Relationship with your Recruitment Consultant

27/07/2016

Building and maintaining a strong relationship with your recruiter can only be a positive for your career. Using a recruiter can be very beneficial in a job search – they know their client’s companies well, they have contacts in your industry, they can help you with your CV and give interview advice. However, it is important to recognise that the relationship between yourself and your recruiter works both ways. The relationship should resemble a mutual transaction from one professional to another. Here are a few ways you can make the most out of the relationship with your recruiter…

Respect

It is important to remember that your recruiter is the gatekeeper to your new job. Be friendly and courteous, be on time, call when you say you will call; act professionally and they will open doors for you. A recruiter is not obliged to help you regardless of your behaviour, and losing the support of such a key component in a job search will do you no favours.

Communication

A key aspect of building a good relationship with your recruiter is communication. In order to represent you, recruiters need to trust in your ability as a candidate – actions speak louder than words, and proving to your recruiter that you are capable of behaving in a mature, professional manner will gain your recruiter’s respect. If your recruiter is trying to contact you, don’t ignore them – not responding to emails or phone calls comes across as disinterested, unreliable or poorly organised. Communicating effectively demonstrates that you have the characteristics that their clients are looking for.

Securing a job doesn’t mean the end of the relationship with a recruiter. You never know when you’ll be needing to job hunt again in the future, so keeping in contact can only be beneficial.

Honesty

Be honest about your skills and experience. Not being honest, or giving inaccurate information to your recruiter may damage your relationship. They need to know the whole picture to represent you accurately. Misrepresentation could be embarrassing for both yourself and your recruitment consultant, as it appears that they do not know you and are not diligent in their search for the right candidate. It will most certainly not help you to land the job either, and you may appear mistrustful and a time waster.

Many candidates don’t like the idea of telling a recruiter they are no longer interested in a job, or can no longer attend an interview. However, if you are no longer interested in the opportunity you have been discussing let them know, and they can start looking for a job which will be better suited for you. If you are honest, your relationship will remain on good terms, leaving the door open for your recruiter to willingly help you in the future.