Top 10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Recruiter

Top 10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Recruiter

Looking for a job can be stressful and time-consuming - as a result, many opt to use a recruiter. Recruiters often specialise in a specific industry and therefore have an abundance of knowledge about current trends and developments. It is in the recruiter’s best interest to find you a job, so remember they are there to help you.

We’ve put together the top 10 tips to get the most of your recruiter:

1. Choose your recruiter/agency wisely. Recruitment agencies specialise in various industries and many agencies have sub sectors such as Mane. A specialised recruiter will increase your chances of being put forward for a relevant job in your industry.
2. Help recruiters find you. Having an online present is extremely important in today’s day and age when looking for a new job. Having a LinkedIn profile, writing blogs or articles can help recruiters find you. However, an offline presence is also important, attending networking events and teaching courses are also viable ways to get noticed by recruiters.
3. Build a rapport with the recruiter. Get to know your recruiter and let them get to know you. You need to be able to trust them when finding your next job. As the recruiter gets to know you, they will get to understand what work environment you will thrive in most. If you're a contractor who's looking for a new job every couple of months, having a close relationship with a recruiter will ensure you're not out of work for too long between jobs.
4. Maintain open communication. Effective communication goes both ways. Ensure that you and the recruiter decide on a preferred method of communication that suits you both, so you are not constantly missing each other’s calls or emails.
5. Work with the recruiter to tailor your CV. Since you won’t have direct contact with the client, it’s best to let the recruiter share their knowledge and maximise the chance of you landing the role. They know exactly what the client is looking for, so work with them to make some changes to your CV so that it matches the job description and stands out.
6. Let the recruiter guide you. Recruiters will offer tips to nail your interview. Listen to their guidance - it’ll help you get past the interview stage and will increase your chances of success. Use your recruiter’s industry expertise to your advantage.
7. Be honest with the recruiter. Don’t be afraid to be honest with the recruiter. If you don't like the sound of a job they have put forward to you, tell them. Don’t lie about your work experience, as it won’t help you in the interview stage - be completely honest and let the recruiter find your perfect match.
8. Ask for constructive criticism. Be open to receiving constructive criticism, this will enable you to improve in different areas such as the interviewing process. If the recruiter doesn’t offer criticism voluntarily, ask for feedback. Feedback can only help you to improve your chances.
9. Follow through with commitments. If a recruiter has scheduled an interview or meeting for you and you’ve agreed, follow through. If you do not attend not only does it reflect badly on yourself but it reflects badly on the recruiter. You want the recruiter to be on your side in order for them to help you land your next job.
10. Keep in touch even after you’ve landed a job. It’s important to stay in touch with recruiters, you never know when you might be in search of a new job, so it’s always good to keep them onside. Keeping in touch could simply be an email every few months to let them know how you are getting on in your new job. This also gives you an opportunity to offer up referrals and possibly help a colleague of yours out, as well.