Finding the job you want is hard.
Whether you’re looking to reenter the workforce or leave your current position, the excitement of a new career is often thwarted by the daunting task of job searching. Do you really want to sift through job boards to find potential openings, put more time into perfecting your resume, and sit around waiting for the phone to ring?
To make the process easier, consider working with a recruiter. When working with a recruiter, you’re not totally alone in your job search. A recruiter could match you with a job that requires your skills and experiences.
Keep in mind that a recruiter’s job is not to find you a job. Recruiters are hired by businesses looking for employees to fill their open positions. They don’t find jobs for people — they find people for jobs. However, you gain several perks as a job seeker in a recruiter’s candidate pool. Below are seven reasons why you should use a recruiter for your job search.
1. Recruiters save you time.
How many hours do you spend searching job boards and sending applications? By using a recruiter, you split the workload. Recruiters spend eight hours (at least) a day trying to find candidates for their clients.
Recruiters know what jobs are out there. They know you’re out there. And, they devote a large amount of time to making sure those jobs are filled.
You have other obligations in life that keep you from job seeking. You might work for your current employer until a new opportunity comes up. You could also be in school or taking care of your family. Using a recruiter saves you time on your job search.
2. You can network on a larger scale.
Think of your current job-search connections — past employers, former college professors and administrators, friends, and family. Even if that group is large, it does not match the number that recruiters can reach. Take advantage of a recruiter’s connections to get the most out of your job-seeking efforts.
When you send a resume to an HR department, you rely on that document to be considered for the job. But if a recruiter thinks you are a good fit for their client, you have someone in your corner.
Recruiters spend a lot of time making connections through databases, phone calls, and face-to-face networking. By using a recruiter during your job search, your network grows exponentially.
3. Recruiters help you through the process.
A good recruiter strives to provide the best candidates for their clients. Many will prepare you for the job placement process, from applying to accepting an offer. If you choose the right recruiter, most of your questions will be answered.
You can also improve your resume, portfolio, and other applicant documents with the help of a recruiter. They can coach you on interviewing techniques, and, after you interview with the employer, the recruiter can give you feedback.
4. Recruiters want to place candidates.
Cash is king when it comes to who is more driven to get you hired. For recruiters, your acceptance of a job offer means they get a paycheck, so closing more candidates is the name of the game. Therefore, recruiters are competitive about placing candidates that will satisfy clients. That drive can only help you in your job search.
5. You have access to more job opportunities.
Did you know that not all open positions are posted on job boards? Some companies only post available jobs on their websites. Others strictly rely on third-party sourcing agencies to find candidates. You could be missing out on opportunities by only relying on job-search websites.
Recruiters can point you towards openings that are hard to find. They can give you access to jobs that are confidentially advertised or not yet posted on the internet. With more options to apply to, you have a better chance of receiving the job offer you want.
6. You have specialized skills.
Certain occupations require a unique set of skills. Sometimes, there are fewer qualified candidates than the number of open positions. For example, some localities have a hard time filling software developers. If you fall into an industry that requires specialized skills, you might want to use a recruiter.
Recruiters know their clients, which means they can identify what kind of candidate fits the client’s needs best. They can also give you details about the business that you might not be able to learn from a job description. With a recruiter, you are more likely to cross paths with an employer in need of your unique skills.
7. You stay in a database.
Even if you aren’t hired for the first potential match, you stay in the recruiter’s database. Your resume isn’t tossed if an offer doesn’t pan out immediately. Instead, you’re kept on the recruiter’s radar for future positions.
Though you might think your information will get lost in a huge pool of candidates, that’s not the case. Recruiters use applicant tracking systems that make sorting candidates easy. The software pulls specific information from your resume and matches it to relevant jobs. When the right opening comes along, it’s likely your resume will surface.
Amanda Cameron, topresume.com