Recruiters can sometimes get a bad reputation. They are accused of not returning phone calls, leaving emails unanswered, and working solely for the client. However, my experience has been quite the contrary. Before I was hired internally, 24 Seven landed me several interviews after I had just moved to New York. So in my experience, recruiters are career game changers. If you've never worked with a recruiter before, below you'll find everything you need to know about how they can completely transform the trajectory of your career.
They have the connections you need
Recruiters are the eyes and the ears of the job market so it's imperative they have connections to employees at every level in all different industries. From the head of HR of a major fashion label to the CEO of a Fortune 500 media company, recruiters' networks are vast and continually growing. A recruiter's network is filled with hard to reach people, the type of people job seekers need to reach in order to get to the next level in their career. This especially comes in handy for new grads, the recently relocated, or those looking to switch industries. As the old saying goes, it's not about what you know, it's who you know and recruiters know just about everyone.
They can speak on your behalf
As you work more consistently with a recruiter, you’ll come to develop a relationship, maybe even on a personal level. Interviews with a recruiter are much more relaxed than an interview with your dream company. You’re more likely to be yourself and figure out what it is you want and what you don’t want in these meetings. As your recruiter gets to know you, they're able to speak candidly about you to hiring managers. They know what you want, they know what the hiring manager wants which makes recruiters the perfect professional matchmaker.
They have more opportunities available
Recruiters are typically working on multiple jobs with numerous companies at any given time. If things don't work out with the first employer you meet, your recruiter most likely has a couple other things lined up. You can be more confident going into interviews knowing this isn’t the only opportunity in the works. With a recruiter, you never go back to square one, you just keep the momentum going until you find the perfect career fit. Because of their connections, recruiters are constantly getting in new job orders for freelance and full-time opportunities. Sometimes, recruiters even have exclusive access to positions that haven't even hit the market yet. A "secret" job just for me? Yes, please! Click here for our full resource on Working With A Recruiter!