For Candidates: Five Reasons Working with a Recruiter Can Help You Land Your Dream Job

Some people view recruiters as an unnecessary barrier to entry for a job. There are even some people who won’t apply to any positions that are posted by a recruiting company. But the truth is, recruiters can be, should be, and usually are your best ally in landing the position you want.

#1 Recruiters find out who YOU are.
Chances are that you aren’t applying to a position as a resume writer, so although you spent hours, maybe even days, perfecting your resume to the best of your ability…it’s likely that your resume alone doesn’t paint a very colorful picture of who you are, what you excel at, what you have achieved, or what you want to achieve in the future. Recruiters don’t skim resumes…they read through it looking for clues that you might be more than the piece of paper in front of them. They will call you and speak to you to learn about your personality and experiences that might otherwise be overlooked on your resume. This investment in getting to know you leads to reason #2.
 #2   Recruiters get YOU in the door.
If you submit your resume directly to a job, the odds of it being seen by the hiring manager are well, slim at best. On the flip side of that, if a recruiter sends your resume in for the same position your odds of it being seen by the hiring manager are nearly 100%. Why you may ask? Because recruiters have a relationship with their clients. They have earned their client’s trust through a long history of sending them awesome candidates. So, when a recruiter says to their client, “This guy/gal is awesome for the position. They have a ton of experience in X, but they may be a little light in Y. They have a really cool personality, and I think that they could be the rock star you are looking for.” the client values that opinion and will certainly view your resume at the very least.
#3  Recruiters fight for YOU.
A good recruiter will fight for you if they need to. If the hiring manager is on the fence about you, your recruiter may be able to lean them your way. Here’s why. Recruiters talk to hundreds of candidates for one position. Therefore, they know what you can offer that other candidates can’t. The recruiter uses this to your advantage by reminding the hiring manager why you are special, and that finding another you may be impossible. You would be surprised how often work ethic, personality, and other soft skills influence the final decision on who gets hired, and when your recruiter is fighting for you to get hired they make sure all of your best qualities and skills are taken into consideration.
#4  Recruiters negotiate for YOU.
You know what your current salary is now and what you would like it to be, but your recruiter has information that you don’t. Recruiters know the market rate for the position, the client’s budget for the position, and what similar candidates are asking for. They can use all this extra information to help you get the salary you deserve. But it’s not all about the money. Recruiters know that some companies would rather agree to more vacation days, higher employee benefit contributions, or even company equity to get you within a salary range they can afford. Your recruiter will help you navigate the possibilities and find a middle ground that works for both you and their client.
#5  Recruiters introduce YOU to other opportunities.
When one door closes another one opens! Recruiters work on multiple positions for multiple clients at the same time. If you made a good impression on your recruiter, then chances are they would be happy to recommend you to their other clients as well. Even if they don’t have another position that is a good fit for your skills right now, a GOOD recruiter will remember you and contact you again as soon as a suitable position comes their way.
 
Recruiters give personality to your resume, recommend you to the hiring managers, fight for you, negotiate on your behalf, and even present alternative opportunities to you. Landing your dream job can be achievable with the help of a good recruiter. Network with one today!

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Author: Deborah Ruggerio

Deborah is the Director of Marketing and the "Jill of all Trades" at JFR Staffing. When she's not writing articles for our blog, you may find her recruiting a unicorn, finding that one penny that's missing in our books, or up in the drop ceiling networking our office. Anything is possible.