If you’re an IT professional, recruiters call you. Email you. Even text you. Anytime a job opens with your skill set, you get lots of notifications.
Recruiters and staffing companies serve a purpose in the marketplace. They can open doors and have deep ties to great companies. We know. We are one.
A couple of general things you need to look for when working with a recruiter:
Not all recruiters are created equal.
Typically, recruiting and staffing are high-turnover industries for a number of reasons. If you’re looking to take your career to the next level or work on innovative projects, make sure they speak the language, have appropriate follow-through, and are highly-specialized. Furthermore, make sure they’re trustworthy.
Talk to them about your goals
Recruiters talk, email, or text a lot of people. Make sure they know what you’re striving for. If they don’t know, they can’t plug you into new opportunities or take the opportunity to sell you to a client and advocate for you throughout the process. Pay attention to someone who asks questions about your future, where you want to go, and how you want to get there.
Keep in touch even if you’re not actively looking
70% of the global workforce are passive candidates. Even if you don’t need to get out of a bad environment, still check in with high-producing recruiters. The best opportunities happen when you’re in a strong position: like when you have a job you like. When approached, you really have an opportunity to way the pro’s and con’s of staying or leaving. It also allows you a great opportunity to negotiate for better compensation, benefits, or flexibility.
