WCT #65: Leveraging Your Recruiter Relationships for Career Success
Three Minute Read
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The world of executive recruiting (third-party search professionals) is unfamiliar to some jobseekers. They share many commonalities with recruiters who work for companies in-house. Like in-house recruiters, they source candidates for hiring managers, get feedback on candidates, and manage the communications process between the candidate and the hiring manager. They are paid by the hiring company, usually a percentage of an employee’s first-year compensation. I’ll use the term “recruiter” to mean “executive recruiter” for the rest of this newsletter.
Since the company pays them, one would expect their interests to align more with the company’s. And their focus should be and is heavily on finding great candidates for the jobs they’re currently looking to fill. While this may be true, executive recruiters know it’s valuable to devote some time to familiarizing themselves with top talent in their industry.
Here are five reasons why it’s advisable to build good relationships with executive recruiters:
1. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Recruiters have their fingers on the pulse of the job market. They communicate with hiring managers and work to understand their business needs. Sometimes, recruiters may present candidates to a company as opportunistic hires. This means talent that a company may be interested in snapping up even if they didn’t have a search in progress. By building a strong relationship with a recruiter, you gain access to unadvertised positions.
2. 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 One of the significant advantages of working with a recruiter is their ability to match you with roles that align with your skills, experience, and career goals. They take the time to understand your unique qualifications and aspirations, ensuring that the job opportunities they present are a good fit. This personalized approach saves you time and effort by focusing on positions that truly align with your career trajectory.
3. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 Recruiters are well-versed in the ever-evolving job market landscape. They can provide critical insights into industry trends, in-demand skills, and emerging job opportunities. Staying updated on market dynamics can help you make informed decisions about your career path and stay ahead of the competition. Also, recruiters can be powerful allies regarding salary negotiations and job offers. They have experience negotiating with candidates, ensuring you receive competitive compensation packages. Their negotiation skills can help you secure better benefits, higher salaries, and improved job terms, maximizing your earning potential. While the employer pays them, they want to make a deal acceptable to both parties.
4. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 Recruiters are generally well-connected within their respective industries. They have extensive networks that include hiring managers, HR professionals, and executives. Leveraging these networks can open doors to mentorship opportunities, introductions to influential professionals, and invitations to industry events, enhancing your career prospects.
5. 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 A solid relationship with a recruiter can extend beyond your immediate job search. They can become a trusted long-term career partner, assisting you at various stages of your professional journey. Whether you're aiming for promotions, considering a career change, or seeking new challenges, a recruiter can continue to guide and support you.
𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭...
Building strong relationships with recruiters provides jobseekers with insider access, tailored job matches, market insights, negotiation power, access to industry networks, and long-term career partners. These advantages empower you to navigate the job market more effectively and secure rewarding career opportunities. So, consider investing in these partnerships to elevate your career to new heights.
Do you or someone you know need help determining what kinds of roles and companies would be great work situations? Conducting an effective job search without endlessly applying online? I coach and advise people to land amazing full-time jobs and internships. Learn more about my career coaching and contact me or request a free 30-minute Career Solutions Call.