6 Top Tips For Working With A Recruiter
By Blog

When you’re searching for a new job, working with a recruiter can open many doors for you. Recruiters can introduce you to positions that you may not necessarily see on jobs boards, as well as coaching you for interviews, highlighting your strengths and weaknesses and providing invaluable insight into the company you’re applying for, all things which are extremely valuable in today’s job market.

Not every recruiter fills every type of job, so consider recruiters who work in your specific industry for your best chances of landing in a company right for you. It’s the job of the recruiter to find the best person for each role, but it’s also equally important that each person has the best role for them. It’s a competitive job market out there, and recruiters can help you navigate it.

Our expert Recruitment team has broken down their 6 top tips into key points to help you decide if working with a recruiter is right for you!

1.) Only Deal With One Recruiter at a Time:

  • Once you’re in the process of engaging with a recruiter it is imperative you don’t contact the employer directly, the same goes for working with multiple recruiters. It wastes everyone’s time and can make both you and the recruiter look bad if an employer has seen multiple applications for the same position from you.

2.) Be Professional and Courteous:

  • When it comes to being professional, don’t let your guard down when interacting with your recruiter. They’re recommending you for the position and it is their reputation on the line. Be professional at all times and in all dealings.
  • Don’t back out of the process once you’ve agreed to apply. Be sure that it’s a position you’re truly interested in. It makes your recruiter look bad and wastes the time of your potential employer if you back out late in the process and they’re back to square one. Follow through with commitments.
  • One of the best ways to nurture your relationship with a recruiter is to help them out by recommending members of your network and friends to them who may be searching for their next job. You can get great support from recruiters and many have a referral scheme to incentives you to help them out! (Feel free to ask about ours!)
  • Keep in mind that recruiters have full calendars because they are helping many people like you land jobs. Be respectful of their time by keeping communications brief and to the point and don’t inundate them with phone calls and emails. Your recruiter is waiting on feedback from the Hiring Manager the same as you are and once updated they’ll give you the information.
  • Treat conversations with recruiters as if they are interviews with your prospective employers. The way you communicate with your recruiter is an indication of how you will represent yourself with an interviewer and you want that impression to be positive and professional.
  • If a recruiter reaches out to you with a job that isn’t the right fit for you, make the most out of the situation. Thank them for reaching out, explain the type of position you would be interested in and your salary / benefits expectations etc. If you know someone who would suit the original job, offer to put them in touch, many recruiters offer a referral scheme and its good to build relationships.

3.) Stay In Touch:

  • Stay in touch with your recruiter periodically. If you update your CV, resubmit it or contact them to relay your updated information. Keep an eye on their website or LinkedIn page for any new roles they have advertised and be clear about your salary expectations and the types of positions you’re interested in. All of this helps both you and recruiter form a good relationship. This can be as simple as an email every six months to remain on their radar. This also gives you an opportunity to offer up referrals and possibly help a colleague of yours out, as well.

4.) Let’s Talk Money:

  • Let your recruiter negotiate your remuneration package, they can present it to your potential employer and get you the best rate for your experience level. Be upfront about your salary and benefits expectations and honest about what you’re willing to settle for.

5.) Give All Of The Information:

  • Know your goals and the career path you envision for yourself.
  • Keep your CV up to date with your current accomplishments, skills and experience and periodically send it to your recruiter when updated.
  • Help recruiters help you. Don’t be afraid to share important information with them such as if you’ve worked / applied for the company before. It allows them to represent you to the best of their abilities.

6.) Take Feedback:

  • You should be open to receiving constructive criticism to help you improve your next job search, be it about your CV or your interview skills and ask for feedback to improve your future chances.
  • It’s important to remember that while you may be disappointed at not being successful in your interview, you should never badmouth the hiring manager or anyone who interviewed you, it can make you look petty and unprofessional. How you behave when you’re not successful is just as important as how you behave when you are. By thanking the interviewers and recruiters for their time and letting them know you’re interested in similar position it leaves the door open for you to work with them again.
  • Don’t assume that it’s all down to you if a company is not interested. Several things can be happening behind the scenes that you may not be aware of such as internal hiring or position restructuring. Don’t loose motivation if you’re having setbacks. Your recruiter will equip you with the knowledge you need to make your next interview even better.

At Recruitment by Aphex, we’re with our candidates every step of the way, from the submission process right through to the acceptance of an offer. We’re on hand to answer any questions you may have about your role, potential company, CV, or interview technique. We also provide our candidates with mock style preparation interviews with our in-house experts and engineers to ensure you’re feeling completely prepared and confident in your abilities. Want to find out more about how we can help you in your search? Contact us to set up a conversation with our team to discuss how we can help you.