Executive Recruiters . . . Love 'em or Leave 'em?
Are you using or planning to use an executive recruiter? Better
know what's in store for you!
The first step to considering a recruiter is to understand how
they function. You can save yourself a lot of worry and enhance
your candidacy when you take the time to learn how to interact
with these professionals.
Recruiters get hundreds of resumes in response to an opening
they're looking to fill. Typically they narrow them down to 20.
And eventually wind up with four or five who become the primary
candidates. You can see from the numbers what your chance are of
making it as a finalist.
You should also understand that to make it to the finals you
have to send an extraordinary resume. Most recruiters have three
questions in mind when they review those resumes.
1. Does this candidate have the skills, capabilities, assets and
education to do the job? No one will call you until you pass
muster. Initially recruiters spend about 50 seconds scanning
your resume to see if you have those basic qualifications. If
not, your resume is tossed. Otherwise you will get a longer,
more intensive reading.
2. Will we like working with you? A good recruiter is looking
for someone with passion. He/she is in the business of putting
passionate candidates into the right roles. And then get out of
their way. The recruiter reasons that if you get into the right
role, that same energy and passion will be dedicated to the
company.
3. Can we get you for the right price? If you require twice the
money a company is offering, there's no match. Many factors come
into play here-- from market forces and company budgets to
employee benefits.
In this regard, it's important that realize that a recruiter
does not work for you. Many job seekers make the mistake of
thinking that the recruiter represents you and is in the
business of finding you a job. Not! He/she is retained and paid
by the corporation. Of course, we'd all like to think there's
someone out there looking out for us. But it's just not so.
You are responsible for your own job search. No one is going to
do it for you. Least of all recruiters. But the good news is
there are job search plans that can have you in front of your
next boss in a matter of days. When you take charge and have a
proven track to run on you can turn your job search into the
career adventure of a lifetime!