Today’s job market is crowded. Shifts across the industry have led to mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs, and subsequently there are many qualified workers on the move. Maybe one of those workers is you.
If you’ve never worked with a recruiter before, you might be leery. Someone contacting you out of the blue to inquire as to your employment status and ask if you’d be interested in a job may well seem like a scam. What’s important to understand is that recruiters allow companies to focus on what they do best — run their business — while a recruiting team does what it does best — find quality candidates to meet a company’s needs. Companies that make a strategic decision to work with a recruiting team are looking for a leg up. Instead of relying on a job advertisement to passively attract candidates, these companies have engaged in a targeted search to actively seek out talent. At Biotech Partners, our recruiters have integrity and do their research to track down the best candidates. Maybe one of those candidates is you.
Why You Should Work With A Recruiter to Get Your Next Job
Most human resources professionals are inundated with applications daily, so yours can easily be lost in the mix. Not only will your recruiter push your resume to the front of the line, but he or she will also act as your advocate. Recruiters can highlight the less obvious details of your qualifications and review your soft skills as part of their pitch to the client. When a recruiter presents your resume to a company, the chances of advancing through the process is significantly more than if you go it alone on your application. Recruiters have an inside track. Plus, when it comes time for an interview, recruiters can help you prepare with information about the role and the company that you would otherwise miss.
Even if the job opportunity presented isn’t the right one for you or someone else is chosen to fill the role, a recruiter will keep your resume on file, which allows you to stay connected for future opportunities.
You Don’t Have to Pay a Recruiter to Help You Get Hired
Recruiters almost always are engaged by the companies that are looking to hire: depending on the structure of their agreement, recruiters will be paid in full once they have successfully presented a candidate to the company which then hires that candidate for the role. You owe nothing to the recruiter except your honesty, integrity, and dedication throughout the process. Be upfront about your feelings regarding your current work status, your desire to make a change, where you want to go, what you want to do, and — in the event of an interview and job offer — know that the recruiter is indeed working as a kind of matchmaker. There’s a sweet spot to be found in which candidates get what they want and companies get what they need. If a recruiter hasn’t contacted you yet, get your resume in order, do some research about recruiters working in your field, and reach out!
Use Your Gut When It Comes to Trust
Recruiting is focused on customer service. Recruiters have to demonstrate value to both their clients and their candidates. There are some recruiters who are all about the quantity of their submissions, and then there are those who are dedicated to quality. Think about what defines quality interactions — things like communicating clearly and remembering details. If something feels off, it very well might be. It’s okay to check up on any recruiter who contacts you. Go to the firm’s website. Look for the recruiter on LinkedIn. Notice whether the recruiter listens to and acts on what you say or whether the recruiter seems pushy, desperate, or disinterested. You always should feel that a recruiter has your interests in mind.