A great recruiter can set you on your path to career growth and support you along the way. But finding the right recruiter for you can be tricky. The confusing job market and abundance of choices can leave you wondering— “How do I find a good recruiter?” Read on to learn how you can identify a great recruiter for your needs and develop a productive, mutually beneficial relationship that can lead to the realization of your career goals.
Should I use a recruiter to find a job?
The short answer: generally, yes. Recruiters can be especially helpful for you when you are:
- Looking to work with a company with which a recruitment company or staffing firm has a relationship.
- Seeking consistent access to expert advice and insider information on the prospective employer.
- Moving into a new industry or niche.
- Interested in a smoother hiring and/or onboarding experience.
- Expanding the reach of your resume and learning about less- advertised opportunities.
- Looking for help with your resume or cover letter.
- Seeking an advocate for negotiating compensation.
- Looking for an overall partner in the job search process.
In short, a recruiter is an excellent resource and partner for you in the sometimes confusing and challenging world of job-hunting. While there is an abundance of job opportunities in the market today, not all jobs that you come across on do-it-yourself job board and networking sites like LinkedIn and Indeed are good opportunities. Among those that are high-quality, you may have trouble identifying which jobs are the right fit for you. This is the first moment in your job search where a recruiter will be an excellent resource.
Working with a recruiting expert means access to their network of employers and knowledge of your local job market. A good recruiter will keep tabs on who is hiring, who is planning to hire, and roles that have opened but are not publicly advertised yet. They also know exactly what their client companies are looking for. This means that your recruiter can help you find a workplace that best aligns with your must-haves and work experience.
Your recruiter can also help you position your work history to highlight its value to the hiring manager. Here is a recent example of what this looks like: A job seeker has decades of experience working at doctor’s office managing patient coordination, and a CoWorx Recruiter has a well-established relationship with a client who is seeking a Warehouse Dispatcher. The recruiter calls the employer directly and explains how the skills from the job seeker’s history are transferable to the Warehouse role: the job seeker’s previous role at the doctor’s office demanded high attention to detail for accurate data-entry, enabled their familiarity with digital scheduling systems, and gave the job seeker extensive experience with communicating clearly and professionally on phone calls. In this scenario, our recruiter leveraged the job seeker’s expertise and leaned on their history as a trustworthy partner to the client. In doing so, the recruiter successfully advocated for the job seeker and provided an excellent candidate to the employer.
Finding the right recruiter
Before searching for the right recruiter, it’s important to note that there are different types of recruiters for different industries and roles. For example, executive recruiters, sometimes referred to as a headhunter recruiters, may focus exclusively on high-level, low-probability placement, while a contingency recruiter or account manager at a staffing company may work on filling the temporary or short-term projects roles that are common in the Information Technology and Warehousing sectors. Research staffing companies with expertise in your preferred industry to connect to the recruiter who can help you best.
You can also consult your own network and find out which staffing providers or recruiters your peers have found success with. People in your network already know you and can more easily determine if the staffing partner that they’ve worked with will be a good fit for you, too.
Vetting the Recruiter
Once you’ve found the right company, firm, or independent recruiter and have been matched with or selected an expert, it’s helpful to research the recruiter.
Experience
If he or she has a LinkedIn profile, this is a great place to start to learn about the recruiter’s history and approach. Scan the profile for industry specialization, years of experience, and career history, including previous roles and companies. These elements will contain clues to the level of connectivity to key employers and robustness of the recruiter’s network.
Industry Specialization
Next, assess the professional’s network and connections. A large number of industry-relevant LinkedIn connections can indicate a well-connected recruiter. Skills, endorsements and recommendations from the recruiter’s network give you an idea of his or her strengths, so you can evaluate if their areas of success match up with your needs and preferences.
Engagement & Activity
Finally, check out the recruiter’s activity and engagement on LinkedIn. Is he or she a part of any industry-related groups? Does the recruiter post or repost any content that shows engagement with the latest news and trends in their industry? No activity does not necessarily indicate that the recruiter is not engaged with his or her specialization, but this kind of activity does demonstrate a continued interest in their work that can correspond to their expertise. You can also see if they have any certifications or organizational affiliations that bolster their knowledgebase.
Building the Relationship
Once you’re comfortable with what you have learned about your recruiter, it’s time to develop a healthy working relationship with them. You can start by communicating your goals. Express the types of roles, pay ranges, and work environments you are looking for. Be prepared to explain your skills, experience, and qualifications as well as any employment gaps. Think through your availability– when can you realistically take interviews and start a new job? Communicate honestly and transparently so your recruiter can help you to the best of their ability.
It is important to build rapport and mutual trust by demonstrating a professional and courteous attitude. One way you can do this is by promptly responding to communications from the recruiter. Other ways to build a positive working relationship with your recruiter include showing appreciation through thank-you notes or emails after meetings and interviews and always being honest about what you are looking for, including whether you are considering other opportunities. Honest and consistent communication is key when working with a recruiter to find a job.
A Note on Feedback:
When working with a recruiter, an important part of the hiring process is giving and receiving feedback. After an interview, it is helpful to speak with the recruiter about how it went. It will always help you, and your relationship with your recruiter, to be open to constructive feedback about your interview performance too. The goal of this partnership is to work together to better understand your position with the hiring team and how you can improve it, if that is the right choice for both you and the employer.
Conclusion
In the journey toward career growth, a great recruiter can be a pivotal ally, guiding and supporting you every step of the way. By conducting research and vetting recruiters based on their industry expertise, experience, and professional engagement, you can find a recruiter who aligns with your career goals. Building a positive, transparent, and mutually respectful relationship with your recruiter can lead to a more effective job search and ultimately help you land the right opportunity. Open communication, prompt responses, and a willingness to accept and act on feedback are key to fostering this productive partnership.
Today’s job market can be challenging. With the right recruiter by your side, you’ve got this.
