What you should know before working with a recruiter
When hunting for a job, recruiters are a highly valuable resource. They have in-depth knowledge and experience in hiring, can match you to roles that fit your skills, and can even be your ticket to the hidden job market. Recruiters can also help make your job search more efficient and help you land a job faster than searching alone.
But there are some dos and don’ts you should know about when working with a recruiter.
Do:
Know your goals
Be transparent about what you want and what you don’t want. Are you only looking for full-time positions, or are you seeking out temporary work? Knowing your career goals and where you want to end up is essential. Recruiters don’t want to hear, “I’ll take any role!”. You might think you’re being accommodating, but in reality, you’re making your recruiter’s job much harder. Recruiters aren’t mindreaders, so be clear and specific.
Be honest
Be honest about your experience and skills. Don’t think you need to lie or embellish your work history to land positions or impress your recruiter. The recruiter isn’t there to help you rather than judge you. Lying about your qualifications won’t lead to success, plus it’ll make your recruiter look bad. If you feel you are lacking in specific skills, tell your recruiter! They can guide you on what extra training or education you might need to fill any gaps on your resume.
Be professional
When first meeting your recruiter, think of it as an interview. Your recruiter isn’t a hiring manager, but they are a gatekeeper and represent your potential employers. So present yourself as you would during a formal interview. This includes dressing appropriately, being punctual and knowing how to highlight your skills and experience.
Trust their expertise
As Toronto’s #1 recruitment agency, we have decades of knowledge and experience. You wouldn’t have gone to a recruiter if you didn’t need their expertise, so trust them. Recruiting is these professionals’ livelihood. When you succeed, we succeed.
Recruiters have already built relationships with the employers and know what they are looking for. When they say they know what they’re talking.
Don’t:
Expect recruiters to do all the work
Your recruiter will guide you, but they’re not there to do the work for you. For example, recruiters can provide you with resume or cover letter help, but that doesn’t mean they’ll write either for you.
As a candidate, your job is to be clear about your professional goals, and your recruiter will provide the necessary feedback to better your chances of reaching your goals. If you don’t choose to apply this feedback, there isn’t much your recruiter can do to help you.
Take constructive criticism personal
Recruiters can provide an objective perspective; their criticism isn’t personal. A recruiter’s success is based on their ability to fill positions, so any feedback is being given out of your best interest. There is no incentive for them to keep roles from you. If a technical recruiter believes you aren’t fit for a job, they’re likely telling the truth.
Go over the recruiter’s head
Sometimes when working with a recruiter, candidates will also communicate directly with the company. And if it wasn’t obvious, doing so defeats the whole purpose of a recruiter. Your recruiter’s job is to present you in the best light to potential employers. If you want to speak directly to these employers, you risk making yourself bad and the recruiter as well.
IT Recruitment Agency in Toronto | About Live Assets | IT Staffing Solutions
Live Assets is a boutique IT Staffing/Recruiting firm specializing exclusively in building IT teams of excellence for the Information Technology sector.
We are a small, but productive team that works closely together and has had a 96% success rate for the past number of years!
We have a diverse number of clients and industries and focus on both full-time and contract I.T. opportunities.
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