“Recruiters are evil! Why would I use them?”
Here’s why, as Fellows and Associates’ Emma van Opstal explains.
Following an extremely awkward encounter at a recent IP event,
it dawned on me that not everyone likes recruiters. Prejudice is an ugly thing,
but in this case this person’s attitude towards recruiters will likely hurt him
more than me, because there will come a point in his life when he could benefit
from knowing a recruiter.
As most people will know, looking for a job can be a lot of
work. It requires knowledge of the market, the ability to write a good CV (see
our article on CV-writing if you’d like some tips on that), the skills
to shine at an interview, a lot of time and determination, and a strong social
network. Whether you are currently employed or out of a job, a recruiter can
always help you.
We can:
- Help you write a winning CV – obviously. But did
you realise that since we see so many CVs on a day-to-day basis, we are able to
identify the points that make you stand out in the crowd? In addition to that,
our in-depth knowledge of the market will ensure that we highlight the most
relevant skills, which you might otherwise take for granted. - Keep on top of the latest market movements and
help you identify options and opportunities, which will help focus your search.
There is no need to waste time applying willy-nilly, because we know who’s open
for business and who would chuck your CV in the bin straight away. Based on an
assessment of your options, we can then identify which kind of firm you would
like to work for: big or small, laid-back or cut-throat, modern or traditional,
whatever floats your boat. - Give your aspirations (salary or otherwise) a
reality check. Once we’ve identified what it is you want, we can tell you
whether you are likely to find it, and if so how to go about it. Since there is
no such thing as the perfect job, we’ll also help you determine short and long
term priorities and make compromises to achieve these. - Recommend or endorse you at firms or companies
where you would like to work. Since we have an extensive network of contacts,
we can introduce your CV directly to HR and senior management so you can be
seen by the right people straight away. - Test the waters by asking around on your behalf
on an anonymous basis. If you don’t want word going around that you are window
shopping for a new job, a recruiter can provide the anonymity that your
personal network can’t. Also, if you have your eyes set on your dream employer,
this is a good way to find out if they are hiring without jeopardising your
future chances of employment there by sending applications every 6 months.
Desperation is never attractive. - Follow up on your application for you and push
for a response when necessary. Nobody likes pushy people, and it can really
harm your application if you are perceived as a bit of a stalker. Since the
recruiter is a separate
entity from the candidate, our repeated calls to hiring
managers do not reflect badly on you.
- Help you prepare for your interviews. Plain and
simple, we can offer as much or as little interview training as you need. Based
on our in-depth knowledge of our clients, we will be able to tell you what to
expect and what the firm is looking for in a new hire. We can also offer
mock-interviews and pep-talks where appropriate. - Help you with (salary) negotiations. If you
receive an offer that isn’t what you had hoped for but you don’t want to look
greedy or ungrateful by doing hardball negotiations, we can be your middle
(wo)man. We will tell you whether we think there is room for negotiation, if
the offer is fair, and often we’ll even do the awkward asking-for-more bit.
Finally, if you are still not convinced, why not use a
guinea pig to test the idea? Refer a friend and if they get a job through us we
will reward you for your trouble!