Everyone knows that looking for your dream job, or just any job, can be full time work. With so many challenges that come up when searching for a new position, job seekers face a variety of obstacles in a competitive market place. This can be especially daunting if you are doing it with no help.
If you have never used a recruiter or worked with a staffing agency before it may be a bit unclear as to what a recruiter does and how one can help you. For candidates, a recruiter is another set of eyes on your job search, and there are many advantages to working with a recruiter or staffing agent. A recruiter’s role is to find the best match between you and an the right organization.
Company Research
How a staffing agency or recruiting company works is that they have pre-existing relationships with client companies. A recruiter’s mission is to essentially know the organizations they are representing. Oftentimes, people go into an interview having done some preliminary research on the company and then they just hope for the best. A recruiter can help with more extensive knowledge about the company, so that you can be more prepared. They can let you know the details of the role, for example, why the role is open, what the key success factors the manager is looking for, how the hiring manager handles interviews, etc. By knowing these factors beforehand, it can often times make the difference between a job offer and a generic rejection email.
Undercover footwork
If you are considering leaving your current position, but you don’t want your current employer finding out that you are looking for another job, using a recruiter can be incredibly useful. Recruiters can do the footwork for you in your job search, giving you the freedom to continue working. A recruiter can covertly assess multiple organizations and can find options based on what you are looking for. Recruiters can answer any questions about the organization or the role you are interested in so you can know if it is worth pursuing the risk of leaving your current role.
Negotiation
Negotiation can be a difficult subject for a job seeker. There is a difficult balance that needs to be struck with the organization and the potential employee when it comes to coming to an offer. A recruiter can help by creating realistic expectations for both the organization and the candidate so that the pertinent items being negotiated won’t compromise the position. By understanding the candidate’s needs and what the organization is able to offer, the recruiter can be the mediator between the two, particularly when an interviewer may over promise or under deliver on compensation, job duties, etc. This is an opportunity where the recruiter can help make sure the appropriate expectations are being set and executed for all parties involved.
Resume help
Every organization has a specific process when it comes to how a resume is presented. It is a recruiter’s job to know the process for each organization and to submit to the appropriate parties in a timely manner. By working with a recruiter your resume can be effectively customized to meet the particular standards for each organization so that your resume will be seen by the hiring manager and not screened out by an applicant tracking system.
Feedback and prep
You can gain immediate insight into your performance during the interview process. A recruiter can give you invaluable feedback right after the interview so that you can understand how you were perceived by your interviewer. A recruiter can also help clarify any questions you may have regarding something that wasn’t initially clear during the interview.
A recruiter is another set of eyes in your job search, someone to help with the footwork, and someone who is on your team! These are just a few insights into how a recruiter can help when searching for a new position and make your job seeker journey more beneficial.
If you are in the throws of your job hunt, and you find yourself interested in working with a recruiter, please visit our website at www.motusrecruiting.com. We would love to connect with you and get this process started! We are focused in the Greater Portland and Seattle areas.
