Most Recruiters are Wasting Your Time
How do You Find a Recruiter that will work with you?
Networking – Networking – Networking (more on this subject later)
Many candidates assume the recruiter is “working with them” if one of the following scenarios take place:
- The recruiter accepted your resume
- The recruiter called you back on the phone and interviewed you
- The recruiter asked you into their office for a formal interview
- The recruiter sent you out to interview with one of their clients
Is the recruiter working with you – helping to identify great opportunities, thinking of you first when an appropriate search tumbles across their desktop, giving you ideas/suggestions/recommendations on how to improve your job search/career management?
Absolutely NOT!
You are nothing more than a piece of paper at this point. Perhaps, your “filler” because their client needed to see two other candidates before making a decision on the real candidate they wanted to hire.
There is no relationship – no chemistry – no mutual support.
AND the worst thing is that the recruiter you’ve called or sent a resume to could be the WRONG recruiter. This is THE primary reason most candidate-recruiter relationships never develop – you’re talking to the WRONG recruiter.
How do you find the right recruiter?
The right recruiter is someone who consistently makes placements of candidates just like you – frequently – successfully – consistently – regularly.
NOT occasionally – infrequently – sometimes – maybe – once in a while.
Have you ever asked a recruiter how many times in the last year, quarter, month (take your pick) did they place someone in a job just like the one you’re seeking?
You would probably be shocked by the answer you hear.
How do you find recruiters who frequently place talent just like you?
Below are a few key steps you can follow to identify appropriate recruiters and begin to develop a “tight” relationship. How could we define a “tight” relationship – it’s one where the recruiter passionately pitches you to their client, you’re the one they think of first on a search assignment, and when the hiring manager rejects you – they fight to the end to convince the hiring manager to meet you.
Can you claim to have this type of “tight” relationship with any recruiters? Probably NOT! Perhaps, the reason is that you’re spending time trying to develop a relationship with the wrong recruiters.
The STEPS to Recruiter Nirvana:
- Ask your peers which recruiters they are working with
- Ask hiring managers/executives which recruiters they use to fill jobs like the one you want
- Look in recruiter directories on the internet for which recruiters specialize in your function, industry, or geography
- Read the blogs of the very best recruiters (unbiased impression coming up here – like Brad and I)
- Which recruiters are ranked in the top 50/100 on twitter and other lists?
Let me throw out a couple of examples:
You live in Los Angeles and are seeking a Chief Financial Officer Position. Who are the top 3 executive search firms who specialize in financial management search in the LA metro area? If you don’t know this answer, you’re flying blind.
You live in Boston and are seeking a Vice President of Marketing Position for a Consumer Products Company with global operations. Who are the top 3 search firms in the US focusing on International Vice Presidents of Marketing for Major Consumer Product Companies? Again, if you don’t know this answer, you’re flying blind and probably have been wasting your time with other recruiters.
Is it time in your job search to leverage yourself and start spending time with the “right” recruiters so that you can develop a “tight” relationship?
Barry
Tags: contingent recruiters, Great Recruiters, Job Search Mistakes, Mistakes Working with Recruiters, Recruiter Relationships, Recruiters, Retained recruiters
Job Search Mistakes, Recruiters | Barry Deutsch July 2, 2010
About the Author
Barry Deutsch is a founding Partner of IMPACT Hiring Solutions, co-author of "You're NOT the Person I Hired", and "This is NOT the Position I Accepted". Barry is an award-winning international speaker, retained executive recruiter, and expert on hiring and retaining top talent, and executive job search.
