| I lost count of how many clients have told me they | | | | industry and have a solid and successful background |
| hung their hat on one or two recruiter relationships, | | | | in it, then you will be especially attractive to |
| but nothing ever panned out in terms of landing a | | | | recruiters...a "star" candidate. "Star" candidates are |
| great job. If you don't know how to work with | | | | also defined as those who have held no more than |
| recruiters, you can easily be tempted to feel that | | | | three jobs in the past ten years and those with a |
| you have been let down in your relationship with | | | | complimentary and impressive academic background. |
| them. | | | | The more attractive you are to recruiters, the more |
| Here are a few facts about recruiters to help you | | | | negotiating power you have. |
| get a baseline perspective: | | | | What else does a recruiter look for? A good |
| A recruiter works for (and is paid by) their client | | | | personality, tact, diplomacy, and promptness in |
| companies. They don't work for you, have no real | | | | returning phone calls and emails are often major |
| allegiance to you and will only be interested in you if | | | | components to a successful match. Remember, when |
| your career history is a match for their searches. | | | | a recruiter sends you to one of their clients, their |
| Knowing this will help you go into establishing | | | | reputation is on the line. They are acutely aware of |
| relationships with recruiters with more objectivity. | | | | this and you should be, too. |
| Recruiters come in all shapes and sizes. I have met | | | | And one last valuable tip: a recruiter is somewhat |
| many of them and I was one of them for seven | | | | limited in his or her ability to bring you "your dream |
| years. Some are good, some are nice, and some are | | | | job." They can and will only offer you positions they |
| not. | | | | are working on for their clients and only if you are a |
| When you send your resume to a big handful of | | | | potential match for the position. |
| recruiters that specialize in your industry or position, | | | | Additionally, you will probably not be the only |
| you will get a mixed bag of responses. Some will | | | | candidate they send to interview for the position. |
| respond with interest, some will send you an | | | | Generally, recruiters send in two to four qualified |
| automatic message to fill out their generic candidate | | | | candidates for each position they are paid to fill. |
| forms on their website, some will not respond at all | | | | If you want to build good relationships both short |
| and some may even respond negatively. Be prepared | | | | and long term with recruiters you should: |
| for all of it - and take none of it personally. | | | | - Find either paid or free lists of recruiters who |
| And by all means don't skip this step! It's a necessary | | | | specialize in your position or industry. Generally, the |
| step you must play out in order to garner the | | | | recruiter's geographical location is of little importance. |
| interest of the smaller percentage of recruiters who | | | | They often have many clients outside of their |
| may be able to help you! | | | | physical location. |
| Recruiters generally like straightforward, chronological | | | | - The paid lists I endorse are through Executive |
| resumes. They tend to prefer that your academic | | | | Agent (listed on my website). Their system is quick |
| background be listed somewhere on the first page. | | | | and easy to use and very affordable. Their reputation |
| They look at many resumes each week and they | | | | in the industry is excellent as are the results they |
| don't like to have to scan through a resume to try to | | | | provide. |
| guess what you do. | | | | - Follow up with courtesy phone calls to the best |
| If you have a functional resume (one that highlights | | | | recruiters on your list based on your needs and how |
| skills, rather than industry background and job | | | | they measure up. You will look more professional and |
| history), don't be surprised if you catch a couple | | | | get on their radar screen. |
| terse comments from recruiting firms. But don't | | | | - Always be pleasant, positive and diplomatic. |
| worry. Chances are your resume isn't bad, nor have | | | | - Treat the recruiter just the same as you would a |
| you done anything wrong. It's just a typical | | | | potential employer in an interview. |
| preference for recruiters. | | | | - If you are really attached to your industry, then |
| Recruiters look for job histories that match their | | | | building long-term relationships with recruiters isn't a |
| search criteria. If you are looking to make a slight | | | | bad idea. Recruiters are heavily networked, |
| shift into a parallel industry or a slight shift in terms of | | | | appreciate referrals and the good ones will remember |
| your position, then a recruiter may be able to help | | | | your generosity, kindness and professionalism. They |
| you. If you are looking to make a career transition | | | | will go out of their way to contact you with five-star |
| into another industry, then you can skip connecting | | | | positions they may have down the road. |
| with recruiters all together. They are paid to find | | | | Recruiters can be extremely helpful to you and your |
| exactly what their clients have asked them to | | | | career and knowing their hot buttons and the best |
| find...and nothing less. Other job search methods will | | | | ways to find them and build positive relationships with |
| work much better for you. | | | | them will not only save you time, but also serve to |
| What is the definition of a recruiter's "star" | | | | flush out additional job opportunities! |
| candidate? If you are looking to remain in your | | | | |