Time to Read: 6 mins
Tips Recruiters Want Job Seekers to Know Summary:
- We asked some Profiles recruiters what tips they want job seekers to know.
- Being prepared for interviews, asking questions, and showcasing your personality will help recruiters find you a suitable job fit.
- Put trust in your recruiters because they are your biggest advocates and want you to succeed.
Recruiters spend hours each week working with various clients and candidates from a wide range of industries and backgrounds. As a job seeker, especially one who may not have much experience with recruiters, there can be a lot of questions that arise when you begin working with one. We asked some of our recruiters here at Profiles what they want job seekers to know and this is what they had to say.
1. Be prepared For Interviews
There is nothing worse for a recruiter than to see a talented and qualified candidate not get the job because they flunked the interview. To avoid as many interview nightmares as possible, consider the following:
It goes without saying that you should check your resume for technical errors before an interview. Unfortunately, minor errors often go undetected, so be sure to send a copy of your updated resume via email prior to the interview. This way, interviewers will be looking at the correct one.
When prepping for a virtual interview, make sure that you set up and test the platform you will be using way ahead of your interview time. Ensure your camera and microphone are working properly, check that your name and background are professional, and make sure the software is up to date. The last thing you want are technical errors adding a strike against you before you even start speaking.
When answering interview questions, stay on point. Employers conduct enough interviews to see right through run around answers.
Be sure to research the company and the person/ people you are interviewing with prior to your interview. Explore the company website, look up the interviewer on LinkedIn, engage with social media or blog posts, and write down at least 3 questions you can ask during the interview. Showing that you are up to date with what they are doing and engaged with their content and employees will leave a great first impression.
2. Be Open With Your Recruiter
Don’t be afraid to be honest about what you are looking for with your recruiter from the start. Share your workplace values and career goals. Recruiters want you to know that the more information they have, the better they can find you a job that will be a good fit. Even if they cannot place you in your dream job just yet, they can find help you find opportunities that will advance you in the right direction.
3. Personality & Demeanor
It is important to let your personality shine through to both your recruiter and during your interview. Many jobs have hundreds of qualified candidates to go through, so showcasing your personality will help make you stand out from the crowd. It will also give both the recruiter and employer a better sense of whether or not you would be a good fit for the role or in their organization. Although showing personality is important, be selective with what you share so that you keep it professional.
Another great way to show that you are serious about the job is to send a thank you email to your interviewer after your interview. You can either send it directly to them or through your recruiter. This token of appreciation can go a long way and interviewers truly do appreciate it.
Be sure that your personality and actions throughout the interviewing and hiring process sync up with the skills you have listed on your resume. If your resume states that you are detail oriented but you consistently make typos or spelling and grammar errors, the interviewer may reconsider their interest in you.
4. Ask Questions
For many, working with a recruiter is a new experience. Even if they have worked with a recruiter in the past, processes and communication styles vary between organizations. With that said, be sure you find out early on how you will receive communications from your recruiter. Will they reach out to you via text, email, or phone call? How often will they reach out and what information can you expect from them?
The job seeking, interviewing, and hiring process can be stressful and confusing. If you need help navigating or understanding things like salary, pay rate, contract end dates, or any other logistics, feel free to ask your recruiter for guidance.
No question is a dumb question! If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to your recruiter. They are always willing to help.
5. Understand Job Details and Criteria
When applying to a position online, carefully look over the requirements that are a MUST for the position. If there is one that you lack, chances are the job will not be the right for you.
Be sure to get an understanding of the team you will be joining and what projects you will be working on. Who will you be working with and reporting to? What will the day to day duties look like in the role?
It is also important to understand details about the specific role as well. Is it a contract or direct hire position? How long will the contract last? Is there an opportunity for extension or conversion?
6. Offers and Salaries
When you first start working with your recruiter, clearly express your salary expectations. This conversation will take place before you are submitted to a client for consideration. However, if during the interview process you realize the position is going to require more time than anticipated and you would need a higher salary, have a conversation with your recruiter before an offer is extended so they can communicate that to the company. Do not wait until you receive the offer and then ask for 10-20K more than you originally requested.
Recruiters also want you to know is what to do if you have multiple offers on the table. If you receive an offer and are considering another offer from another company, do not ask that company to match the salary of the other offer if you have no plans of taking that offer in the end. It sends a false message and wastes time and burns bridges.
With that being said, if you receive an offer and are not waiting for another one, you should make a decision within a day. The longer you take to answer, the more the employer will start to question your true interest in them.
7. Trust your recruiters
Recruiters often get a bad rep which can make job seekers hesitant to work with them. Although there will always be bad people in the industry, the majority of recruiters what you to know that they are on your side. Instead of viewing recruiters just as headhunters simply filling open positions, look at them as your cheerleaders and #1 advocates! They often go above and beyond to make sure your resume isn’t sitting at the bottom of a stack of papers and genuinely want you to succeed. Many recruiters truly enjoy helping well-deserving people find incredible jobs. Use them to your full advantage!
In Conclusion
Transparency and information is key and goes both ways. The more information you share with your recruiter, the better they will be able to match you with a great job. Likewise, the more questions you ask and information you gain surrounding the process and specific role you are interested in, the higher the chances are that you find a role that suits your needs and desires. Putting trust in your recruiters and working with them every step of the way will only set you up for success in the long run.
If you are interested in working with a recruiter, visit our Career Portal and apply today!
*Special shoutout Profiles recruiters Jessica Hurley, Danielle Kenny, Hanna Thaler, and Kelsey Morris for providing great insight into what they want job seekers to know.
