How to make recruiters like you

16 June 2009

3 minute read

You may not like recruiters. You may think that they are like estate agents or journalists. You may even accuse them of being parasites. But if you want a new job, it's counterproductive to antagonize them and productive to get them on your side. Here's how to do it:

· Put yourself in their shoes

All the recruiters we spoke to would like to point out that they make their money by placing candidates. If they don't place anyone, they won't get paid. If they think you are a strong candidate they will therefore be nice to you. If they don't think you're a strong candidate, don't blame them for passing you over.

"Don't take it personally," says the head of one financial services recruitment boutique. "Remember that we need to be viewed as useful and essential by the client and therefore we can only put forward candidates matching the job description and who are of a higher calibre than the client is able to source directly."

· Spell out what you have to offer

Most recruiters receive hundreds of CVs a week. They don't have time to read them all in detail. Therefore, if you're applying for a job use the covering letter to spell out precisely why you're a good fit.

"I am at the buzz word-driven end of a buzz word-driven industry," says one recruiter. "You need to make it very obvious that you are suited to the role. For example, just because you've worked with credit derivatives, I do now know that you can do copulas."

· Don't expect them to pay for everything

Recruiters will often suggest a meeting in a coffee shop. You may feel they should pay for anything you consume, but you will endear yourself better if you volunteer to pick up the tab.

"When a candidate offers to pay, it makes me feel that they have got some value from the meeting," says one recruiter.

· Regularly update your CV

This is not so much about getting recruiters to like you as getting their computer systems to like you.

"Most CVs are entered into computer systems and most of these systems operate using a combination of recentness and relevancy," says a recruiter. "If you make a small change and send it through to us again, it will move to the top of the queue."

· Find someone to refer you

On the whole, recruiters will like you more if you are referred by someone they respect (preferably a client). This does not always hold true, however.

"People who are referred are often a bit needy. You have to ask why they didn't come through directly," says a recruiter.

AUTHORSarah Butcher

Global Editor

si
simplestupid
19 June 2009
Having read these comments it is necessary to remind some people of the basics of how recruiters operate:
They source talent for the clients' organisations, not jobs for candidates. They are paid for this service by their clients. It does not cost candidates a penny.
Understand the model, and your place in it.
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Ex
Ex-Rec
19 June 2009
@sall786 - again a lack of understanding. There are a number of reasons why a candidate may not have got through directly, such as of them is presentation and the ability to talk to the hiring manager directly, as well as line managers having neither time nor inclination to screen every CV that pops in off the database. It also tells you that the managers VALUE what the HH adds to the process. I know you don't want to acknowledge this, but the facts speak for themselves. I don't know any internal recs at good firms who have or would take kick backs, so don't please don't invent theories just because you don't like the truth of a situation.
As has been said countless times now, if it's a valueless service and a waste of money, why do companies voluntarily use HH's. If there are more effective and cheaper approaches, don't you think they'd be used?
Bottom line - don't knock it just because you don't understand it.
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Po
Pot Kettle Black
19 June 2009
The recruiter-versus-banker-bashing goes on and on and on....
Fact: Two very well-known investment banks jointly spent in excess of $50 million during 2008 on recruitment fees worlwide. I work with both.
Either they are prepared to pay rather large sums of money for a service which they believe is beneficial to their business or it's just another display of financial recklessness, somewhat ironically managed and controlled by these very same bankers.
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sa
sall786
19 June 2009
Its a game of networking and I think the role of head hunters should be abolished by the companies another way to save lot of money.I know people who have applied to companies directly but the same person with the same CV go through a Head Hunter get the Job. The concerned in the company favor a head hunter in recruiting the person and both have thier cuts from the commission
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Ex
Exocet2the20
18 June 2009
what a load of *tish. alot of the comments here are from people that dont understand what a real recruiter or headhunter can do for them and how complex, time consuming and detailed the search and placement process is. the real true headhunters will find the good candidates without the candidates having to do anything at all apart from perform in their jobs. unfortunately the 80:20 pareto rule applys and therefore the 80% here that bad mouthing the profession has obviously come into contact with the 80% of poor recruiters and HH's. the top therefore like for like. 80 to the 80 and the 20 for the 20.
so basically if you want to be treated with the upmost professionalism and be put in front of the best opportunities then put your head down stop whinging, work hard and make a name for yourself.
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