Get the Most out of Working with a Recruiter

Navigate the Way to Your Dream Job

Recruiters sometimes get a bad rap, and sometimes it’s justified, for not looking after their candidates. For being all over them when they’re a match for a job but banishing them to the black hole of limbo if that job doesn’t come through. At people2people, we want to stand out from the crowd for the right reasons and treat candidates with the same level of respect as our clients. Our clients may be the ones paying the invoice at the end of the day but there is no way we could provide our level of service without working together with fantastic candidates.

My ideal is to work proactively with candidates so it’s not just about the job that’s caught your eye now, but the opportunity we can uncover or create that is going to take your career to the next level. It’s a partnership. Recruiters can navigate the way to your dream job, but your need to more than a passenger in the journey. Here’s some ways that you can get the most out of the partnership with your p2p recruiter.

Know What You Want

It’s seems obvious but the majority of candidates we meet with do not have a clear, defined vision of what they want in their next opportunity. Beyond the role, location and salary, most candidates are stumped when asked to describe their ideal company or position and can’t pinpoint the factors that would make them choose one position over another. Now you don’t usually have the luxury of choosing your next role and company, but if you take the time to take a step back and really think about what is important to you, we will both have a much better chance of making that dream job a reality.

Do Your Homework

Once you have a better idea of what you want, your consultant will work with you to come up with a list of target companies that we can approach on your behalf. Again, it’s a partnership. You are in the best position to know what environments will or will not work for you, so do your homework and contribute to the list. Get in the driving seat.

Keep in the Loop

Now that you and your recruiter have a grand plan for landing your ideal role, you are both responsible for sticking to the plan. Set timeframes for actions e.g., I’ll have my CV updated with key achievements by Friday; create a video profile to promote you by the next day. Commit to your actions and don’t be afraid to follow up with your consultant if they have missed a deadline. Equally though, if your situation changes let your consultant know as soon as possible so they’re not wasting their time chasing your dream job if you’ve already found it elsewhere.