Do you cringe when you think of working with a recruiter? Do you wish they could read your mind so you wouldn’t have to deal with constant games of phone tag in the hopes of getting a hold of them?
You’re not alone. But contrary to popular belief, recruiters want to see you succeed. Before you give up, remember that recruiters meet and talk with dozens of people every day. They have to worry about follow up calls, client meetings, job postings and more.
Recruiters are people, too. They have a life outside of their job (we think), and they have feelings and people they care about. At the end of the day, they go home and talk to their friends about some of the awful candidates they have to work with.
Just kidding! But by connecting with them on a personal and professional level, you can increase your chances of success. And who knows, maybe you’ll make a friend along the way. After all, recruitment is all about relationships.
Why should you work on creating a strong relationship with your recruiter?
- They Will Be Better Equipped to Find the Perfect Job for You: Placing the right candidate is more than finding a qualified employee. Potential candidates need to work well with the company on an interpersonal level, too. Recruiters don’t want to place someone only to find they get along with the boss as well as oil mixes with water. By taking the time to build a relationship with your recruiter, you’re giving them valuable information about your personality, strengths, and weaknesses. With that in mind, they can make sure you’re placed in a company you’ll work well in for the long run.
- They Will Better Remember You: Did we mention recruiters see a lot of people? While most of them work hard to remember all of their candidates, the ones they have a relationship with will be the first to come to mind when a new opportunity arises. By building a meaningful connection with them, you’ll have the advantage of memorability when an employer contacts them with a position you’re qualified for.
- They Will Want to See You Succeed: Who are you more likely to root for, someone you just met, or someone you’ve been friends with for years? When your recruiter can think of you as a friend, they’ll have an investment in you and feel even more motivated to find the perfect job for you. Contrary to popular belief, recruiters don’t want to see their friends fail. If they did, they wouldn’t have a career in job placement.
Building a Relationship with Your Recruiter
Now that you know some of the reasons why building a relationship with your recruiter is helpful, let’s look at some of the ways you can connect with them.
Keep an Open Mind
Recruiters always have a reason for the types of jobs they bring you. Even if something doesn’t seem like a good fit, make sure you examine it and give it some thought before you write it off completely. If you find they keep suggesting things that you don’t like, help them understand why you don’t want those opportunities. And who knows, maybe they’ll suggest something you never would have thought of otherwise.
Give Details
If your recruiter doesn’t know all of your qualifications, they may not place you with the right company. Make sure you give them an updated resume and meet with them as often as you need to help them understand your skills, temperament and desired position. It helps if they have several ways to contact you so they can give you potential job listings in the best medium available.
Be Patient
If you haven’t heard from your recruiter in a while, it isn’t because they don’t want to help you. Rather, it’s probably because opportunities in which you’re a good fit haven’t come up yet. They don’t mind if you check in, but don’t start calling in every day. Give them the benefit of the doubt and be patient for the right job to come along.
Looking for a recruiter who wants to help you reach your goals? Start building a relationship with a Profyle Tracker recruiter today!
