How to get the most out of working with a recruiter


Working with an executive recruiter can be a rewarding and time-saving experience. It gives you access to job opportunities and candidates that you would not ordinarily be able to connect with. Recruiters spend their days networking, developing relationships, and honing their knowledge of the market; additionally they are seasoned negotiators. Therefore, when you are ready to make a hire or search for a new job, you get the benefit of that 50 hours+ a week of up to date market insight, combined with years of recruitment expertise, so you can focus on what is going on in your day to day.

To get the most out of the relationship, here are three tips for working effectively with recruiters:

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To be truly effective, recruiters need to be specialists.

Find someone who works in your specific niche, whether you are looking to hire talent or find a new opportunity. They will have access to candidates and jobs that are tailored for your requirements and background. The smaller the niche, the more likely they are to spend extensive time in that area. Recruiters can specialize in function, industry and geography – find one that truly can add value to your search immediately, not someone that will need to start from scratch and develop a network in a new function/industry/region.

Not all recruiters are created equal.

There are good and poor players in all industries. Just because someone has been doing recruitment a long time does not necessarily make them a good resource; there are C players in all organizations. Look to see if you can find reviews for their services. Ask them for examples of specific successes relevant to your search. What is their retention rate? Have they been promoted where they have been, if a large organization? When you are deciding to work with a recruiter, do your homework. Then, once you have made the decision to use their services….

Recruiters are experts – use their advice.

You have hired them as a consultant, so treat them as such. Recruiters do more than just supply resumes or provide job descriptions; they give you valuable information beyond that. If you are looking to hire, they can give you advice on what salary you need to pay to be competitive, how flexible you will need to be on your requirements based on the talent pool available, etc. If you are seeking a new opportunity, they will be able to share with you what options will be available to you given your experience, and provide information on opportunities beyond just the specifications and requirements listed. Partner with your recruiter to help you truly find the right fit beyond a resume or job description. Their advice and insight will be able to help you reach your goal.

For more information on how Ascension Search Partners may be able to help you with your career goals or hiring needs, please email info@ascensionsp.com or call 214-401-1040.

About Ascension Search Partners

Boasting more than 50 years of combined recruitment experience, we know what it takes to deliver the right talent. Ascension Search Partners was founded on the belief that talent acquisition is a true business partnership, and we believe search partners should offer extensive market and functional knowledge, with an in-depth, consultative approach.

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Working with an executive recruiter can be a rewarding and time-saving experience. It gives you access to job opportunities and candidates that you would not ordinarily be able to connect with. Recruiters spend their days networking, developing relationships, and honing their knowledge of the market; additionally they are seasoned negotiators. Therefore, when you are ready to make a hire or search for a new job, you get the benefit of that 50 hours+ a week of up to date market insight, combined with years of recruitment expertise, so you can focus on what is going on in your day to day. To get the most out of the relationship, here are three tips for working effectively with recruiters:

Image

To be truly effective, recruiters need to be specialists

Find someone who works in your specific niche, whether you are looking to hire talent or find a new opportunity. They will have access to candidates and jobs that are tailored for your requirements and background. The smaller the niche, the more likely they are to spend extensive time in that area. Recruiters can specialize in function, industry and geography – find one that truly can add value to your search immediately, not someone that will need to start from scratch and develop a network in a new function/industry/region.

Not all recruiters are created equal.

There are good and poor players in all industries. Just because someone has been doing recruitment a long time does not necessarily make them a good resource; there are C players in all organizations. Look to see if you can find reviews for their services. Ask them for examples of specific successes relevant to your search. What is their retention rate? Have they been promoted where they have been, if a large organization? When you are deciding to work with a recruiter, do your homework. Then, once you have made the decision to use their services….

Recruiters are experts – use their advice.

You have hired them as a consultant, so treat them as such. Recruiters do more than just supply resumes or provide job descriptions; they give you valuable information beyond that. If you are looking to hire, they can give you advice on what salary you need to pay to be competitive, how flexible you will need to be on your requirements based on the talent pool available, etc. If you are seeking a new opportunity, they will be able to share with you what options will be available to you given your experience, and provide information on opportunities beyond just the specifications and requirements listed. Partner with your recruiter to help you truly find the right fit beyond a resume or job description. Their advice and insight will be able to help you reach your goal.

For more information on how Ascension Search Partners may be able to help you with your career goals or hiring needs, please email info@ascensionsp.com or call 214-401-1040.