HOW TO IDENTIFY A GOOD RECRUITER: 3 KEY THINGS TO LOOK FOR

As we mentioned in a previous article, using a recruiter is a great avenue to pursue when looking for a job. A good recruiter will keep you in the loop, provide you with career advice and market insights and provide you with access to a network and knowledge of the employment market that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

However, not all recruiters were made equally and choosing a poor one could send you down the wrong path. To avoid starting in a role that doesn’t match the brief, having your resume broadcast to the market or being put under pressure to make snap decisions, be on the lookout for these three keys to finding a good recruiter.

1. They’re Straight to the Point

Your recruiter should be honest about the current state of the market and the opportunities available. They should also be open about their clients and their relationships with those clients. If they are unable to tell you who their contacts in a particular company are, they might be using you as bait to drum up new business. This situation is acceptable only when the recruiter has informed you that they have no existing relationship with the employer and have a good reason for putting you forward.

• They communicate regularly throughout the process

A good recruiter will communicate with you consistently and effectively throughout the job seeking process.

A list of things they should be sending you include:

Requests to represent – this means that you get decide if your details go to a company or not and prevents the job market from being saturated with your resume; confirmations of representation; and communication post interview to provide any feedback they have received from the employer.

• They’re passionate and understanding about your career needs

A good recruiter will work hard to understand your professional history and where you want to go. This will allow them to offer you tailored advice on which roles and companies are best suited to you.