Working with Recruiters Made Easy

While recruiters don’t play favorites in the typical sense, there are some candidates they enjoy working with more than others. These candidates become their “go-to” candidates and are often placed again immediately after their first assignment ends. So, what do these “star” candidates do differently.

We’ve taken some advice from our best recruiters to make your job search and the submission process easy. Below are some key points for working with recruiters that are easy to adopt in your own job search.

Respond quickly to your recruiter

Recruiting is a race – the company that submits your resume first gets to represent you, and in many jobs, only a certain number of total submittals are accepted. If you’re interested in a role, respond quickly; even if it’s just a short email indicating a time that you can call them later that day.

Keep an updated resume for easy access

Attach a copy of your most recent resume to a blank email, and send it to yourself. When a recruiter requests it, you can quickly forward it from your smartphone or computer; even during a break at work.

• Make sure your resume is up to date and is formatted correctly.
• Always remember to check your contact information, this is one of the most common mistakes found on a resume.
• We are constantly learning new skills and honing in on the ones that currently have, add new skills to your resume regularly.

Making your resume stand out by being updated regularly will keep you at the top of the list when it comes time to reassign you to a new position.

Get submitted? It’s time to get serious

Recruiting is a time-sensitive industry, recruiters will often want you to decide on the spot if you are interested in being submitted for a role. This doesn’t mean that you have to take the position if after you’ve weighed your options its not a good fit. But, you should definitely keep in mind that you shouldn’t agree to be submitted unless you will go to an interview with the company. The more interviews you deny after being submitted, the less likely you will make it back to the top of a recruiters favorite candidate list. Once you make a decision, you should stick with it and make it a priority. It doesn’t hurt to go to an interview even if you are not 100% confident this job is right for you, think of it as a practice run for the position that is.

Bonus Tips:
Typically at this early stage, if you’re comfortable with the job responsibilities, commute distance, pay range, and contract vs. direct status, you can agree to be submitted:

• Keep in mind in the beginning, some clients do not commit to a pay range because they are unsure of what candidates are looking for in the market.
• You can indicate your current salary as well as what you’d be looking for to make a move.
• You can easily find what you’re position is worth by using the Adecco Salary Look Up Tool.

If you need to consider the details overnight, most recruiters will be okay with this – but keep in mind, they (or their competitors) may submit other candidates in the meantime.

Be flexible and prepared for interviews

Once you’ve been submitted and secure an interview, you’ve crossed a major hurdle and are probably one out of a handful of hopeful under serious consideration. This means that you should take this part of the process pretty seriously. Recruiters tend to only send the best of the best to their client. It’s a myth that they send anyone they meet to the client or hiring manager. Recruiters have a reputation to uphold, why send everyone when they can send the right person, the first time?

Interviews are normally scheduled within a week from the initial interview request. Chances are, busy hiring managers are not going to be conducting interviews outside of business hours, at lunchtime or on weekends.  If you’re working a first shift job, consider beforehand how you will handle taking time off from work to accommodate interviews. Remember that some roles will require multiple interviews. Acing the first interview will be your key to moving forward.

Plan ahead for a relocation

Consider carefully whether you’d truly be willing to relocate to the city the job is in; and remember that most companies will want you to move within one month from the date you accept the offer. Don’t apply for jobs in areas you wouldn’t realistically move to; or if you can’t feasibly leave the area.

When thinking about relocating carefully take these decisions into consideration, this is a big life change and you should be committed to the outcome.

• Would your family agree to move to this location? Talk to them first – it’s surprising how many times this derails job offers.
• Do you have obligations that would prevent you from moving? Some situations that could prevent you from making the move seamlessly, a house that’s worth less than you owe,
• Is the position secure enough to make the move? You might be in a state of elation when offered an excellent opportunity in another city or maybe even abroad, but take a look at the big picture.
• Can you afford the cost of interview travel or relocation? Some companies will cover the costs of your interview travel and relocation if you get the job. Keep in mind that even if a company will cover the cost of relocation, this may only be a portion of your total cost to move. Others will expect you to cover these costs on your own, so budget funds for these expenses.

Bonus tip: If you can’t afford to cover the costs of interview travel, ask if the company can conduct a video interview. Interested in more advice on working with recruiters? Click here!

Are you job hunting? Our recruiters are ready to connect you with jobs in healthcare, creative, engineering and tech, and many more industries all over the country. Take a look at our featured jobs, or submit your resume today to get started on your next career!