The first thing that any jobseeker needs to understand about a recruiter is whose side he is on, and the undeniable reality is he is on the side of the employer. Why wouldn't he be - the employer is the one who is paying him. Let's face it, if you worked for an insurance company, you wouldn't just pay out every claim just to keep the customer happy. It would be your job to protect the company's interests. So it is with the recruiter. It is his job to protect the interests of his client, the employer. It is his job to make sure that he finds the best possible candidate.
The second thing that you need to know is that, particularly at times like the present when the applicant pool is so large, employers don't have to jump at the first candidate who comes along they can afford to be choosy. This is the case regardless of whether he uses a recruiter or not, but if he does, then that recruiter is not going to waste his valuable time serving the needs of applicants who, in many cases, have applied for the position despite not having the required skills, experience or qualifications. Why should he? His time is money and he cannot afford to waste it in consoling unsuitable applicants or even acknowledging each application individually.
On the point of recruiters not understanding the requirements of the job, recruiters can only work with what they are given. If the brief provided by the hiring manager is inaccurate or lacking in detail, then that is not necessarily the fault of the recruiter. You have to remember here that it is in the interests of the recruiter to get as much information as possible in order to find the best person for the job his livelihood literally depends on it. If it seems that he is barking up the wrong tree, more often than not it is not his fault.
So, bearing all of this in mind, are recruiters a blessing or a blight as far as the jobseeker is concerned. As a potential means of matching you up to a position and a company to which you may be ideally suited, of course they are a blessing. From your, the jobseeker's side, however, there are a few important things to remember, and in fact these are just the same things that you should bear in mind even if a recruiter is not involved.
1. Always make sure that you are qualified for the position that you are applying for. If the company wants 10 years experience, then they want 10 years experience, not six or eight. If they are asking for applications from individuals with a degree in chemistry, they don't want applicants with degrees in art history.
2. Once you have sent your resume off to the recruiter, don't do anything other than make sure that he has received it. Most do not have time to automatically acknowledge every application and at this stage, they will certainly not want to enter into any further discussion. You can rest assured that if your application is of interest, the recruiter will get back to you.
3. If the recruiter does contact you for a telephone interview, then answer his questions succinctly but make sure that you convince him of what you can bring to the job. When you are nervous, the tendency can often be to waffle on at length, but if you do this, the recruiter may have doubts as to how well you will interview with the company and so decide not to take your application any further. In the course of the interview, make sure that you find out as much about the job as possible. It may not suit your requirements and, if this is the case, there is no point in wasting anybody's time in pursuing it.
4. If you get to the next stage of meeting the recruiter in person, then be sure to demonstrate that you have the required skills and abilities and show him how professional you are. Also, make sure that he can see your enthusiasm for the job and don't act as though it's 'already in the bag. Always keep in mind that the recruiter's reputation depends upon the quality of the candidates that he puts forward, so if you leave him in any doubt as to your suitability, he simply will not take the chance.
5. The same rules apply to interviews with the hiring company irrespective of whether a third-party recruiter has been involved or not. Make sure that you do your homework and are able to demonstrate that you understand the employer's concerns and can bring tangible benefits to his organization.
6. After an interview with the hiring company, be sure to demonstrate your keenness by contacting the recruiter straight away. If he thinks you are not interested, he will turn his attention elsewhere. Indeed, throughout the process, always make sure that you respond promptly to any communication from him.
7. If you are lucky enough to be offered the position, then get as much information as possible about the remuneration package and provide a response to the recruiter in good time, although only after having given it proper consideration. If you are turned down, then request feedback as to why you were unsuccessful, but don't take it personally or become defensive. For one thing, the final decision does not rest with the recruiter himself, but with the hiring company, and for another, you never know, if this recruiter thinks you are worth hiring, he may just be in touch if another suitable position comes up!
Wilson Chua Intergity Career Transitions www.integritycareertransitions.com 750 South Shipyard Drive, Suite 300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Toll Free: 1-302-442-4100 Tel. No.: (302) 504-9960
Tags: career, career transition, career counseling