Candidates: 3 Thing You Can Expect from a Great Recruiter (and 3 Things You Can’t)

We recently wrote a resource guide on how to successfully work with an executive recruiter, aimed at giving you the candidate more insight on how recruiters work and what role they can serve in your job search. In this installation, we want to dedicate our time to helping you manage your expectations in terms of how your work with a recruiter. With that in mind, here is our tips on what you can and can’t expect from your recruiter relationship:

What you CAN expect from a great executive recruiter:

1. To hear about positions that are not advertised

They say that the vast majority of jobs are never listed, and when you look at the executive ranks of companies, that is even more the case. If you are actively looking for a new opportunity, an executive recruiter can be an incredible asset — if you can connect with the right one.

Tip: Speak with more than one recruiter to find a good fit.

2. Tips on presentation

Recruiters want to make successful placements, and therefore you can expect them to assist you on putting you best foot forward, whether that’s tips on your resume or ideas on how to prepare for an interview with the target company.

Tip: Ask a recruiter if there are ways you can improve your presentation.

3. To get insight

Good recruiters are always looking for strategic insights on the companies they serve. They think not only about the companies they work for but also the markets they operate in and their competitors. Feel free to mine their insight on your industry, open positions, and the companies you want to work for.

Tip: Make sure the recruiter is apprised of all of the industries and positions you would consider working in.

What you CAN’T expect:

1. The recruiter to work for you

Always remember that the recruiter works for a company, not for candidates. A fine distinction? Maybe. But if you are respectful of where the recruiter’s loyalties rest, you can still cultivate quite a fruitful relationship.

A recruiter can also not work magic for you. So it’s important to be honest and comprehensive in your resume and the presentation of details to a potential employer. Remember, when you look good, we look good.

2. Constant updates

Connected to the idea above, you can’t expect to get constant updates from a recruiter. Remember we are busy people. You can check in with us, but always be mindful and respectful of our time.

When we do find you a successful placement, we will want to know how it’s going. Keep us on your radar and maintain a successful relationship and we play a role in your next great career move.

3. Completely candid assessments

While a recruiter can be a valuable source of insights, do note that recruiters are often privy to information they cannot and will not share with the candidates with which they work, including why the position is open, the history (or lack thereof) of the position, and other insight as to the composition of the team you will be interviewing with. You can always ask for our opinion but understand that we can’t share everything.

We hope this has been useful to your job search. If you have any further questions, please share them in the comments!