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Simplify Your Job Search by Partnering with a Recruiter

It was near the end of his time as a student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis when Sam Jackson first learned how working with a recruiter could help with his job search. However, it was another two years before he decided to connect with one and experienced the benefits firsthand.

“I was searching on my own and not finding the right opportunities,” says Jackson. Shortly after he began working with his recruiter, they found an opening that was a great fit and he received a job offer. “It made me wish I hadn’t waited so long to take that first step with a recruiter,” he said.

Jackson’s experience isn’t unique. Many people, in various stages of their career, don’t know the benefits of working with a recruiter or are unsure how to start a relationship with one. Additionally, misconceptions about working with a recruiter sometimes cause people to hesitate on forming that connection. Knowing the facts and understanding the process is the first step to successfully partnering with a recruiter who can help you land your dream job.

It’s all about relationship building

One of the most common misconceptions is that it costs money to work with a recruiter. However, the cost is really paid by the companies who use the recruiter’s services to find the best talent for their roles. This means there is no fee to you, the job seeker. Instead, it’s all about building a relationship.

By simply investing “twenty to thirty minutes of your time to kickstart that partnership with an initial phone call, you have someone in your corner working to help you find the perfect fit for your next job,” says Angela Kohlmorgen, Kforce’s Talent Director of Finance and Accounting.

Another misconception is that you have to wait for a recruiter to reach out to you before you can start building that connection. While this may be the case when you apply to a job directly, one of the many benefits of working with a recruiter is that it gives you the power to take the initiative and contact them directly to start that conversation.

“If there’s a particular company you’re excited about, don’t be afraid to look at the recruiters for those organizations and introduce yourself,” says Kohlmorgen. “LinkedIn can be a great resource to provide introductions that may have not otherwise been there.”

Partnering successfully

Once you’ve connected with a recruiter, it’s important to know how to make the most of your partnership.

Jackson says he makes sure his recruiter knows his top priorities upfront. If he’s looking for a certain work environment, job responsibilities or management style, that’s important information to share.

“Make sure you’re really transparent with the recruiter you’re partnering with. What are your non-negotiables? What things are you flexible with,” says Kohlmorgen. “A great recruiter is also going to be a great listener; someone who understands what is most important to you and knows how to help you get there.”

Once you establish your initial parameters, a recruiter can help by providing insider insights that are not found within the job posting or online. Many recruiters have long-standing relationships with the companies they work with, so they can share information about the company’s interview process, culture, background, expectations and more.

Featured Expert

Alex Donley is Kforce’s Market Vice President. She started her career at Kforce 16 years ago as a recruiter and then transitioned into a leadership role after eight years. Her favorite part about her job is helping consultants find the right career opportunity while simultaneously helping clients hire great talent. She loves building lasting relationships and seeing consultants she’s worked with become hiring leaders. Alex is a mom to three children.

Featured Expert

Angela Kohlmorgen is Kforce’s Talent Director for Finance and Accounting. She’s been part of the Kforce team for more than seven years. Her recruiting experience covers a variety of industries. Angela is passionate about supporting candidates in their search and loves partnering with recent college graduates looking to better understand their local job market, as well as tenured professionals seeking a change in their career. She is committed to building lifelong partnerships with her consultants! Angela is a mom of two boys and two wild rescue pups.

Featured Expert

Sam Jackson is a consultant with a strong customer service background who has spent the last two years working with Kforce clients in the Financial Services industry. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

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