5 steps to finding the right recruiter for you!

I enjoy changing people's perceptions of recruiters. I think if you find a good recruiter, they can be a game changer. A good recruiter can help get you in front of the people you want to speak to that you might otherwise never cross paths with, they can advice you on what might be a good response to a particularly tricky question at interview and help shape the narrative around your job search. Recruiters are also very good at negotiation. A good agent should be able to assist you get the best package possible and know when to ask for more money and when not too.

Saying that, recruitment is like any other profession, there will always be some agents that are truly exceptional, lots that are good and a small percentage that give the profession a bad name. With that in mind, I thought I would share what I think you should look for when choosing a recruiter and give you some tips on how you can find the very best one for you.

Step 1. Find a recruitment consultancy that works in your industry

It may sound obvious, but recruitment is very specialised and the first thing to do is find a recruiter with a track record of placing people in your field. 

A specialist will have a better understanding of the typical career path in your field. They should also have lots of contacts in your area and know the people you want to speak to personally. An agent should be able to offer you access to the best opportunities in the market. They should also be able to provide in-depth advice on salary trends and other industry-specific information such as who is hiring, who isn’t hiring and why? Speaking to a specialist will assist in your job search by allowing you access to insider information.

Don’t be afraid to ask a friend for a recommendation, especially if you know someone in your industry who has recently moved to a role you might yourself be interested or if you see you share a connection with a recruiter and one of your friends on LinkedIn.

Step 2. Do your research

Not all recruitment consultants were created equal, and finding the best one can make the difference between scoring the role you have always wanted and missing out because your recruitment consultant didn’t even know about it.

Some things to look for include actual recruitment track record of placing people at your target organisations (irrespective of past careers in other industries outside of a recruitment agency) and the length of tenure in roles. Investigate your potential consultant’s contacts on LinkedIn. Do you share any connections in common? Do they advertise roles that you are interested in? Have they been endorsed or recommended by people at companies you want to work for or by people you know and trust? 

It is worth remembering that the more people your recruiter knows in your industry (that you want to know) it is likely they will have more opportunities to bring to you and explore with you.

Step 3. Connect with your chosen consultant

The next step is to arrange a call and/or a meeting with your chosen consultant. Sending a short email or PM on LinkedIn introducing yourself and outlying your experience and asking if the recruiter has anytime for a call is often the best first step and it will give you the chance to establish rapport and get a feel for the agent to see if their style is a match for you. Alternatively pick up the phone and call the agent. NOTE: I have had a few people recently reach out initially by sms and personally I don't like it (its ok) but I find sms can get lost, are harder to track and feel pretty impersonal. 

When you meet (or speak to) your consultant for the first time it is important that they understand you and that you get along. Find an agent easy to talk to and someone you have a natural affinity with. More than anything though you should feel that you can be honest and upfront with them. Your agent’s role is to represent you and help you achieve the outcome that you are seeking, so make sure to bring up all of your needs in your discussion. This might be a move to a larger or smaller organisation, it might mean helping you get a pay rise or assisting you move to a new city. Remember recruitment consultants are very motivated to place you in roles and they want you to enjoy the experience so much that you recommend them to all your friends and family, they should be very willing to go above and beyond to make sure you find the role that is right for you.

Step 4. Ask the difficult questions

Don’t be afraid to ask your agent difficult questions. The first meeting or call may see you interview the agent to work out if it is a fit. You should ask them about some of the recent roles that they have filled and about the relationships that they have with their clients. Often companies will have preferred panels in place and you should feel free to ask about which panels they are on and who they have preferred relationships with. Remember, by engaging a recruitment consultant you are sharing some of your most personal information and you have a choice over who you share that information with and who you decide to engage with.

Good recruitment consultants like to build long-term relationships with people in the industry they work in, so even if you are not thinking about changing roles immediately it can be beneficial to speak to a recruitment consultant to get up to date information on market trends and salaries. 

5. Follow up.

If you are actively looking to change jobs, make sure follow- up with your consultant and ask for updates on any applications that they have made (preferrably made with your expressed consent in writing)!

Other things to remember

* I know that recruiters have a 'questionable reputation' but after 20 years in the industry I can honestly say that almost all the recruiters I have ever met across all sectors have genuinely wanted to help their candidates. Personally, I know I still get a buzz making an offer to someone for a job I know they will love or when I help someone achieve what they never thought possible. It may not be an altruistic profession but it really does feel great when you know you have made a difference to someone (and as an aside, if you ever had a good experience with an agent, tell them and if the experience isn't great, tell them that too- feedback is always helpful).

* If you secure a role through an agency, the recruitment agent will get paid by the employer so they should bend over backwards to make sure you are happy. Recruiters should NEVER charge you any money as they have commercial arrangements with the organisations that they recruit for.

* Your recruiter is your advocate; you are their client and you should never feel pushed into anything, you have agency and you get the final say in who you use, what jobs you go forward to and if you will accept a role.