The Job Search - Recruiting some Help
This week's article will focus on the job search--specifically creative ways to increase your chances of being noticed, getting the interview, and ultimately--getting the job you want. Today I will focus on using recruiting firms to maximize your chance of getting an interview.
Many people miss out on extremely good opportunities because they bypass recruiters entirely, or have no idea what they are. Simply put, a recruiter is a representative who acts on your behalf to help you find a job. He or she is someone who has made a career of placing people in positions that are perfect for them, and they are very good at what they do.
Finding a recruiter is easy. When you search the online job ads, you may see something like this: "Widget Assembler - 123 Staffing." In this case, the fictional "123 Staffing" company is a recruiter. They do not own the widget shop, but instead find employees to work for that shop. The widget shop then pays the staffing agency a referral fee, or in some cases you would actually be working for 123 Staffing, and the widget shop would pay the recruiting agency, who then issues you a paycheck.
When you read the job description you can often find more clues that the job is being offered by a staffing agency. For example:
"Widget Assembler
Job Description: 123 Staffing is looking for a Widget Assembler for one of our clients based in Anywhere, Kentucky. Requirements include at least two years widget assembly experience. Preferred knowledge of cogs and sprockets highly recommended."
In this case, note that the staffing agency mentions "one of our clients." The agency will sometimes name the client; and other times they will not. Either way this is clearly a case where a recruiter is there to help place qualified employees with a good career.
Why go with a recruiter?
Simply put, they are the best at what they do! The average American may spend only a few weeks or months during a lifetime searching for a job. Recruiters spend 40 hours or more a week, every week, doing just that. They are experts at finding jobs, and know exactly where to look. Their success is based on how quickly and efficiently they can place candidates with jobs they enjoy.
Note that there are some drawbacks, however. Some recruiters may have a handful of clients, but others may have dozens or even hundreds of job seekers to touch base with every week. The more candidates a recruiter is working with, the more their efforts at finding you a job will be diluted. Make sure that you choose a recruiter who keeps in good communication with you, answers your calls or emails within 24 hours, and is easily approachable.
What's better than one recruiter?
Many recruiters! Most recruiters will focus on a particular industry or geographic location. Because I live near half a dozen major cities, the recruiters I talked with often focused on only one or two of those locations. To maximize your effectiveness, you can add multiple recruiters to your list to help you find that job. By doing this, I was able to cover virtually every market I was interested in within 50 miles in any direction. It's just like forming a search party--the more people you have helping you look, the more likely your chances of finding what you're searching for.
Finding a Recruiter
So how do you find a recruiter? Easy! Many times recruiters will call you because of a job you've applied to that they are handling. If you want to be proactive (and if you aren't, you may want to get proactive if you want to have a chance at getting a job!), you can contact them directly beforehand. Simply Google "job recruiters" or "employment agencies" and you will get a large list of recruiting firms that may be able to help. Remember that not all recruiters work with all fields and locations, so find one that is catered to your chosen career field and work location.
Working With Your Recruiter
Remember that your recruiter is not a miracle worker. They need something to work with, and you can help with that. The more you let them know about you (your interests, your skills, your qualifications, and your experience), the more likely they will be to find a job that works for you. Recruiters have access to hundreds of available jobs. If you happen to enjoy something that your resume doesn't make clear (for example, if you had experience working with the elderly for several years and a job in your field comes up that happens to be in a nursing home), your recruiter may not think to run it by you. If you have an interest that makes you more qualified than the average candidate for a specialized industry, let your recruiter know.
When your recruiter finds you a lead
Okay, now you've found a few really good recruiters. They're out there just like you are, looking for jobs that are a good fit for you. They're calling employers, sending emails, getting your resume out there, and more. Suddenly, you get a phone call: your recruiter has successfully gotten you an interview for a position you wanted! So now what?
Luckily, this part of the employment process really benefits from the help of a recruiter. In the average interview, you go to the agreed upon location, meet with the employer alone, do your interview, and leave. You may have a rudimentary idea of what the company does based on their company website, but you really don't know what to expect. Having a recruiter changes all of that.
When a recruiter finds you an interview, he or she is able to give you information ahead of time that you need. Who you will be interviewing with, what skills the interviewer really wants to know about so you can remember to mention them, and other important tips to help you out. Even better, your recruiter will often meet you at the interview site a few minutes early and introduce you to the employer. That way you feel like you've got someone in your corner from the moment you get there.
Of course once the interview starts, you're on your own. In a later article I'll cover some interview tips, but for now my best advice is to remember what your recruiter told you before the interview. They will often give you tips on what to wear, as well--make sure to follow their lead on this so you are not under or over-dressed for the position.
After the interview
Remember to thank your recruiter--remember, they are the one who made this interview possible! Because they are acting as a liaison between you and the employer, it may not be possible to send a handwritten thank you note to the person you interviewed with. However, make sure to ask your recruiter about the best method of thanking the interviewer; they will often pass along a message of thanks on your behalf.
Waiting for feedback
This is always the most nerve-wracking part--waiting to hear whether you got the job. Luckily, the recruiter helps here as well! While it is rude to call the interviewer immediately after or a couple times a week for an update, recruiters are often in constant contact with interviewers. Since a recruiter may have several different interviews to set up with a given interviewer, they are able to get periodic updates much earlier than you may be able to. Furthermore the feedback you get is more likely to be very honest and even more helpful as a result.
Final Thoughts
Remember that a recruiter is an effective tool for helping you get that job. It is not an excuse to be lazy, however. Use every tool at your disposal but remember that in the end, it is you who will be the determining factor in your own success.
Many people miss out on extremely good opportunities because they bypass recruiters entirely, or have no idea what they are. Simply put, a recruiter is a representative who acts on your behalf to help you find a job. He or she is someone who has made a career of placing people in positions that are perfect for them, and they are very good at what they do.
Finding a recruiter is easy. When you search the online job ads, you may see something like this: "Widget Assembler - 123 Staffing." In this case, the fictional "123 Staffing" company is a recruiter. They do not own the widget shop, but instead find employees to work for that shop. The widget shop then pays the staffing agency a referral fee, or in some cases you would actually be working for 123 Staffing, and the widget shop would pay the recruiting agency, who then issues you a paycheck.
When you read the job description you can often find more clues that the job is being offered by a staffing agency. For example:
"Widget Assembler
Job Description: 123 Staffing is looking for a Widget Assembler for one of our clients based in Anywhere, Kentucky. Requirements include at least two years widget assembly experience. Preferred knowledge of cogs and sprockets highly recommended."
In this case, note that the staffing agency mentions "one of our clients." The agency will sometimes name the client; and other times they will not. Either way this is clearly a case where a recruiter is there to help place qualified employees with a good career.
Why go with a recruiter?
Simply put, they are the best at what they do! The average American may spend only a few weeks or months during a lifetime searching for a job. Recruiters spend 40 hours or more a week, every week, doing just that. They are experts at finding jobs, and know exactly where to look. Their success is based on how quickly and efficiently they can place candidates with jobs they enjoy.
Note that there are some drawbacks, however. Some recruiters may have a handful of clients, but others may have dozens or even hundreds of job seekers to touch base with every week. The more candidates a recruiter is working with, the more their efforts at finding you a job will be diluted. Make sure that you choose a recruiter who keeps in good communication with you, answers your calls or emails within 24 hours, and is easily approachable.
What's better than one recruiter?
Many recruiters! Most recruiters will focus on a particular industry or geographic location. Because I live near half a dozen major cities, the recruiters I talked with often focused on only one or two of those locations. To maximize your effectiveness, you can add multiple recruiters to your list to help you find that job. By doing this, I was able to cover virtually every market I was interested in within 50 miles in any direction. It's just like forming a search party--the more people you have helping you look, the more likely your chances of finding what you're searching for.
Finding a Recruiter
So how do you find a recruiter? Easy! Many times recruiters will call you because of a job you've applied to that they are handling. If you want to be proactive (and if you aren't, you may want to get proactive if you want to have a chance at getting a job!), you can contact them directly beforehand. Simply Google "job recruiters" or "employment agencies" and you will get a large list of recruiting firms that may be able to help. Remember that not all recruiters work with all fields and locations, so find one that is catered to your chosen career field and work location.
Working With Your Recruiter
Remember that your recruiter is not a miracle worker. They need something to work with, and you can help with that. The more you let them know about you (your interests, your skills, your qualifications, and your experience), the more likely they will be to find a job that works for you. Recruiters have access to hundreds of available jobs. If you happen to enjoy something that your resume doesn't make clear (for example, if you had experience working with the elderly for several years and a job in your field comes up that happens to be in a nursing home), your recruiter may not think to run it by you. If you have an interest that makes you more qualified than the average candidate for a specialized industry, let your recruiter know.
When your recruiter finds you a lead
Okay, now you've found a few really good recruiters. They're out there just like you are, looking for jobs that are a good fit for you. They're calling employers, sending emails, getting your resume out there, and more. Suddenly, you get a phone call: your recruiter has successfully gotten you an interview for a position you wanted! So now what?
Luckily, this part of the employment process really benefits from the help of a recruiter. In the average interview, you go to the agreed upon location, meet with the employer alone, do your interview, and leave. You may have a rudimentary idea of what the company does based on their company website, but you really don't know what to expect. Having a recruiter changes all of that.
When a recruiter finds you an interview, he or she is able to give you information ahead of time that you need. Who you will be interviewing with, what skills the interviewer really wants to know about so you can remember to mention them, and other important tips to help you out. Even better, your recruiter will often meet you at the interview site a few minutes early and introduce you to the employer. That way you feel like you've got someone in your corner from the moment you get there.
Of course once the interview starts, you're on your own. In a later article I'll cover some interview tips, but for now my best advice is to remember what your recruiter told you before the interview. They will often give you tips on what to wear, as well--make sure to follow their lead on this so you are not under or over-dressed for the position.
After the interview
Remember to thank your recruiter--remember, they are the one who made this interview possible! Because they are acting as a liaison between you and the employer, it may not be possible to send a handwritten thank you note to the person you interviewed with. However, make sure to ask your recruiter about the best method of thanking the interviewer; they will often pass along a message of thanks on your behalf.
Waiting for feedback
This is always the most nerve-wracking part--waiting to hear whether you got the job. Luckily, the recruiter helps here as well! While it is rude to call the interviewer immediately after or a couple times a week for an update, recruiters are often in constant contact with interviewers. Since a recruiter may have several different interviews to set up with a given interviewer, they are able to get periodic updates much earlier than you may be able to. Furthermore the feedback you get is more likely to be very honest and even more helpful as a result.
Final Thoughts
Remember that a recruiter is an effective tool for helping you get that job. It is not an excuse to be lazy, however. Use every tool at your disposal but remember that in the end, it is you who will be the determining factor in your own success.
Comments
Post a Comment