Is your recruiter good, bad or great?
There are good recruiters, there are bad recruiters and there are great recruiters. Great recruiters help you prep for your job interviews. Bad recruiters leave you hanging. Here are just some of the ways that a great recruiter can help you nail your next job interview.
- Advise on how to dress – Professional attire varies depending on the job. Also, people’s idea of what attire is professional varies depending on the person. A recruiter should be familiar enough with the company and you, the applicant, to help you determine what type of clothing is appropriate.
- Help with research – A great recruiter will call or email you with the selling points of the company you are interviewing for and suggest that you do additional research on you own.
- Suggest a social media overhaul – Recruiters often look at your social media during the initial interview period before they send you to a client. A great recruiter will suggest an overhaul if necessary. This may require removing questionable images and posts or even creating an online presence if you don’t have one.
- Hold a mock interview – When recruiters hold a mock interview, they can immediately address any concerns and reinforce what you are doing well. Mock interviews can help calm your nerves and give you an idea of what to expect. Great recruiters will adapt the mock interview to the specific company and job opening.
- Tweak your resume – Sometimes going from a good resume to a great resume only requires a few minor changes. Just make sure that your resume remains an honest reflection of your work experience. Be wary of bad recruiters that ask you to lie or bend the truth on your resume.
- Suggest that you get business cards – If there is enough time before the interview, have business cards printed. They are a professional way to leave an impression. If you are out of work they can be a simple as your name, your field of interest and your contact information. They are not necessary because most of this information will be on your resume or job application, but it will likely set you apart from the other applicants who are less prepared. A great recruiter will know this.
- Help you address any issues – If you are honest with your recruiter, he or she can help you address issues such as gaps in employment, terminations, arrests, etc. Your recruiter can help you put a positive spin on your negative event.
- Say something to increase your confidence – A great recruiter would have done an outstanding job screening you, which means that you should be able to do the job. A word of confidence can help reassure you of your capabilities and give you more confidence during the interview.
- Stress the importance of showing enthusiasm about the job and company – This is perhaps the most important tip. Company’s want to hire people who are passionate about their work. Showing this passion and enthusiasm during the interview reassures the company that you really want to do the job.
These are just some of the things that make a great recruiter. What are some others?
Angelica Dudenhoefer is the Marketing Coordinator at Drake & Company, a staffing firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. Drake & Company specializes in temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire administrative, clerical and legal placements. Since 1978, Drake has reached beyond skills and qualifications to match candidate personalities with a company’s culture. You can connect with Angelica by or on LinkedIn and you can find Drake & Company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and Pinterest.