Digging into a full-blown job search can be a stressful, time-consuming task that involves plenty of communication and research. At some point in your career search, you'll likely be faced with the decision of whether you should work with a recruiter to find the best job for you.

Recruiters can be excellent resources during a job search. They can connect you to a variety of roles and provide networking opportunities that can expand your career options and guide you to success.

But how can you work with your recruiter to best set you both up for success?

Be Responsive And Remain Available

A good recruiter is excited to get your name out there and help find you the perfect job. As your recruiter expends effort to work on this, make sure to be respectful of their time and efforts.

Recruiters are expected to work at a fast pace and must be able to get in contact with leads to push the employment process forward. If a recruiter can't reach you, they will likely move on. Depending on the demand of the position and the nature of the opportunity, this could be as early as 24-48 hours after communication has been lost. Consider setting up an email address specifically for your job search, or getting a second phone line to leave open for communication with your recruiter.

Build A Relationship With A Recruiter

Even if you're happy with your current employment, it is still a good idea to reply to recruiters and offer to learn more about the position. Letting a recruiter know that you're willing to discuss the role can be a networking opportunity in its own. Building connections and relationships with recruiters puts you in their mind and reminds them that you are a proactive, responsible candidate for employment in the future.

Additionally, let the recruiter know if you're working with other recruiters. If two recruiters submit your name to the same position simultaneously, you could be disqualified from the opportunity. This is a big loss for both you and your recruiters.

Refer The Recruiter To Other Networking Opportunities

If you're not interested in a position a recruiter is offering you, let them know that you'll keep an eye out for any other potential candidates, either at your company or within your social network. If you have the ideal candidate in mind, a referral to a recruiter can change that employee's life for the better as they find their dream job. The recruiting company may even offer you compensation for your referral!

Finally, Work On Your Professional Brand

First impressions are everything. That is why it is crucial to perfect your professional brand. Firstly, make sure that every aspect of your brand is work-appropriate. This may seem obvious, but I have come across several candidates in the past who have disqualified themselves from a role by overlooking this step. For instance, how do you expect me to refer you to an employer with an email address like sexykitten@***mail.com?

In addition, use your social network to your advantage. For example, recruiters love it when you are active on LinkedIn. This allows them to lead employers to your website to learn more about you, your experience, and your resume. When you present a solid, well-received brand, your recruiter has a better chance at finding a suitable role for you.

Recruiters can be valuable resources for candidates seeking new opportunities. However, finding a role is not solely the job of the recruiter. Interested candidates must put in some work to best set themselves up for success. If you would like help reaching the next stage of your career, contact me today.