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This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
So, you’ve reached a point in your career in which it’s time to start looking for another job to meet your personal and professional goals. Good for you! But do you wonder whether you should start your job search on your own or if you should try working with a recruiter? Well, let’s start by covering the basics.
Working with a recruiter or a recruiting firm is fairly easy, with many people finding jobs through them because their job is literally to be the experts of their industry. There are two main ways people begin working with search consultants: either they get talent scouted by uploading their resume onto a job board or by approaching a recruiting firm and getting matched with someone who’s a specialist in their firm. The result is the same, they get someone looking for jobs who’s at their corner.
Not all job seekers are aware that there are different types of recruiters, but you basically have two: those that work for a company as part of their team and those who are hired externally by companies to fill job positions. And yes, they both look to place top talent in a company.
However, since in-house recruiters work for a specific company, those are not the ones you work with when diving into the job market to find different opportunities that could suit your career change. Unless your mind is only set on working for that one specific company.
So, if what you want is to go beyond surfing job boards and have someone help you with a targeted search that fits your long-term career goals, then you should look for a recruiter that is either a freelancer or that works for a staffing agency. This third-party approach could present the ideal mediators for making not only a placement but the right match.
Here are some of the main perks of having a recruiter help you with your job search:
Looking for a job can feel like a job in itself, and you already have one of those. Tasks like finding an offer that makes sense with your next move, assessing if it comes with the company culture you are looking for, setting up interviews, and negotiating the final terms can be a handful. But luckily those things and more can be delegated to a recruiter. That and more is what a recruiter can help you take care of.
We will only get your resume to companies that are serious about hiring, not waste time with those who are not serious.
For example, they’ll get your resume into the hands of the decision-makers in the interview process and have live conversations regarding your background. That doesn’t mean that your recruiter will call you in a couple of days saying, “Congratulations! It’s all set. You now have a new job.” You’ll still be a big part of the process, but they’ll walk you through it and ease most of the steps.
Unless you have discussed this career move with your current employer, you probably want to keep this on the down-low while you find and secure a job worth the change. While a recruiter is hired by companies to find the right person for the job, a good recruiter works confidentially without shotgunning your resume and running the risk of getting the word out.
Your recruiter will likely discuss the opportunities with you to make sure there is interest on your end before presenting your resume. They will also make sure that the hiring managers are truly interested before revealing your information.
The truth is that not all positions are advertised on job boards. Much like you, some companies prefer to keep a targeted and confidential search to avoid discarding thousands of applicants that are not a match. That’s one of the reasons why they hire recruiters: to save time and money on the search process.
We are an extra set of “eyes and ears” in your industry to make sure you are aware of the types of opportunities that fit what you are looking for.
A good recruiter has also built a strong network through their activity, so you can leverage their connections to land the right job. If your recruiter works for a staffing agency, then you’ll grow your chances exponentially. Keep in mind that a job search can take a while, months even, and during that time your recruiter will stay in touch with their network to learn about new opportunities.
Now, remember that better opportunities do not always mean more interviews. Recruiters can help you interview less if you’re open and clear about your career goals and deal breakers. This means that they will look for tailored opportunities for you, so be patient and responsive any time they come calling. Besides, even after landing a job, one of the biggest advantages of having a recruiter in your professional network can keep you in mind further down the line to advance your career.
A good recruiter will not just ease your job search but is able to provide insight and feedback throughout the interview process, such as where you stand compared to other candidates interviewing for a position. They can also help to negotiate for you at the offer stage because they know what your expectations are.
Not just on the salary compensation but on the other corporate perks you value. Many matches fall out at this stage because it is often stressful for candidates to know how to negotiate or if the offer is the best they could take based on their skill set and value. Your recruiter will guide you through this thanks to their own knowledge and industry insights, and make sure this is a win-win scenario.
The best part of all these benefits is that you don’t have to stress your wallet. Again, recruiters are hired by companies who are responsible for paying their fees. This means that, once you’ve found the right company and position, your new employer will handle payment according to the agreement they set with your recruiter.
There is no need to wait for a recruiter to contact you when you can take the first step by just looking closely. So, if you’re thinking, “How do I find a recruiter to work with?” check out the following methods. The first one, if you want to enter a specific company, can be to look for their hiring authorities in popular networks, such as LinkedIn, and introduce yourself. This doesn’t guarantee anything, other than keeping you in mind if there is an open position that they’re looking to fill.
The second one can be to join industry groups and identify the recruiters who are the most active there. Sending them a good introduction message can be key to expanding a professional network and keeping you in mind for a good role down the line.
So, let’s say you’re now acquainted with a recruiter or several recruiters. What’s the best way to prepare before my first conversation with a recruiter?
It’s in a recruiter’s best interests that you land a job, so if you have any questions about your resume or about the industry, they can be the ones to help you polish it to ensure that you move forward in the process with them.
A recruiting firm or an independent recruiter has thorough knowledge of the industry you’re applying to, the job market, and may have access to job openings that aren’t online. They can coach you through the recruiting process and will only present you jobs that are tailored to your goals and interests.
Yes! Recruiters are hired specifically for their confidentiality, and this goes both ways. This means that they usually handle jobs that can’t be posted online for various reasons.
A recruiter knows the ins and outs of their industry; they can help you find the average salary or package to ensure you’re set on the path to success.
No, a recruiter will not ask for any money at any point of the process.
Recruiters can keep you in mind when they find job orders that you’re qualified for, making it easier than just applying randomly. Besides, they can point out some resume improvements or considerations for you to apply.
Contributed by Luis Arellano & Ana Martínez
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