Author: Frederick Ezekiel Pasco
Being in contact with a recruiter was a turning point in my job search, and while you could go about the hunt alone, recruiters provide insight that you won’t get anyplace else. As much as we wish that it would, using a recruiter might not GUARANTEE you'll get a job, but at the very least it will put you in position and give you a fighting chance to attain a great role.
1. Resume Tips
Recruiters know resumes. This is a basic fact of the job. Writing resumes, knowing what to put on a resume, and knowing how to format one are skills that a recruiter has spent years honing. People include all kinds of things in their resumes. Some items are good and informative, while others are irrelevant or confusing, and it can be difficult to tell the difference. You might be the best candidate for a position, but if your resume has too much going on and the formatting is confusing the hiring manager might not be able to determine your qualifications. That's where a recruiter comes in.
Recruiters will help you determine which of your experiences are the best and most relevant to include for the position you are seeking, as well as how best to format your resume. There are times that a recruiter won’t be able to get you a job, but even if they can't the resume help you receive is a priceless benefit to working with one.
2. Access to Positions
Companies don't always disclose an open position to the public right away. Often they will reach out to their network first to see if they can fill the position with someone that is vouched for by a person they trust, such as a recruiter. Recruiters have wide networks based on the relationships they’ve built and maintained with key people in different industries and/or companies, and when you work with a recruiter you gain access to those networks.
Additionally, companies often don't want to do the logistical work of sorting through thousands of resumes when recruiters have access to databases of qualified candidates and can do the work for them. Chances are that if you stay on a recruiter’s radar, you'll end up being one of the people who will be able to interview for a position that is not available to the public at large. Plus, you'll know going into any interview that the recruiter thinks you are qualified for the position, which really helps get that confidence up!
3. Industry insight
Some recruiters specialize in particular industries and focus on depth of knowledge on that industry, while others focus on breadth of knowledge instead, working in various industries and being experts on the overall placement process. Either way they will be in contact with decision-makers in those industries. Your recruiter is a person that knows how to traverse the job hunting landscape and will help guide you throughout the process. They know who to contact, can coach you through interviews, will provide insight into the key things to highlight on your resume, can help close out the deal on your behalf, and will speak for your credentials.
These insights will prove invaluable to your job search. Relationships, and how best to nurture them, can go a long way towards landing you your dream job. At the end of the day, both you and the recruiter want the same thing. Getting you the job.