In the first part of this blog we had a look at when you would work with a coach and a brief rundown of the services they can provide; in this part we will have a closer look at working with recruiters.

As mentioned in part 1, recruiters get paid by the company you get placed with so some people will claim that a recruiter is only looking out for the best interests of the employer however we disagree, a recruiter is only as good as the talent (that’s you) they can present to the employer so it is in their best interest to look after you, a recruiter with a bad reputation amongst talent won’t have anyone to present.

So why would you work with a recruiter?

Especially if you have had help from a coach with your resume and online profile, you might think, isn’t that enough?

A good recruiter is like a talent agent, they are the ones to help get you the perfect job, they have the connections with the employers to get you directly in for an interview, so you’re not just one of the hundreds of applications to come through their Seek job ad.

They also sometimes know about jobs that haven’t been advertised yet. Recruiters also know their markets, they know how many jobs are available and realistic salary expectations for your experience and qualifications, they can also advise the types of jobs you could consider in smaller markets.

Note: A recruiter should not charge you a fee of any kind either to secure an interview or if you accept a job offer.

Do I need to see a coach?

If the recruiter has the employer connections why do I need a coach? A coach can help you prepare in so many other ways, especially if you have been out of the paid workforce for a while, your resume needs to be good enough so that a recruiter can see your potential that they can ‘sell’ you to the employer, it also makes it easy for them to work with you.  Sometimes if you ask they will make suggestions on how to improve your application but it’s not their focus, they generally only work with candidates that are ‘job ready’.

How do I start working with a recruiter?

Do I already need to be in the location where I am looking for my next job?

You don’t need to be in the new location to start contacting recruiters. The same as when you are looking for a coach a little research will help you find a good recruiter. If you start with a Seek job search looking at your preferred location and job type you will see job adverts by recruiters who specialise in that field, this will give you a few names and companies to have a closer look at.

We would suggest checking the company webpage and LinkedIn page along with the LinkedIn profile of the individual recruiter as a minimum. Or alternatively, you can ask friends or family for recommendations.  From there you can either call the recruiter directly or apply for one of their advertised jobs followed up with a phone call. If you were placed in your current role by a recruiter and are happy to work with the company again you can always call them and ask if they can refer you to someone who covers your new location 

Can I work with multiple recruiters?

The short answer is yes.  A recruiter should always get your permission before presenting your application to the employer.

The information contained in this post is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice.