How to Successfully Work With an Outside Recruiter
Working with external recruiters like BLT can open doors and present job opportunities you might not be aware of or have access to. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose!
Job seekers: here are some tips when working with BLT.
How it works: Clients/agencies come to us to find candidates with a specific career trajectory pertinent to the job responsibilities of a particular role. Our clients hire us to find them a candidate that has the existing skillset they are looking for. We are hired by the client and they pay our fee, not the other way around!
You are your own recruiter until we have a job for you. A recruiter should be just one of the resources in your job search, and definitely not your only fallback. Stay active on LinkedIn, and consult your network. The best way to find a job is through someone you already know. If you find a job that fits your skillset and you need an introduction to the company, you can always contact BLT to engage our large networks, but there’s no guarantee that we will be able to place you.
Seriously consider a new position. Don't use a recruiter to "see what is out there" unless you are truly interested in making a move and not just leveraging a new job offer to get a promotion or salary increase in an existing job you are happy in. You lose credibility with the recruiter and the recruiter loses credibility with their client. It is a waste of valuable time for all concerned, and counteroffers rarely work out well in the long term.
Stay current. Be prepared to share an updated resume, your desired salary range, and/or rate, and a few references if needed.
Your network. Share with recruiters any companies you have already reached out to directly on your own. And if you’ve already been submitted to a specific company while working with your recruiter, don’t reach out to employees that you may know at the company to refer you for the job. That can come later. Doing this can undermine the recruiter, and negatively affect your chance of getting hired.
Be transparent. Recruiters never want to put someone in a job unless it's the right fit for the candidate. If it’s good for the candidate, it will be a successful hire for the company.
Stay in communication. Let us know what the best way of reaching you during the day is whether it is text, email, or phone call.
No ghosting! If at any time during the process you decide that this is not the right match, that is perfectly fine. Just let us know. The advertising/marketing world is very small, and you don't want to burn any bridges by simply disappearing. Clients and recruiters remember!
Be upfront. Let your recruiter know of any pending vacations or preexisting plans BEFORE an offer is made.
Consult with your family when relocating. You always want to get your family’s blessing on these big career changes.
Final decision-makers. Recruiters are seldom the final decision-maker determining whether or not you get a job offer. They often have input into the decision, depending on the organization, and they are often the person who delivers the news to the job seeker.
Your recruiter is there to represent you and their client in an equally beneficial light. Remember that if it’s the right fit for the candidate, it will be a successful hire for the company.
These tips should result in a successful and a career-long relationship with your recruiter.