Tips for Maintaining Strong Recruiter Relationships& How to Best Prepare Before a Recruiter Contact
Maintaining a close, honest relationship with your recruiter is essential to be successful. Here are some tips to keep and build upon an ideal partnership:
• Prompt and thorough communication- Shows you are determined and invested; poor communication is the number one indicator of not caring and not respecting your recruiter.
• Referrals of candidates for roles you may not be interested in- They are working hard to find you that perfect fit, and a little help in return is much appreciated. Plus, you may help a friend find their right job.
• Be a straight-shooter; just as in any business situation, there are no “good surprises”- This one is easy: honesty is the best policy. The truth will come out eventually, so no use hiding anything.
• Make sure recruiters have a comprehensive understanding of your entire compensation plan- They want to make sure you are entirely taken care of in your next job and don’t want an offer made that is less than what you’re worth.
• NEVER fabricate your salary plan- Again, the truth will come out. A lie about this is almost a guarantee for the end of your relationship.
We respect people who have an ongoing relationship with us a lot more than people we only hear from when they need us- Relationships go both ways. Recruiters genuinely care about your success and love to understand how you’re doing.
Before you meet with a recruiter, it is wise to have some idea of what you are looking for in the next step of your career.
The list of questions below are ones the recruiter is likely to ask you, and it would be of great benefit to the both of you if you already had some answers in mind.
Career Progression:
What are the current and future positions that you’re interested in pursuing?
Think about what you like(d) best about your most recent position, what you didn’t like so much, and which areas you’d like to advance in. Remember, staying stagnant may be comfortable, but reaching for more is appealing to future employers.
Geographical Preferences:
• Are you interested in relocating nationally or globally?
• Are you focusing on a single location?
• Is there an area that doesn’t work for you?
Consider if you and your family are available for relocation. Often recruiters may find great opportunities for you in various locations. Being open-minded to moving allows yourself more options for career growth, but if you do need to stay in your area that is OK, make sure that you firmly state that in your talk with your recruiter. Making this decision before the search starts takes pressure off of you to make hard choices on the fly, and makes the recruiter’s job easier.
Compensation Structure:
By understanding your current compensation, recruiters can present opportunities that are commensurate with your skills and experiences.