Many people can go through several job changes without ever using a recruiter. And if you’ve used traditional routes to apply for jobs and succeeded, it’s easy to think that you’re not missing much. However, there are actually a plethora of reasons to engage with a recruiter when it comes to your job search. Here are just five of those reasons.
There is no harm in talking to a recruiter. Meeting with a consultant doesn’t mean you’re quitting your job. In fact, it doesn’t necessarily even mean you’re applying for a new job. A chat with a recruiter is exactly that – a conversation that doesn’t have to go anywhere if you don’t want it to. However, that chat could open your mind up to a world of possibilities that you hadn’t even thought about before. Even if you haven’t thought about looking for a new job yet, speaking to a recruiter is a good idea for anyone who wants to future-proof their career.
It’s one thing writing up a great cover letter and using a winning CV templates from renowned CV builders, such as Resume.io. But if you don’t know how to position yourself in the first place, you might be on the wrong track in terms of your career. This doesn’t just relate to how best you can sell yourself, but what level you could be at both on the career ladder and in terms of salary. A recruiter will be able to assess your skills, abilities and experience and analyse it objectively. You may know yourself, but you have a limited perspective of what role you may be suited for. You may even be discounting yourself from roles you’re completely qualified for because you’re not aware that you’re qualified for them.
Think about your own job, your own experience, your own expert knowledge. You’re probably excellent at what you do and you probably know a lot about how to do your job. With this in mind, think about the role of a recruiter. It’s their job to be an expert not just in recruitment and the jobs market, but also in the specific industry they’re recruiting for. Even in generalist recruitment agencies, individual recruiters will have their specialities and will therefore have the unique insight that’s needed to place you in the perfect new job.
There’s a thought process that has trickled through society and that is that companies prefer if you go to them directly. Just think about the ongoing debate about whether or not it’s better to book a night away directly with a hotel or to go through a third-party booking site. For many people, this mentality can trickle into the recruitment industry. However, when it comes to applying for jobs, this thought process doesn’t hold water.
If a recruiter is working with a particular company, they will be treated as a preferred supplier, often used as a way to ‘beat the slush pile’. Not only are clients interested in the candidates that come from recruiters, but candidates that go to recruiters will be better prepped, which brings me onto my final point.
When you engage with a recruiter, you have this extra person who is fighting for your best interest. A good recruiter will take the time to get to know you, go through your CV, give you any tips they feel is necessary and, when the time comes to put you forward for an interview, they will prep you for that too. At RECRUITERS for example, we even have a number of free CV templates to help you get started and a helpful interview guide to properly prepare for any question a hiring manager may ask.
The connection you make with a recruiter doesn’t end when you find that one job, either. A good recruiter will be there throughout your career. It’s a vital relationship to maintain because it means if you’re ever interested in moving jobs again or taking your career in a new direction (which in this day and age is very likely), that recruiter who has already gotten to know you will be there to help you all over again. Have I convinced you yet? Like I said, there is no commitment in speaking to a recruiter, so why not register your CV with us and see what opportunities might await you?
Want to know more? Find out everything you need to know about recruitment agencies in our handy guide.
Brian McFadden is the client services director at RECRUITERS
Number 5 photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
