How Can Recruiters Help You Land Your Dream Job?
Job searching is nothing like it used to be a decade ago. We don’t drop off resumes, mail them, or walk into offices and shake hands. We email, apply directly online or interview over video. It’s an exciting time to be job hunting. The question a lot of people ask is, how can recruitment agencies help you land your dream job?
With markets moving to the digital realm, job structures are changing. We’re all so much closer to being able to pivot ourselves toward our dream careers. With major shifts in the markets comes major opportunities.
How do you best capitalize on these changes for your career? Many entrepreneurs out there are digging in right now and building small empires from their homes. But what if you’re not interested in managing your own business? What if you have specific corporate roles and career paths in mind? How do you make yourself stand out?
You use a recruiter.
What is a recruiter?
According to Smart Recruiters, a recruiter is an individual who “finds qualified candidates for a job opening and works to meet the demands of both the employer and the employee throughout the hiring process. The recruiter owns the end-to-end process of talent acquisition.”
Simply put, a recruiter finds jobs for people. From helping prepare for interviews to salary negotiation to networking - a recruiter leverages their skill sets and industry connections to help you get work.
There are a couple of different types of recruiters:
Internal/In-House Recruiters
These individuals recruit exclusively for the company they work for. These are the types of recruiters to look out for on Linkedin when you’re obsessively stalking a company you’re eyeing. If you’re interested in working with a particular corporation, it’s best to get in touch with their in-house recruiter.
Corporate Recruiters/Recruitment Agencies
These recruiters typically work independently from the businesses they’re hiring for and often work with staffing firms and agencies to fill vacant positions. Corporate recruiters tend to have a specialty which can include: recruiting for skilled industries, executives, particular geographic regions, etc. Each recruiting company has its own unique spin. Temp agencies, which specialize in finding short-term contracts for employers and employees fall under this category as well.
Independent Recruiters
Independent recruiters can help individuals find their desired job. People who are too busy to search on their own or are struggling with their job search can greatly benefit from these types of recruiters.
If you want to take your job search to the next level, Resume Ninjas is here to guide you. From helping you create a powerful, industry-appropriate resume to connecting you with the right network, Resume Ninjas is your best bet for a career revamp. Beyond assisting you in crafting your resume, your most important calling card, Resume Ninjas is here to assist you through cover letter creation, application processes, and finding the best network for your needs.
We’re your personal recruiter and coach, teaching you how to find the right jobs and successfully apply for them. Once you enter the hiring stage, we offer interview training, negotiation advice, and additional coaching. If you’re truly keen on starting a new chapter, reach out here for your next best steps.
Still want more information? Let’s walk through exactly how recruiters can help you.
Top 10 Reasons to Work with Recruitment Agencies and Recruiters
1. Time is money
Time is money. Time is precious. If you’re already knee-deep in a busy career that you just can’t seem to pull yourself out of, it’s time to reach out to a third-party to do the leg work for you.
How many hours do you spend job searching?
If the answer is too many, you need a recruiter. If the answer is zero, you need a recruiter. Your selected recruiter will help you split the workload and they’ll search more effectively than you. Essentially, they’ll work to get you out of your 9 to 5, while you’re busy working at said 9 to 5.
2. Building the best resume
Your resume is the paper representation of you - your skills, your goals, and your style. It’s a very important first impression and if you want to get ahead, your resume needs to shine.
Creating a good resume isn’t for the weak of heart. In fact, you often need to tailor your resume to specific industries or jobs you’re interested in. It’s very rare to use the same resume over and over again in your job search. You need to know how to adapt it to the position in question.
Here is where recruiters and recruitment agencies can be instrumental to your success. They can review your experience and suggest the exact history to highlight. Recruiters also know the keywords to get your resume noticed. When you’re applying for positions at larger corporations, it’s important to remember that it’s usually a computer software that first scans your resume.
Resume bots or applicant tracking systems (ATS) automatically scan, sort, and rank resumes based on employer criteria. Recruiters can help you stand out in the ATS phase by optimizing your resume with specific job-related keywords.
At Resume Ninjas, we know how to upgrade your resume. We make resumes pop and offer packages to get your new career off the ground. Some of our offerings include:
The Entry Level Package:
This package is ideal for recent graduates with 0 to 2 years of experience under their belt. We have a 90-day interview guarantee for all entry-level clients, meaning we pledge to help you get at least one interview within 3 months. This package includes an in-depth phone consultation, resume keyword optimization, unlimited document revisions, and recruiting services.
The Professional Level Package:
This package is suited for a seasoned professional with at least 2 years of experience in any field. The offerings are similar to the entry-level package but are geared toward people looking to switch positions or companies in their industry. Likewise, this is a great option for anyone trying to make a lateral move to another industry - that is, they want to use the same skills but in a completely different business or trade.
The Executive Level Package:
This package is perfect for senior professionals and those looking to lift themselves to a higher position. This offering includes all of the deliverables from above with an extended phone consultation and leadership strategy and advice. People who chase executive roles without building their leadership skills have a very hard time advancing. Coaching is highly recommended to anyone looking to work on a VP level.
Working with a recruiter helps you level up your resume game. Recruiters like Resume Ninjas can help beyond the writing of the resume. We’re also here to assist you in cover letter writing and detailed applications.
3. Getting the application done right
Larger corporations, especially those that get thousands of applicants a year, like to use a custom application process when searching for potential employees. Job postings like this will redirect you to the company website where you’ll likely need to attach a resume and cover letter, and then go through an in-depth application full of questions to complete your package.
Employers do this to be able to narrow the pool down further. Think of applications like these as a warm-up interview. Employers want to get a taste of your personality, attitude, aptitude for writing, and critical thinking.
Needless to say, these types of job postings can be daunting.
Recruiters can help you field these questions, offering insight on how to best answer them and leave the employer curious about you. The goal of these applications is to grab the employer’s attention.
Think of your resume as an appetizer, with the company-specific questions are the true meal. Recruiters can help you get a seat at the table.
4. Recruiters will assess you truthfully
It’s not a secret - MANY hiring companies will do a google search of you and assess your social media accounts as part of the hiring process. You need to have a professional presence on the internet.
Employers review social media pages to become well-informed of the person they’re interested in hiring. This is especially true if you want a public-facing position working in marketing, social media, entertainment, etc. In these cases, companies will check to see if you’re on-brand with their values and that you use your social media presence in a respectful, professional manner.
A recruiter will assess your social media pages and help you turn any public-facing pages toward a more professional light.
5. Access to a larger network, and more opportunities
Recruiters don’t just piggyback off of existing job postings. In fact, recruitment agencies that specialize in specific industries have knowledge of opportunities long before they’re ever posted online. These are often executive positions, highly competitive, or require a very specific skill set.
Moreover, recruiters have a larger network than you do and can help you grow your own, by introducing you to individuals, groups, and collectives. Recruiters can directly connect you with hiring managers that aren’t publicly listed on LinkedIn.
Basically, it’s like having a friend who knows everybody.
6. Expert interview guidance
As you move toward the interview stages of your job search, a recruiter will be able to prep you for the interview. Recruiters keep their eye on interview styles and the company culture of the specific employer, and as such can help you walk into the interview feeling comfortable and confident.
Recruiters will review the job description with you and ask you to reflect on the job’s key responsibilities and what you’ll bring to the table with your skillset. Some recruiters will even do practice interview questions with you if you’re particularly nervous.
They’ll also provide you with some suggestions on the types of questions you can ask the interviewer to create a dialogue of your own.
7. Helping You Identify and Grow Specialized Skills
Sometimes having a third party look at your resume helps create greater insight into what your actual skill sets are. While we all have our own running list of skills, a recruiter can help identify unique spins and specialized skills to give you some extra oomph.
Believe it or not, you’re not always aware of some of your best features.
8. Working with Recruitment Agencies Adds Credibility
Recruiters have good reputations and can get you into an interview room faster than you could on your own. If a recruiter is certain that you have the right qualities for a position, they’ll be able to get you an interview if they already have a relationship with the company.
Working with a recruiter shows the employer that you take your career seriously. Think of recruiters as both a good look for your image and as a bonus testimonial on your list of references.
9. Recruiters Provide you With Support
Throughout your entire job application process, your recruiter will be there to support you. From the resume stage through to the interview stage, you’ll feel taken care of throughout the process. Applying for work can be mentally and physically taxing, and working with someone to reach your goals can help keep you inspired and motivated.
When working with a recruiter, you’re not in it alone!
10. Coaching
From coaching you for your job interview to coaching you through your salary negotiation, a good recruiter will help you grow.
If you chose to pursue a coaching relationship with a recruiter, like Resume Ninjas, your experience will evolve past job applications and into a new state of being in your career. Coaching helps clients gain confidence, develop leadership skills, and make lasting mindset changes. This type of relationship brings self-awareness to your career goals and how you approach them.
Recruiters are much more than a pillar of networking. At Resume Ninjas, we know the power of a good resume. Beyond that, we know that you need more than a good resume to get ahead. From assisting with your application, to interview prep, to salary negotiation and beyond - we’re here to propel you forward. Contact us today to start one of the most fulfilling journeys of your life.