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Tips for Managing your Recruiter Relationships

In today's competitive job arena there are many steps you can take to get your foot in the door and snag that very important first interview. Partnering with a recruiter can aid in your job search and increase your chances for more opportunities.

By developing a good relationship with an industry or discipline-specific recruiter, you can increase your chances of finding a job that is the perfect fit for your needs. You should view your recruiter relationship as long-lasting in addition to being mutually beneficial for you both. With this attitude you will be helping the recruiter- not just trying to get them to help you.

When working with a recruiter it's good to fall in the middle of the recruiter management scale. Some candidates tend to be very cautious about forwarding their resumes unless it's for a position they are interested in. On the other hand, you have those who tend to try and micro-manage their job search and overstep their grounds as a candidate. By staying neutral to either of these spectrums you can be successful as a candidate. In addition, your recruiter will most likely be able to find you a position that best fits your abilities.

The following are some helpful tips when working with a recruiter:

  1. Understand that executive recruiters have clients seeking specific candidates, so their business is driven by that client's leadership recruiting needs, not the availability of candidates.
  2. Only send an updated resume when major changes take place in your career (i,e. the recruiter should know about a promotion, he doesn't need to know about the project you're working on).
  3. Your recruiter should be contacting you with specific opportunities so you do not need to be receiving generic updates.
  4. Understand that your recruiter has other candidates that they are working with, so you need be patient.
  5. Be sure to contribute your own ideas, recommendations and suggestions. A good recruiter will recognize and appreciate this effort.
  6. Make sure you are getting timely updates when a specific opportunity is in play. You should always be aware where you are being presented to a prospective employer.

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