Job Seeker’s Guide: Getting The Most Out Of Your Recruiter
An experienced recruiter can provide you with the knowledge and guidance you need to secure your ideal job. While it’s easy to obsess over interview best practices and application forms, it’s vital to recognise the importance of your recruiter during a job search.
While many candidates mistakenly view recruiters as ‘gatekeepers’ for a job, they’re actually a highly valuable resource that can be used to access new opportunities and help you get ahead of other candidates.
But a recruiter relationship is a two-way street.
If you want to get the best out of your recruiter and make the most of their experience, then you’ll need to build a solid relationship that’s transparent and productive.
In this guide, we’ll explain how you can work closely alongside recruiters to tap into their expertise and boost your chances of success as a job seeker.
Be open and transparent
It’s important to remember that you share a common goal with your recruiter - finding a job that fits your professional goals and suits your skill set.
Working alongside a recruiter is a collaborative effort, so make sure that you’re being as open and honest as possible throughout a job search. Be up-front about any opportunities that excite you or concerns you might have about certain positions.
The more your recruiter knows about your thoughts and feelings, the easier it will be for them to identify the best career openings for you.
Ask insightful questions
Recruiters aren’t just there to connect you with potential employers - they’re also industry experts that can provide you with a huge amount of insight and insider knowledge.
Don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter specific questions about the wider industry, potential employers, job openings, or interview techniques.
Your recruiter will understand how different businesses work, what certain employers expect of candidates, and where you can set yourself apart from other applicants. Use this knowledge to your advantage - ask your recruiter insightful questions, and adapt your CV or interview responses based on their answers.
Maintain regular communication
Communication is key if you want to make the most of your recruiter’s industry expertise.
If you’re responsive to messages and clear about your schedule, your recruiter will find it much easier to set up interviews and share relevant opportunities. Recruiters will be keen to maintain active communication with you, so be sure to do the same.
Let your recruiter know as much as possible about your free time and your preferred methods of communication - the more you can help them in this department, the more they’ll be able to help with your job hunt.
Lean on recruiters during negotiations
Your recruiter will be able to assist during every stage of your job search journey - and that includes post-offer negotiations.
Both you and your recruiter will be keen to secure an agreeable job offer with an employer, so make sure you leverage their skills for contract negotiations. Recruiters will have a keen understanding of the current industry landscape, meaning they’ll know how much to request in terms of salaries and benefits.
With an experienced recruiter in your corner, you can be confident in entering contract negotiations and settling on a package that works for all parties involved.
Your relationship with your recruiter will have a huge impact on the outcome of your job search.
Recruiters have an enormous amount to offer when it comes to identifying job opportunities, preparing for interviews, and negotiating contracts - you just need to ensure that you’re working collaboratively to unlock this full range of benefits.
Be open with your recruiter, maintain active communication, and ask the right questions to set yourself up for success.
If you’d like to understand more about working closely alongside recruiters, don’t hesitate to get in touch - at Barclay Meade, we have vast experience in helping candidates thrive within the HR & Talent, Finance & Accountancy, Procurement & Supply Chain, and Sales & Marketing disciplines. If you’re more interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields, our sister company Matchtech specialises in this area.
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