Notes From A New Recruiter
Working With A Recruiter
Have you worked with a recruiter before? I hadn’t worked with a recruiter until I became one.
My LinkedIn presence was subpar and posting anything made me self-conscious. Would I expose my imposter syndrome? Did I have any insight that would be helpful?
I can’t stress enough the importance of being connected on this platform. Change your banner. Connect with groups. Post often. These things are more likely to get you noticed by recruiters. It’s not desperation – its eagerness.
I remember getting an InMail message from a recruiter, and to be honest I didn’t answer them because at the time I didn’t really understand the relationship.
A Recruiter Contacted Me. Now What?
A recruiter doesn’t work for you but you can, and should, establish a great relationship with them. Recruiters can come to you from internal organizations or external agencies.
Don’t discount any opportunity and even if you are not interested. Have a conversation with them. See if you like the recruiter. You are more likely to continue to hear from the recruiter if they see you’re responding and on the same page. Tell them what you are looking for, send updated resumes and salary expectations.
Even if the job they contact you with is not for you or you don’t get the job the conversation could be invaluable. Down the road that recruiter might have a new opportunity for you to and they might help you score a great position. I would say that’s worth a 15 minute conversation and an email with an updated resume once a year. Wouldn’t you?
When working with a recruiter be open and honest. Work with someone you trust is being open and honest with you. It should be a symbiotic relationship that works for both of you. I have a candidate who is a contractor that I’ve submitted for 3 roles and she has been offered 2 of the positions. I know about her children and small details about her life like how she’s teaching her daughter how to French braid. I know this because we’ve built a great relationship with mutual trust serving as the foundation.
This is not a typical job interview. I’ve seen your profile and I know your job timeline. I want to get to know you as a person. I need to know if you will be a good fit within an organization and you should want that, too!
Don’t forget to be upfront about whether or not you’ve previously applied for a position at that company. Let them know that you are interviewing at other companies and what those timelines are.
Ghosting is this horrible thing. I won’t do it to you, so please don’t do it to me. If you find another job or are no longer interested because you have decided to move to Alaska, I promise I will be happy for you. It only takes a moment to tell me. Remember the fact that you should never burn a bridge! I will respect you for letting me know, and as long as you tell me it’s okay for me to contact you, I’ll most likely send more opportunities your way in the future.
A Few Helpful Hints
1.) Don’t contact the company directly after starting the process with a recruiter because it could potentially make you ineligible for a position. It’s also not a good look to go behind the recruiters back if you happen to have a contact within the company. It can seem deceptive and may backfire.
2.) If I am working for a client, I will probably vet you first and make sure you are interested in the position before telling you who my client is. I like building that relationship first to get a feel for who you are and if you might be a good fit. I’m not trying to be secretive, but this is also my livelihood. I’m invested in finding the right candidate, and there’s more to that than what’s on a resume or a JD.
3.) Be vulnerable, build relationships, be open and honest and show your personality. Remember there is a human element to every job search. Anyone can recite what’s on their resume, but I’d rather learn more about your French braiding lessons.
