Tips For Working With Recruiters

Whether You Call Them Recruiters or Headhunters, You Need A Good Working Relationship With Them…Having a recruiter represent you doesn’t guarantee you a job offer. But headhunters have the network of contacts, knowledge of the market and established relationships of trust with hiring managers that can provide you with opportunities that never appear in help wanted ads or on job boards.

Below are some tips that will help you establish and maintain a good working relationship with recruiters:

Be Truthful With Your Headhunter and Keep Her Informed: It is important that your recruiter know about any skeletons in your career closet so he can anticipate how to deal with them; and in order to avoid duplication of effort, inform him of every company you have sent résumés to and with whom you’ve interviewed.

Be On Time For Appointments: In fact, arrive a few minutes early for interviews so you can mentally refocus.

Take Interview Prep Seriously: Your headhunter knows what the hiring manager is looking for and will usually brief you on areas to emphasis during interviews and questions to anticipate.
Report To Your Headhunter Immediately Following An Interview: Contact your recruiter as soon as possible after an interview. Your feedback can allow him to do a better job debriefing the hiring manager and moving the process forward.

Leave Compensation Discussions To Your Headhunter: Recruiters can usually arrange a better package for you because it is part of their daily work.

Use The Headhunter’s Voice Mail System and Email: Recruiters often have many positions to fill and several other quality candidates to present. This means they aren’t going to be available to take every incoming call from you or return all calls.

Be Loyal To Your Headhunter: Recruiters know the market, the best way to contact hiring managers and most importantly when to contact them for optimum results. Your recruiter is investing time in your career and will be compensated for his efforts only when you are hired. Be sure you are comfortable with your recruiter and give him at least 30 to 60 days before going to other recruiters. If you hear of a position, call your recruiter and tell him about it. He may already have contacts at the company and be able to get you an interview quicker.