Recruitment agency etiquette: The best way to work with a recruiter

Sep 28, 2015 3:03:05 PM

When looking for the perfect role, you might approach a recruitment company to help you find it! Your conversations with recruiters might be slightly more relaxed as they get to know you and what you are looking for. However, there are ways to ensure your recruiter will be jumping at the chance to put you forward for roles. Here are our recruitment agency etiquette tips and some advice to keep in mind when you work with a recruiter. 

Recruitment agency etiquette: 4 tips for working with a recruiter

A mutual understanding

When approaching a recruiter, try to understand how they work and what they specialise in. This is key for specialist recruiters; it will be extremely beneficial to you to know who to approach directly. Research the company, and check out the consultants on LinkedIn.

You should also feel they understand your needs, so you are comfortable going forward with the right person. It’s just like a job application in that respect; know your stuff, do your research and make sure you feel it’s the right way to proceed.

Honesty is the best policy

Once again, it’s just like a job application. Remember, you have someone working on your behalf and speaking to hiring managers to get you noticed. If you withhold or embellish information, both you and the recruiter will suffer.

  • Include all your experience, so the recruiter knows what aspects of your career to really promote.
  • Salary expectations should be discussed, so the recruiter knows exactly what to look for. Don’t specify a salary you wouldn’t be happy with, and then reject a potential role because it’s not enough. Be honest about what you want to save a great deal of time and narrow the search.
  • Applying elsewhere? Let the consultant know immediately. The last thing you want is for them to put you forward for a role you applied for on your own. The sense of honesty and respect might be lost, and the really good positions might start going to their other candidates over you.
  • Are you really sold on the roles you are offered? Don’t tell the consultant you are interested, and diminish contact until it blows over. Trust is absolutely imperative in a candidate-recruiter relationship. The consultant wouldn’t be happy if you expressed interest and then ignored all communications, just as you wouldn’t be if there was no response about a role you really wanted. Communicate your needs, and be honest with both yourself and the recruiter about certain roles. Remember…MUTUAL understanding!

Respect

The hiring manager is not the only person you have to impress. Don’t treat a recruitment agency as a fast track to that interview. They are there to help and, more importantly, offer you roles that could be the perfect role. Give them a reason to put you forward for roles, especially if there are exclusive roles you wouldn’t be aware of without the recruiter.

Be sure you feel you are receiving exemplary service too, and that you do not feel like just one of many candidates. If you feel like it’s a great working partnership, then it’s a great way to move forward with the job search!

Maintain contact

Let the recruiter know you are open to contact by being proactive with your side of the communication. A quick email to enquire on the latest roles or feedback, will demonstrate your eagerness. Stay fresh in their mind, and you’ll be top of the list for any roles that might be the perfect fit.

The pandas believe in a great consultant-candidate relationship. Our panda values will tell you that! We are always here to help, so get in touch today.

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