The following is the fourth and final part of our series outlining the value of utilizing a Recruiter in your job search. Previous Posts have discussed the Benefits of Working with a Recruiter and Where to find a Recruiter to work with and How to Screen a Possible Recruiter.
In the final part of this four part series we will look at what to do next now that you have selected the individual Recruiter that you will be working with on your job search and are allowing them to market your resume to various Hiring Managers.
Agree on a Final Draft of your Resume
At this point you should have taken the time to update and improve your resume with recent projects in addition to taking advice about additional changes to make from your Recruiter. Once you are comfortable with the final product, send a copy to the Recruiter and let them know this is the draft that you would like them to use. Ask them to review and if they decide to make any additional changes to alert you and send the revised copy. While it might seem like a minor detail, I have heard Managers express frustration with a Recruiter providing an initial copy of the resume to the Hiring Manager and then the candidate bringing in a different copy during their in-person interview.
Agreeing to one final copy of your resume shows consistency from the candidate and also makes sure to stress the importance of open communication with the Recruiter.
Have a Reference Sheet Ready to Go
Having a list of qualified references on your behalf is very important to have current and can keep the candidate from having to scramble at last minute when a potential job offer is on the line. Rather than waiting for the Manager to ask for your references, make sure to have a contact sheet with at least three references available in advance that you can provide upon short notice if requested. The reference sheet should include the Name, Title, Company Name, Phone Number, Email Address and your relationship to the person. While it is essential to include at least two previous Managers that you worked for, it can also be helpful to include a peer and someone who might have worked directly under you so that the hiring team can get an idea of your ability to interact with different levels of employees.
If you are told that your references could be contacted, make sure to alert those references so that they are not caught off guard and so that they can keep an eye out to answer a call from the Manager or respond back in a reasonable time period on your behalf.
Think about your upcoming Schedule
Many Managers have limited amount of available time to interview and it can be especially tricky to organize interviews when there are multiple people involved. If a Recruiter asks you when you are available to interview, don’t simply say, “I am open.” Really think about your schedule and what conflicts you might have upcoming. Are you going out of town over the next few weeks? Do you have any appointments? Are you currently working and have any preexisting meeting times to stay away from? Take a few moments to examine your calendar so that you don’t provide a general availability only to have to change it the next day.
Try to also provide multiple specific timeframes, rather than saying you are “available on Friday,” let them know that you are available from 9AM-11AM and also 2PM-4PM. Try to also stay away from unrealistic times outside of normal business hours such as 7AM or 9PM unless the Manager has made mention that meeting outside of the regular work day would be an option.
Make Sure that your Interview Outfit is Ready
With many offices employing causal dress codes, many prospective candidates find themselves in a situation where they might have not had to dress up in some time. Take this opportunity to inspect your closet and make sure that your best suit, skirt or other interview attire is clean and presentable. If not, go to the dry cleaner or take the time to iron it yourself. This will ensure that if your Recruiter calls you late in the afternoon with a short notice interview the next morning, you will have the ability to jump at the opportunity and show your eagerness and flexibility to the hiring team and not having to pass on meeting due to an issue that could have been avoided.
So often in life the smallest details can make a big difference, this also applies when discussing a successful job search. When there are two very similar candidates, details such as flexibility or presentation can help sway the Manager’s decision one way or another. Taking into account these aforementioned tips will not guarantee the position will be given to you, although it is a helpful reminder to control what you can, and don’t overlook anything small that could end up leaving a cause for concern from the Hiring Manager.
This concludes our four part series about the value of utilizing a Recruiter in your job search. The entire series will be available in E-Book form for future reference at theinternalrecruiter.com.
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