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If you’ve been on the job market for some time without success, now may be the time to start working with a recruiter.  Professional recruiters help you tap into a vast local and national network of hidden job openings with great employers.  For many job-seekers, a recruiter is the difference between finding “a job” and finding “a dream job.”

Industry-specific recruiters have a vast knowledge of careers, job outlook, and hiring processes, and they also work hard to match you with a company that fits your plans for a dream position.  To get the most out of your relationship with your recruiter, employ these “best practices”:

  • Be responsive.  Your recruiter may contact you for many reasons: to get more information, to schedule an interview or other meeting, or to connect you to a prospective employer.  Whenever your recruiter calls, be responsive: answer the message if you can, or call back quickly if you cannot take the call immediately.  The more responsive and accessible you are, the better your recruiter can connect you to good jobs as soon as they appear.
  • Ask questions.  Your recruiter has a substantial store of knowledge about your industry, the companies that are hiring, and how to put your best foot forward.  Fail to ask your recruiter questions and you pass up the chance to benefit fully from this knowledge and experience.
  • Be honest and open about your experience and expectations.  Early in the process, your recruiter may tell you that the more they know about your needs, the better they can help you.  The same thing is true when it comes to your past job-hunting experiences and your expectations.  The more your recruiter knows about where you’ve been and what you’re looking for, the better they can help you find what you truly want.
  • Never try to go around your recruiter to the employer.   The relationship between an employer, a recruiter, and a job candidate is based on trust.  You trust your recruiter to use his or her substantial experience to bring you a better job, and your recruiter trusts that you will work within the process.  Violating this trust may cost you not only your relationship with your recruiter, but your chances at a new job as well.
  • Commit to working with your recruiter through the whole process.  If you’re new to the recruiting process, some parts of it may seem unusual, drawn out, or pointless.  Instead of abandoning the process, however, ask questions about parts you don’t understand.  Chances are good that your recruiter uses particular methods or processes because they work – and knowing how they work can help you use them to your best benefit.
  • Build an ongoing relationship with your recruiter.  Once you’ve accepted a new job, check in with your recruiter periodically to let them know how you are doing – a simple email can accomplish this.  Maintaining your relationship with your recruiter pays off in maintaining your connection to companies and other industry players even outside your new job.

At SMR Group, our experienced recruiters can help you supercharge your job search in 2014.  Contact us today to learn more!


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