1. Lack of Communication from Recruiters. What’s important to understand is that right now, recruiters and staffing firms have as many as thousands of available candidates that are available and wanting work right now. There is simply no way possible that they are able to communicate properly and timely with everyone. They want to but it’s just not feasible to expect that. If you call in your availability to a staffing company for example, it’s important for you to know that your file is updated and that they are actively working to find you a job. If you call in weekly, you can rest assured that the company has you on their “hot” list of available candidates and will call you if a job opportunity arises for you. Staffing managers and recruiters have no intentions to be curt or less communicative than what you’d like. However, they are working diligently with hiring companies to identify opportunities for you, the job seeker. The more time spent on the phone giving general updates of “we don’t have anything for you just yet”, is not conducive to time well spent in actually filling the jobs they do have. Don’t take it personally. Recruiters don’t often get paid unless they put someone in a job. Please understand that they may not always be able to chat with you but it does not mean that they are not working behind the scenes on your behalf.

2. Staffing companies don’t have “real jobs”. This is simply not true for the majority of staffing companies and recruiters out there. They don’t get paid to advertise false openings and then spend time interviewing for jobs they do not have. Most recruiters will only post real positions and call you if they truly have an opportunity that might be a fit. Recruiters don’t get paid for their time or efforts unless they place candidates in jobs.

3. Working with Recruiters will cost the job seeker money. That certainly used to be the case years ago. In fact, when I got one of my first corporate jobs in the early ‘90’s, I paid more than $2500 through a recruiter. However, those days are over. Companies absorb the cost of recruiting. The job seeker should never have to pay a fee to a recruiter or staffing firm to find a job. If there are companies out there charging you money, you should consider other options.

4. The recruiter works on behalf of the employer and not for the jobseeker. It is true that the employer pays the fee. However, anyone who’s been in the industry for very long understands that it has to be a match with both client and candidate. Recruiters want to build long term relationships with their clients. In doing so, they must make sure it’s a mutually beneficial match between any employer and its employee. We also realize that our business is a cycle. It’s common that our candidates become our clients and our clients become our candidates. Therefore, it’s in our best interest to please everyone we work with in the process. If it weren’t for the jobseeker, we wouldn’t even have a profession!

5. Why work with a recruiter when I can get a job on my own? Well, any candidate is certainly capable of obtaining certain positions on their own. However, working with a recruiter can increase your chances of getting the job you want and getting it quickly. Recruiters have relationships with companies who often rely solely on them to fill their positions. Many companies don’t even advertise their openings because they outsource the entire process to recruiters. Often, your recruiter can open doors for you where and when you might have never thought possible otherwise.

I hope this has given you a better understanding of how you can get the most out of a relationship with recruiters or staffing firms. They can be a tremendous resource for you if you understand how they really work.

But there is a way to be most effective in your relationship with a staffing agency or recruiting firm, simply referred to as “recruiter” from hereon out in this article. If you fail to follow some simple rules of thumb, you may find yourself not being given the chance you may really deserve.

Below are some helpful tips on how you can maximize a relationship with a recruiter, which could result in your finding the job of a lifetime!

1. It’s a real interview. When you interview with a staffing company, you must understand that is your first test. A recruiter will see how you present yourself, follow directions and communicate in an interview. They have no choice but to assume this is how you will handle yourself in an interview with one of their clients. If you fail to dress appropriately or follow directions regarding their process, that could be detrimental to your search. Recruiters have relationships with more hiring managers than you likely do as a job seeker. Embrace that and try to win them over. Too often, candidates don’t understand that this is a “real” interview. Some tips to follow would be to arrive early for an interview, dress exactly how you would on other interviews, bring a printed copy of your resume that is current, up-to-date and without errors, follow instructions by completing an application if asked to do so (this includes listing your past jobs separately from your resume), show a positive attitude and positive body language. If you are difficult or rigid, you may not be presented to any of the recruiter’s clients.

2. Open Communication. Always be open and honest with your recruiter. Tell them everything they need to know about you, your job search, pending interviews and offers, reasons for leaving previous jobs, etc. The more they know about you, the more they can be an advocate for you. If anything changes in your job search, tell them. They are on your side. Placing you in a job is indicative of their success. You must also follow up with your recruiter every time you are asked to do so. Failure to follow up could leave them with the impression that you either do not understand the importance of following directions or that you are not that serious about your job search. And, don’t forget, recruiters have an opportunity to put you in front of many companies, not just any one position.

3. References. Too often, job seekers don’t present valid reference information. You should always present the most current, up-to-date contact information. If you are using a contact from several years back, make sure that the information is still correct. Always offer a list of professional references along with your resume. You should include your name at the top in the event the list of references gets separated from your resume. Also, as you list your references, you should identify the business relationship with that particular person. For example, you may want to identify that the individual was a former manager at XYZ Company. When possible, please list multiple ways of contacting your references such as a business number, cell number and an email address. Include the location if outside of your state so the person checking references on the East Coast doesn’t try to call someone on their cell phone out on the West Coast at an inappropriate hour.

4. Don’t blast out resumes. There are so many candidates and so few jobs without having to send and receive irrelevant resumes. If you really want a job, be careful to only apply to those positions for which you actually qualify. Candidates are rarely given consideration when they send in resumes completely unrelated to the job they are qualified to do. Doing so causes a recruiter to spend far more time sifting through resumes to find the small percentage of resumes that actually meet the requirements of the position. Also, please consider having a professional sounding voicemail when you leave a message but also when someone tries to contact you and needs to leave you a message. Sometimes, those casual voicemails or non-professional emails you use for your job search, can cost you an opportunity.

5. Be Open to Feedback. Recruiters are often able to give you constructive feedback to enable you to understand how you can improve your resume, the way you present yourself or how you might handle difficult questions. A recruiter is often paid on commission. That means they get paid when they place you as the job seeker in a new position or assignment. If they can give you feedback that will help to make you more placeable, they are likely to be open, frank and candid with you. The benefit is a win-win for everyone. Don’t take the feedback personally. Being defensive or unwilling to listen to their feedback could indicate that you won’t be able to handle criticism on the job. The best candidates are candidates who will voluntarily ask for feedback in the interview process. They want to know how to improve their skills and are open to an expert’s opinion. Recruiters will only give you feedback based on what they’ve learned about how client’s respond or react when faced with certain interview blunders, etc.

6. Flexibility. Realize that today’s market does not give the job seeker the upper hand. It’s an employer’s market. What that means to you as a job seeker, is that competition is very steep and there are likely dozens of other qualified candidates who may be willing to take a lesser salary. It’s all about supply and demand. If there are increasing numbers of candidates available, then companies do not have to offer salaried as competitively as they may have a few years ago. We all know that in a shaky economy, companies are cutting costs and expenses just like everyone else. That means you may need to consider taking a bit less in pay than at your previous job, particularly if you consider temporary positions. Consider getting in front of prospects by accepting contract roles. You just might be surprised how you can increase your network, gain visibility and even pick up a few new skills! If you are inflexible, you may not be selected for that perfect opportunity which could cost you more in the long run.

• What personality traits do you consider critical to success in this job?
• What are some typical first-year assignments on the job?
• What is the best part about working for your company?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this position?
• What recent changes have forced your company to re-focus its efforts? What has the impact been?
• What opportunities for advancement will I have, and how will consideration for advancement be evaluated?
• Where will this job fit into the organizational structure?
• What issues or concerns is the company or industry facing now?
• What are the goals for this company for the upcoming year?
• What new projects has this company undertaken recently?

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
3. Why did you leave your last position?
4. What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
5. Wat three words would you use to describe yourself? Explain your choices.
6. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to get a job done.
7. Where do you see yourself in five years?
8. Why do you want to work for this company?
9. Why should we hire you?
10. Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker. How did you handle the situation?

• Your clothes should be clean, wrinkle free, and conservative.
• Always err on the side of being too dressed up, if in doubt.
• Wear a suit if you have one. Pair it with a long sleeved blouse or shirt and clean, polished shoes.
• Make sure your hair is well-groomed and styled.
• Keep perfume/cologne to a minimum.
• Limit jewelry. Class rings and wedding rings are fine but keep other jewelry to a minimum.
• Take out visible body piercings (eyebrow rings, nose rings, etc.).

• Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake.
• Sit up straight in your chair and face the interviewer directly.
• Keep your arms open to avoid looking defensive or insecure.
• Make eye contact with the interviewer to show interest in the conversation.
• If you are unsure how to react in a situation, mirror the interviewer’s actions.

• Do your research. Visit the company’s Web site, read trade magazines and study up on the company’s competition. This knowledge will allow you to respond to questions with educated answers and give you a leg up on applicants who did not do their homework.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask. Always have thoughtful questions ready which are related to the company and the position opening that reflect your knowledge of the industry.
• Be on time to the interview. In fact, be early. Use the extra time to take a deep breath, focus, and review your resume or notes for the interview.
• Greet the receptionist with a smile. She has the ability to influence the interviewer’s decision.
• Know your resume backward and forward. Your interviewer will pull questions from your resume, so be prepared to answer questions about any of the experiences you’ve listed. Don’t forget to bring extra copies of your resume and your reference list with you.
• Answer questions thoroughly. Describe situations or problems, explain how you were involved, and emphasize how you resolved the issue.
• Write a hand-written thank you note to everyone with whom you interview. Note something specific from your interaction with that person, and send the thank you note out within two business days.