How to get the most out of your relationship with your recruiter

Using a dedicated recruiter for your next career move can provide a number of additional benefits in helping you land the role you want. For example, they can steer you in the right direction if you are unsure of where you see yourself. They can also open you up to new roles you may not have considered, which are aligned with your skills and career goals. At the same time, they may guide you to be more selective in the jobs or companies you apply for.

Here are some quick tips:

Be honest and transparent with your recruiter so they can find a suitable role that meets your expectations for career and salary.
Take your recruiter’s advice and ideas on board, whether it is about the company you are interviewing for and how to prepare for an interview, or improving your resume.
Present yourself to a recruiter like you would a potential employer. This way, they have an insight into your professional demeanour and how you will present yourself in an interview when you are put forward to the employer.
Always maintain open communication with your recruiter around any opportunities in the pipeline, other recruitment agencies you are using, and previous roles and companies you have applied for.

Recruitment is not a new concept yet there are still so many unknowns about the process and the experience, as well as the recruiters themselves. We have addressed key misconceptions that continue to spring up:

Recruitment myths

You need to pay in order to use a recruitment agency’s services. Recruiters are paid a fee from the company hiring a candidate, not from the candidate themselves. Because of this, recruitment services are always free of charge for candidates.
The recruiter fee is taken from your salary. The recruitment fee is often calculated as a percentage of the candidate’s salary but they are paid for by the company on top of your fees. In other words, this incentivises a recruiter to help you secure the highest salary possible.
Recruiters only care about numbers. A common misconception is recruitment is just about getting as many candidates filled into as many roles as possible, as quickly as possible. It is not often realised that recruitment is a client services industry, and by placing a candidate in the wrong fit, both parties will be unhappy – and a recruiter risks losing their client. Because of this, recruiters care as much about taking time to find the right career fit for you to ensure all parties have a satisfactory outcome.
Recruiters are only the middleman and have no actual impact on the hiring process. Recruiters and hiring managers within a company often work closely together to find the right fit – and hiring managers value the opinion of their recruiters. If a recruiter believes you’re a great fit, they will pass this on to the company.
Recruiters will only put candidates forward for posted positions. While recruiters normally put candidates forward for posted positions, they might also have suitable companies in mind that may not be actively recruiting. Recruiters often reach out to their network to see if there are any opportunities coming up that haven’t been listed yet, as they could learn about a position that’s more of an ideal fit for you.
Recruiters don’t care about the candidates. Although recruiters are technically hired by a company and not a candidate, this doesn’t mean they don’t have the candidate’s best interests at heart. If a candidate is happy and motivated in their new role, this inevitably impacts their performance and importantly, the satisfaction of the employer. Importantly, if the recruiter doesn’t put you forward for a particular role, accept it.

If you are looking for a new opportunity and would like to learn more about the positions we have available, get in touch with one of our specialist recruitment consultants today for a confidential discussion. Alternatively, for reports, eBooks, tips on hiring, and managing teams, please visit our Management advice section.