Choosing the right recruiter or "career partner" is one of the most critical decisions you will make when looking for career advancement, or even a career change. Since recruiters are networkers, one of the best ways of finding the right recruiter in your industry is word-of-mouth. Who are your friends and co-workers using? What impressions do you get from talking to your colleagues about their successes and failures in working with recruiters?
Recruiters are key players in the staffing industry, where quality talent is always a sought after commodity. They are networkers at heart, in the business for a career, not a quick buck. It takes time to build a client list, and you want to find a recruiter who has several years of experience making placements in your industry.
A top recruiter has a vast network of resources to tap to find that perfect opportunity for their client and typically work within a specific geographical region. For instance, Riccione Resources specializes in placements in high-tech. For that reason, most of our clients are located in the Dallas and Austin, Texas or California areas. By focusing on one specific industry, a recruiter is able to provide focused guidance to both clients and companies.
Getting to know you as a client is key to a successful placement. A solid recruiter, one who can best represent you, will qualify you immediately. Some of the questions you may be asked are:
- Why are you looking?
- What do you want/not want in a company? Position? Boss? Environment?
- What kind of money do you want to make? What are you making now?
- What companies are of interest to you? What is your motivation for change?
- What technologies interest you? What career path interests you?
- How long have you been thinking about making a transition?
- Have you prepared yourself and your family for that transition?
Following those basic questions, the recruiter should spend considerable time discovering your experience and skills. If the recruiter says that they can find everything they need on your resume, beware. You may be talking about your career with a rookie, or a veteran with less than desirable habits. To learn about your skills and experience a good recruiter would ask questions such as:
- On what platform do you develop applications or systems?
- With what development tools do you have experience?
- Has a dollar value ever been placed on the projects you have worked? What was that dollar value?
- How many people besides you worked on these projects?
The recruiter you choose to work with may check your references. By checking the references you provide, the recruiter can then use those references as testimonials to your abilities when presenting you to a prospective employer. Testimonials on your performance are a powerful way to differentiate yourself from the other prospects.
When working with a recruiter you should expect that recruiter to respect your current situation and maintain your confidentiality and also prepare you for all upcoming events. Expect the following from a good recruiter:
- Assist in tailoring your resume for maximum value
- Discuss the companies which fit your demands before presenting your information
- Prepare you for the initial and all subsequent interviews
- Debrief immediately following the interview
- Negotiate all salary situations.
- Prepare you for the offer, the proper protocol for acceptance and acceptance letter samples
- Prepare you for a counter-offer from your current employer
Finally, after a position is accepted, a recruiter should stay in touch - making sure you are satisfied with your new employment and if there are any concerns he can assist you with.