For some job candidates, working with a recruiter will be part of their job search plan. Yet the possibility of working with a recruiter can be somewhat of a secret due to the confidential nature involved in filling positions.
To help unravel the mystery of recruiting, I had a good discussion with Tony Beshara, who has personally placed more than 6,500 people and interviewed more than 22,000 in his career. Beshara is the author of two books, “The Job Search Solution” and “Acing the Interview,” and is recognized as an expert in the recruiting field.
Beshara’s insider information is helpful in that it brings answers to some of those recruiter questions that keep job candidates puzzled. Below are some of the issues job candidates face and Beshara’s views on understanding recruiters and their roles.
Recruiters often are easy targets for job candidates to blame when their search becomes stalled. The tendency for candidates to lean on a recruiter to find a good opportunity for them is wishful thinking that’s often based on misunderstanding the recruiting process.
Who gets the 100 percent devotion of a recruiter? The client who pays the recruiting fee will always be the priority and the recruiter’s loyalty is to the client in wanting to meet their deadlines, not your career goals.
What is the No. 1 misconception job candidates have about recruiters? The recruiter has the power to get you a job. Recruiters can give you an opportunity to interview, but it is up to you to get the job. You are the one selling your skills during the interview, not the recruiter.
As impersonal as this may seem, start right now by counting to 5 or maybe 10.
This is the amount time your resume will be reviewed by a recruiter unless it is right on target for a specific position. Recruiters will not analyze every single resume sent to them, they receive hundreds of resumes and you are lucky if your resume gets selected for a 5-10 second review.
Recruiters are “information brokers” and “hiring process managers,” not career counselors or advisors. They don’t have the time to give you career advice; rather, they are more focused on the needs of finding the best candidate for their client’s needs.
Why aren’t recruiters calling you back? From a practical standpoint, they don’t have the time to follow up with every single candidate. It’s not that a recruiter doesn’t care; it’s likely a time management issue.
You are likely to receive some advice from a recruiter about a career or job change if you already have a long-standing relationship with them. Cold-calling a recruiter for advice is a long shot and can lead to frustration.
What has been your experience in working with recruiters?
