| Staffing agencies and recruiters exist to find people | | | | working with look for jobs advertised by that firm. |
| for jobs, not jobs for people. In addition to finding | | | | 4. Call and Ask to Speak to a Placement Person |
| the right staffing agency to work with, you must | | | | Each staffing firm has it's own way of doing things. |
| appeal to that firm as a candidate. Here are five | | | | Some call their placement people recruiters. Others |
| things to do to attract the right placement agent. | | | | may call them account managers or agents. By asking |
| 1. Know What You Want | | | | for the placement person you should be able to |
| If a recruiter asks what kind of work you're looking | | | | connect with the person matching people to open |
| for don't respond by asking, "What positions do you | | | | positions. From there you can share the type of |
| have open?" This response implies a lack of focus at | | | | work you're looking for; find out about current |
| best and desperation at worst. Be focused about the | | | | openings and get permission to forward your resume |
| kind of work you want and be prepared to discuss it. | | | | to that person. |
| Don't expect a placement professional to visualize | | | | 5. Forward Your Resume Even if There is No Current |
| you in a specific role from a very general resume. | | | | Opening |
| Speaking of which... | | | | If you've found a firm that specializes in placing |
| 2. Have a Strong Resume | | | | people in your field they need to have your resume |
| You need a strong resume to attract the right | | | | on file. You may not be invited into the selection |
| recruiter for the same reason you need one to | | | | process right away but you never know what |
| attract the hiring manager. List responsibilities and | | | | openings may come in that afternoon. The smart |
| accomplishments in a features/benefits format. Make | | | | placement person won't want to waste your time (or |
| it easy for the resume screener to see how your | | | | hers) by bringing you in unless she feels she has a |
| qualifications and what you've accomplished line up | | | | good chance of helping you. |
| with a particular opening. | | | | Once you've found a good placement agency and |
| 3. Respond to Specific Agency Job Postings | | | | they've agreed to represent you, you need to |
| Staffing agencies post openings on major job boards | | | | understand how to facilitate your success in finding a |
| regularly. Many of them also still use classified ads. | | | | job through them. The last article in this series gives |
| Once you've identified an agency you're interested in | | | | 5 ways to get placed through a staffing agency. |