Although the recruiter is working for the employer, he or she can also be helpful to you as a job seeker. The recruiter can give you advice about the process and be used for feedback for your own impressions. The recruiter can also be a go-between among employers and job applicants. The recruiter can pass along information or respond to other concerns even before actual contact between the parties occurs.
Find out the payment system that the recruiter is using to fill the client’s position. Is he or she being paid on a retainer basis, where the recruiter will receive payment regardless of the outcome, or on a strictly commission basis, which tends to make the recruiter work to close the deal as quickly as possible? Knowing this as a job candidate is important because if the recruiter is working on a retainer, you can be more confident knowing that he or she will not be in a rush to close the deal – and more concerned about finding the right person for the job.
You need to be able to sell yourself to a recruiter. You need give the recruiter information about your skills and experience, as well as what kind of position you’re looking for. But at the same time, you want to be careful not to exaggerate.
It’s also important in dealing with a recruiter to be yourself. Trying to create an appearance that is not the real you just to fit a job description will sooner or later lead to problems, because you may end up in a job that is not a good fit. Try not to come across as too eager, which might be seen as desperation. You need to be poised and confident in dealing with a recruiter.
As with any job search, you also want to investigate your potential employer and make yourself as informed as possible about the company.
You need to let the recruiter know if you are following up on any other job leads. The recruiter and the employer know that candidates are pursuing as many opportunities as they can find, so this is not a problem. It might also make you look better to the employer if it realizes you are being sought by other companies.
You also have to be willing to take suggestions and even criticism from the recruiter. Don’t take it personally; the recruiter is simply trying to improve your attractiveness as a job candidate.
If you’re a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area and are looking for work in the IT sector, send your resume to Bayside Solutions. We look forward to hearing from you.
