Check My Boss
How a Job Seeker Should Collaborate with a Recruiter
A recruiter has a network of employers, a view of the market and openings that are never advertised. Working with one well can shorten a job search. Here is how to hold up your end.
Say what you want
Tell the recruiter your goals, the industries you prefer and the roles you will and will not take. In return, expect them to be open about their process, the openings they have and whether you fit a given role.
Give them a complete resume
Send an up-to-date resume that shows your skills, qualifications and experience. Keep your LinkedIn profile current too. Recruiters match on what they can see.
Answer quickly
Recruiters work to tight deadlines. Reply to messages promptly, follow up on applications and turn up to the interviews they arrange. Responsiveness is how they judge whether you are serious.
Take the feedback
A recruiter sees what hiring managers respond to. Listen when they comment on your resume, your interview manner or your search strategy. Acting on it makes you a stronger candidate.
Use their network
The main reason to work with a recruiter is access to employers you cannot reach yourself. Let them put your profile in front of companies, including for roles that were never posted.
Be open about other applications
If you are applying on your own or through other channels, say so. It avoids duplicate submissions and lets the recruiter spend their time on openings you have not found.
Be patient
Not every application ends in an offer. Searches take time, and a recruiter who knows you are calm about that will keep working for you.
Report back after interviews
After each interview the recruiter arranges, tell them how it went and what you thought of the role and the company. That is how they refine what they send you next.
One more thing they will ask for
Sooner or later a recruiter or an employer will ask for references. Know what yours will say before that happens. Check My Boss asks them the questions an employer would ask and shows you the answers word for word. Find out what your references will say.