If you’ve worked with a recruiting company in the past, you’re in good company. The American Staffing Association (ASA) says these firms hire nearly 17 million contract and temporary employees each year. If you’ve never worked with a recruiter, you may not know there are different types of candidate staffing firms as well as contractual arrangements for new jobs. Understanding how to make use of these resources could help you land a role more quickly. Here are some tips to consider when working with a recruiting firm.
All Recruiters Are Not Created Equal
A good recruiter is like your own personal brand evangelist. Their job is to help you find a role that fits your career goals. Most recruiters are pretty good at their work; The ASA reports that nine out of 10 candidates said that staffing work made them more employable.
But there are different types of recruiters depending on the kind of staffing firm they work for. For example:
- Headhunters or Contingency Recruiters
Headhunters are aggressive recruiters for hire. They swoop in and usually work for companies that need to staff up quickly. The problem is they bring a numbers game to the recruitment process and are interested primarily in staffing you into a role and getting paid for the placement. Of course, they get paid more quickly if they get someone in the role fast, so headhunters smile and dial all day long until they find a fit.
It’s always worth having the conversation with any recruiter because they can cut down on the amount of time you spend job hunting. While you won’t be able to develop the same kind of relationship with a headhunter, ultimately, they’re still trying to find you a job and their advice is free because the employer pays their fees. - Recruiters
Recruiting agencies bridge the gap between hiring managers and talent. Their job is to develop relationships with good candidates and place them in positions. Recruiters typically specialize in a particular field (like technology), so they are a great long-term resource to help you advance your career. Unlike headhunters, these professionals are more interested in working with you over time. so job candidates have the opportunity to form an effective relationship with a recruiter. - Corporate Recruiters
Corporate recruiters are part of an in-house hiring team within a business. If you’re targeting a specific company, these are good people to get to know.
The general benefits of working with a recruiter are they will get to know you and help you get interviews. Maintaining relationships with these professionals by taking their call and talking candidly about the roles you’re seeking. Once they secure the interview for you, make sure you give it your best and listen carefully to their feedback after a job interview are important ways to maintain the relationship.
A recruiter’s job is to sell you. They work hard to learn more about you to determine if you’re a good fit for their client. Then they advocate on your behalf, talking the client into meeting with you and considering you for the position. That’s why you should always think of a recruiting firm as a true partnership you can use to your advantage.