Working with Recruiters and Landing that Perfect Job Series - - - Part 1

Getting on the recruiter’s radar

Establishing a relationship with recruiters can be very difficult regardless of your qualifications, because they prefer to initiate contact with candidates they have already checked out through their networks.

Your best bet for getting on a recruiter’s radar is to use networking as a way to make contact with the search firm. First, identify recruiters who specialize in positions in your field of expertise or industry by asking business associates who may have been contacted for names of executive recruiters. Second, go back to your network and try to find people who know those executive recruiters personally.

Finding connections between search and your network takes time, but is well worth the effort, because you are always better off establishing contact indirectly — by asking someone to introduce you — than making your own connection.

Craft a Partnership

View your relationship with the recruiter as a partnership. By working together toward a common goal (getting you hired at the best place for the most money), the partnership can result in a very positive, win-win situation.

Be Honest — with yourself, your recruiter and the potential firm you’ll be working for. Do some soul searching before starting the search process and have a clear sense of your wants, needs and desires. By having a clear vision of what you want, you will be able to convey that to a recruiter, and work in tandem to achieve the end result.

Define Yourself

Be clear about who you are and what you want to do. Your accomplishments and functional expertise should be easily ascertained from both written and oral communication with the firm.

Do not try to be all things to all people.