If you’re seeking to take the next step in your career, working with a good recruiter can help you get there. Once you’ve made that decision, you’re probably excited about the next chapter, but don’t let that excitement cloud your judgment when it comes to what you tell your recruiter.
An experienced recruiter has heard every fabrication, dissected over-embellished resumes, and after spending time with you, knows when you’re just not being honest.
A good recruiter will help you put your best foot forward but not at the sacrifice of their reputation. If you’ve partnered with a staffing firm, one of the reasons you selected them is likely because of the trust they have with reputable companies. But, to gain that trust, the decision-makers for those companies know they will not put a “fake” in front of them.
Think of your recruiter as someone who has your best interests at heart, but they also have the same respect for the companies they serve. This combination is a win-win as the match is much more successful for both the candidate and company. This successful result can only happen if you’re open and honest.
To follow are some of the most common mistruths a job seeker shares with their staffing partner.
I Haven’t Started Interviewing
If initiating the conversation with a recruiter is your first step, this wouldn’t apply to you. If you’re already interviewing with employers, that’s fine, but be HONEST with your recruiter. If you’re a qualified, sought-after candidate, then, of course, you’ll have interviews. But if we coordinate an interview with one of the employers and it went well. The challenge is that they’re dragging their feet, usually because they’re busy, and you move on to accept an opportunity from another company.
Keep us in the loop, and again be honest, so we can let our clients know they have some competition. This knowledge could be what it takes to advance them to the next step.
This information is especially relevant if that’s the company you want to join. It looks much better for you not to blindside either company at the offer stage.
Use your recruiter as a sounding board, even if it’s not about the company they’re representing.
Even if you go for the other company, you never know when your career shifts, and you need an excellent recruiting firm to work hard for you.
Provide REAL Reference Information
Supplying a list of references, especially from previous employers, is a part of the job search. There are many reasons someone may not want to give the information for your last direct manager.
- Your manager was not your “friend” and is the reason you left.
- The person who manages you were new to the company and didn’t have the opportunity to get to know you.
- You have a feeling you won’t receive a good report.
There are many reasons, but no matter how many hesitations you have, don’t give the recruiter the information for a colleague who was a friend in the workplace and never manager you. Or, even worse, a friend who doesn’t even work at the company.
Just inform the recruiter. He/she will figure it out, and the good ones won’t work with a candidate they don’t trust.
And, if you’re honest, they’ll work with you to figure out a solution to allow you to be honest.
You Have Some Quirks
Everyone has their list of deal-breakers that prevent them from accepting a job offer. Or, they’ll take the position so they’re employed and will continue the search.
The stipulations you would like to ask for could be a compromise if you have the skills and experience the employer is seeking.
For example:
You are a productive employee, but you have responsibilities at home and cannot make an 8 am start time. Talk to your recruiter to see if perhaps it could be moved to 9 am. If what you do isn’t time-sensitive to that earlier start, they may be able to accommodate this request for the right person.