I recently had a conversation with a friend who is potentially facing redundancy and is therefore on the hunt for a new role. They came to me for some tips on where to start their search, and it occurred to me that I had been naïve in thinking everyone knew how the recruitment world worked.
I gave them some suggestions on how to make their LinkedIn profiles more accessible to recruiters and why they should engage with recruiters rather than handle their own search.
In this piece, I run through the "whys" and "hows" for utilising a recruiter in your job search. I’ve also included some tips that I know I would’ve appreciated in my own job searches:
Making your profile stand out to recruiters:
Change your profile to “Open to Work”
- You will have the option to choose up to 5 job titles that would be of interest to you
- Add your preferred locations and employment type
- Visibility- selecting the option of “Recruiters only” will ensure that no one within your current organisation will be able to see that you are open to work, but recruiters will be able to find you, and know you are open to engaging
Add relevant keywords and skills throughout your profile
- Recruiters often conduct keyword searches when looking for individuals with specific skillsets, so adding things such as “FIA”, “db pensions”, or “SII” to your profile summary and skills section will ensure that your profile is easily found
- There is also an “add profile section” button at the top of your personal page, in which you can add even more info and accomplishments
Engage in relevant LinkedIn content
- Likes, comments and connections are key! By liking posts in your industry, such as colleagues' achievements or news, your profile is likely to appear on a relevant recruiter's feed.
- Expanding your network by connecting with colleagues within your industry and with recruiters in the industry will increase the chance of a hiring manager or recruiters approaching you
Post about your achievements
- Whether it’s a promotion, a successful project completion by your team, or your contributions to diversity and inclusion within your organisation, post a picture or status!
- Attending industry events and networking are also huge boosters!
On the best tab, include details on what you're looking for, and make sure the visibility is set to "recruiter only" to make sure your colleagues don't see!
Why you should use a recruiter:
Efficiency
- Recruiters are there to take the burden off of you. From tailoring your CV for each job to writing cover letters for you, you will be sure to save time
- Recruiters will share only relevant roles with you, which saves you hours of scrolling on LinkedIn and Indeed!
Exclusive access to roles
- Through a long-standing relationship with our clients, recruiters often get access to roles that are not publicly advertised.
- Recruiters will also have a better grasp of what the client is actually looking for, not just what is written in the job description.
Career mentorship
- I sometimes find that many individuals I work with don’t utilise the “consultant” aspect of a recruiter's role. A strong recruiter does more than send you to a couple of roles; they will provide consultative advice on your career path.
- Recruiters often have access to market insights that can help you plan your career trajectory, and they will be able to best advise you on what your next move should be based on your goals.
- Building a strong, personal relationship with your recruiter can be beneficial for long-term career development and advice.
Stronger Interview Performance
- A specialist recruiter will schedule your interviews, share practical interview preparation, conduct mock interviews, and even let you know what your interviewer’s personality might be like (i.e., this one can be a bit stern!).
- Your recruiter will share consistent feedback from interviews to help you improve.
- Efficiency in scheduling interviews and conversations -aware of your schedule
- They may even know some common interview questions for a specific role/ client!
Negotiation power
- With market specialist recruiters, they will have in-depth knowledge of salary trends. They will be able to advise on a reasonable salary for someone with your experience and qualifications
- Greater likelihood for a more competitive salary offer, as they will be able to negotiate offers better when they are handling all of the processes
Less stress!
- Going at your own pace- know you have other things going on outside of work and interviews. Working with one recruiter avoids the Rat-Race of being sent to multiple roles and having to interview ‘now, now, now’
- A good recruiter will be working FOR you, not AGAINST you. It will take the pressure off knowing that you have someone on your side, and someone you can openly ask any questions to, without it impacting your ability to get a loan. Could you make sure you choose the right recruiter for you? Finding a recruiter who specialises in your industry and has a strong market reputation will make all the difference to the outcome.
Access the useful resources I have created! Includes an overview on CV writing, an interview guide, and pensions actuarial market insights (link below)
It is also essential that you get along with your recruiter on a more personal level; the more transparent you are, the better. Be clear about your expectations — whether they be career goals or salary expectations — so they know what to work with, and the more efficient and effective their service will be.
And lastly, be patient, especially if you are a senior hire. As much as recruiters have an abundance of jobs to choose from, it might take some time for the right one to come to the market.
Free Resources: https://landing.bwd-search.com/Yasmin-Andrews/resources.html
Connect to stay on top of new roles, market insights, and pensions content: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmin-andrews-bwd/
