How a Good Recruitment Consultant Helps a Candidate
There are more than a few misconceptions about how a recruitment consultant fits into the job search scenario.
Some professionals don't realise it's a cost-free option for candidates, as companies look to hire Recruitment Consultants to find good talent.
Working effectively with a Recruitment Consultant
Signing on with a Recruitment Consultant is one of the many job search tools a professional can leverage. After all, executive recruiters are there to help you land that next great job. Success, however, is far from guaranteed if job candidates don't understand the role a consultant plays and aren't aware of what they need to do as active job seekers.
One of the first missteps is that job seekers forward CVs to a Recruitment Consultant and then never follow up. In many cases candidates don't feel it's necessary to forge a relationship with the recruitment agencies that they choose to work with.
It's really not that much different than if you were to speak with a potential hiring manager in any organisation. Sometimes job seekers make the mistake that the recruiter is just the 'middle man' between them and the company that they want to work for. In doing so, they can sometimes alienate the recruiter. Just remember that a majority of what you say to a recruiter is channelled back to the hiring manager in some form.
Another big no-no to avoid is not to be upfront, honest and open with the recruiter! Candidates tell the agency that they have not applied to jobs which they already have, either through another agency or online directly with the company. This hurts their chances of getting the job because it makes the employer think that they are desperate, and it wastes everyone's time.
I remember one candidate eager to interview for a software engineer job but whose deception ended up shutting the door on the career opportunity. The agency was moving to secure him the interview but it turned out the candidate has already interviewed with the hiring company. The client asked us when we last talked to the candidate and we told them it was that afternoon. The client then said they had already made the candidate an offer and was waiting for the candidate's reply. The candidate was trying to get us to submit him for the job to get a £10k salary increase. The employer withdrew the offer!
While dishonesty and deception can kill the chances of forging a good working relationship with an agency, the biggest mistake candidates can make is not realising the value of signing on for career help.
I've had candidates who put their CV all over the Web, sent out CVs to 50 plus companies, and then asked if I could help them find a job. In some cases, I still can, but this would not be a candidate that I would actively try to find something for because they've already flooded the market."