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Keys to Success When
Working with a Recruiter
At
some point in your career, you
may work with a recruiter to
find a great job.
Most recruiters are
professionals, whose primary
goal is to successfully match
a job opening with a candidate
who is technically qualified
and is well suited for the
client’s work environment.
For this match to happen,
professionalism and effective
communication between you and
your recruiter are critical.
If
you choose to work with a
recruiter, here are several
things to keep in mind to
improve your chances of
finding your dream job.
-
Return
calls to recruiters even
if you aren’t looking
for a new job.
You never know,
they may have a gem for
you!
If not, they will
definitely remember your
effort and will make sure
to keep you in mind when
the best opportunities
come in.
-
During
your job search, make sure
your recruiter understands
your unique situation,
preferences and needs.
-
Ask
questions.
State concerns.
Be honest.
-
Don’t
authorize submittal of
your resume unless you are
truly interested and ready
to move ahead with the
position.
A recruiter would
rather have you take extra
time to think the position
over than have you change
your mind after you’ve
been offered an interview.
-
Don’t
double submit your resume.
If a company
receives your resume from
more than one source, it
can cost you consideration
for a position.
Keep careful notes
of companies to which you
send your resume as well
as companies to which
you’ve authorized a
recruiter to send your
resume.
-
Follow
through. If
you set up an interview,
keep the appointment!
If something comes
up and you can’t make a
scheduled interview, call
the recruiter to arrange a
new time.
If you are running
late to the interview,
call the recruiter!
-
If
you receive an offer for
another position before
your scheduled interview,
call the recruiter and
discuss the situation.
Most recruiters
will advise you to keep
your options open and to
take the interview.
You may find the
position to be better than
the one you have been
offered.
-
Don’t
discuss salary/rate with
the client.
If asked about your
rate, refer the
interviewer to the agency,
perhaps by saying “the
agency wishes to handle
those questions”.
This provides your
recruiter with leverage to
negotiate on your behalf.
-
Call
the recruiter after the
interview to let him/her
know your thoughts.
Make sure you relay
your level of interest and
excitement with the
position, as well as any
concerns you may have.
-
Don’t
change your rate after the
interview. Honor your
commitment to the pay rate
you and your recruiter
agreed to.
Your recruiter has
already quoted a rate to
the client based on the
rate you originally
discussed.
Changing your rate
now will force the
recruiter to increase the
rate charged to the
client, diminishing your
chances of getting the
position.
-
Once
on the job, communicate
with your recruiter.
During the
contract, the agency is
your employer – not the
client.
Your recruiter is
your best advocate in all
matters related to your
position and will work
hard to keep you happy!
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Interviewed Lately?
In
past editions of this column,
we have covered the topic of
how to properly construct your
resume. Presentation is important in a resume – it is several times
more important during
an interview.
To be offered a
position, it is not enough to
possess the required technical
skills and background.
You must also convince
the interviewer that you will
work well with current team
members and will be
comfortable within the office
environment.
Some points to remember
regarding the interview.
-
Dress
professionally.
A good rule of
thumb is to dress up at
least one level from your
normal work attire.
If you are in a
hands-on position and wear
jeans and t-shirts to
work, wear trousers and a
shirt and tie to the
interview.
If you wear
trousers and a shirt and
tie to work, wear a suit
to the interview.
The same rule
applies for women.
Dressing
professionally for an
interview shows that you
take the meeting
seriously.
-
Don’t
arrive too early.
Any earlier than 10
minutes prior to your
scheduled time is too
early.
-
Don’t
arrive late unless you
have previously called to
say that you are running
late.
Everyone
understands that events
occur that may result in
your being late (traffic,
car problems, getting
lost, etc.).
If so, call your
recruiter as soon as you
know you are going to be
late. Inform the recruiter of your situation and let him/her
relay it to the client.
-
If
you cannot make the
scheduled interview, or
have decided that you are
no longer interested in
the position, call and
cancel the interview. To simply not show up is unprofessional and will
ensure you never have the
opportunity to work with
that recruiter again.
-
Try
to relax!
After all, at the
same time the client is
assessing your fit for
their company, you are
assessing your level of
interest in working for
them.
-
During
the interview, remember
that you are constantly
being evaluated, even when
it is not obvious.
If you are asked to
wait in the lobby, be
polite to the admin staff. If you spend time speaking with someone who would
possibly be a co-worker,
remember that he/she will
later be asked for his or
her opinion of you.
Treat everyone you
meet with the
professionalism you would
your future manager.
If you are asked
out to lunch or dinner,
ensure you order food that
is easy (and not messy) to
eat.
-
Avoid
interrupting people,
providing long-winded
answers and being negative
regarding former
employers.
Be aware of your
interviewer’s non-verbal
cues and body language —
it will be obvious if your
interviewer isn’t
following your answers or
if you are rambling.
Keep your answers
relevant and succinct.
Do not be
uncomfortable with
silences or feel that you
need to talk to fill them.
Some interviewers
will intentionally insert
silences into the
interview to observe how
you will react.
-
Follow up.
After the interview,
send a thank you letter to the
senior client representative
with whom you met.
It is usually a good
idea to forward a thank you
letter through your recruiter,
as most clients prefer that
all correspondence relating to
the interview come from the
recruiter. Talk to the recruiter about the interview and your thoughts
on the position.
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