Should You Really Bypass that Recruiter?

Whether you're just starting out in your job search or you're months into the process without any leads or interviews, you may want to consider working with a recruiter to improve your chances of finding a job. While some job seekers are leery about working with recruitment consultants, consider these five reasons why a recruiter can boost your job search success.

1. They Have Inside Information

A recruiter has direct access to an agency's hiring managers, human resources department and supervisors. This gives them valuable insight into the company's hiring process and lets them know what the organization is seeking in a future employee. Since they have worked with other potential job candidates, your recruiter can help you prepare for the interview by filling you in on what to expect, and they can also help you hone your sales pitch to better meet the company's needs.

2. They Are Honest

A recruitment consultant wants to find the most high-quality and well-qualified candidates to fill open positions, because their career, reputation and salary depend on it. This means that a recruiter is not likely to send you into a job interview for a position that's not for you. Expect your representative to be frank about your possibilities for getting the job if you're not qualified for a position in which you express interest.

3. They Can Negotiate

If you don't feel comfortable negotiating a salary with a potential employer, you can rely on a recruiter to do the work for you. Be truthful about your minimum salary requirements and your previous pay so your agent can weed out jobs that don't fit the bill, and count on a recruiter to tell you if you're selling yourself short based on your expectations.

4. They Seek the Best

Recruiters seek out candidates who they feel are easy to market to employers looking for top talent, so it's important to make sure your recruiter recognizes your potential. Make them aware of your impressive educational background and your most significant career achievements. Let them see that you have a likeable personality that's sure to impress any future supervisor.

5. They Can Streamline the Process

A recruiter can help you cut out extra hours spent on your job search. Since a recruiter has the inside connection to employers, this saves you time spent searching online job banks, typing up cover letters and sending out stacks of resumes. They offer the representation you need to get noticed among a sea of other worthy candidates.

Spending countless hours on a job search and sending out resumes with no results can be frustrating and disappointing. Working with a recruiter can help you find the right job for you without wasting any more of your time and effort.

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