Why Should I Work With Just One Recruiter?

Why Should I Work With Just One Recruiter?

We hear that question almost every day, and it is a great one.  Why should a job seeker work with just a single recruiter?  Why not hook up with a bunch of recruiters; won’t that increase my odds of getting a job?

The short answer is probably not.  The long answer is about 10 pages, but I’ll keep this short.

Just as there are good, bad and ugly jobs to work, there are good, bad and ugly candidates to work with as well.  Now, I’m not talking about looks –  I’m talking about evaluating a candidate to decide if we are going to 1) market that candidate to our clients, 2) match that candidate to jobs we currently are working or 3) put them into our system in case their skills match a job farther down the line.

If we have a Qualified, Committed Candidate that we can take to the marketplace, we develop a confidence in that candidate.  We want to know what jobs you have already applied for, where you have posted your resume and what jobs you have in play (in the interview process).  These things help us determine if you are the QCC we want to assist in his or her job search.

If we submit you to a job opening and we are told that you were submitted by another recruiter, you just determined your own fate with us, and it is definitely not happily ever after. On the other hand, this is not a till-death-do-we-part thing.  If we can’t meet your needs in a timely manner, you should move on to a recruiter that can help you. Just make sure that we are on the same page regarding that time frame so there are no surprises for anyone.

Remember – we work for the companies where we are trying to place you in a job.  It is in our best interest to present someone who is qualified for the position, excited about the company, motivated to make a change and not looking for a counter-offer from his or her present employer. If you have all of that along with a fantastic set of skills and work experience, then we are ready to give you priority status and take you to market.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com

You Gotta Network

Don’t you just hear that from everyone these days?  Don’t you Just hate to hear that?

Let’s face it; some of us are just not very good at networking.  Networking means that we actually have to talk to someone.  If you’re shy or not outgoing, this can be a real nightmare.  What do you do about it?  How do you overcome the fear?

Some of my more outgoing friends talk about the four foot circle.  They mean if someone is within four feet of them, they will engage them in conversation.  Most of us however, aren’t like that.  How many strangers do you talk to in the grocery line?  If you’re like most of us, no one.  For most of us, it depends on how we feel, if we’re in a hurry or not, how we are dressed and if we are in the mood to engage a stranger in conversation.

Networking is a critical function in today’s job market.  If you are looking for a new job or if you are thinking about looking for a job, you have to learn to network.  You have about a 60-70% chance of finding your next position through someone you know, meet or have a connection.  In today’s job market, it is a critical skill you need to develop.

Here are some pointers for you to help get you out of your seat and onto the dance floor;

1. Make easy conversation first.  Take a deep breath and pick out a friendly face and say Hi to them.  Ask them if they are as new to this as you are?  That is an easy to get started.

2. Now that you have broken the ice, ask them about themselves.  Get them to talk about their job, what brought them here, how many people they have met.  

3. Remember you have two ears and one mouth for a reason.  You don’t have to talk a lot.  People will think you are a good communicator if you are a good listener.

4. Look them in the eye and respond to their information.  Don’t be looking over their shoulder for an escape route.  Stay focused on them.

5. Keep your conversation light, remember that you aren’t interviewing here, you are making contacts.  Don’t even think about asking them if they know of any jobs or anyone hiring.  

6. Remember you didn’t come to the event with them so don’t spend all you’re networking time with one person.  When It is appropriate, ask for a business card or a way to stay in their professional network and move on to another networker.

7. To paraphrase an Elton John song, don’t let the sun go down on your contact.  Send them a follow up message thanking them for their time and information.  Now ask them for a follow up meeting so you can get down to business.  Start networking with their contacts and built your confidence with the process.

8. Try it again.  Get out there to another networking event.

David (Mac) McElhaney

Managing Partner
Global Recruiters of Huntsville

102 Clinton Ave, West

Suite 201

Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-533-1444 Ext 201

Fax: 256-418-4485

Mobile: 407-341-4462

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com

Companies are hiring again but, you still have to do your homework.

Companies are hiring again but, you still have to do your homework.

As a recruiting organization, we receive lots of calls in a week about the job market.  As you know, the numbers are all over the board.  In the unemployment rate really 7-8% or is it 13-15% counting all those who have dropped out of the job market?

Recent surveys indicate that what ever the real rate is, the job market is improving.  In our recruiting industry, we look at the marketplace much like a realtor.  There is a buyers market and a sellers market.  In our industry there is a company market and a candidate market.  When the economy gets tough (like the last few years) the companies drive the market.  But we are quickly moving into a candidate driven market and it is going to take special skills to find the talent companies are looking to hire.  Companies added 188,000 jobs in June, according to the ADP National Employment Report http://www.adpemploymentreport.com/2013/June/NER/NER-June-2013.aspx , up from 134,000 jobs added in May.

In our conversations with candidates, we try to focus on their accomplishments rather than the normal fluff you see in a resume.  It is the accomplishments that will show a potential employer what you can bring to the table.  It’s what we call a Features/Benefits/Accomplishment profile and it is what gets a Hiring Manager’s attention.

See our job board at; http://www.grnhuntsville.com/candidate/jobs.aspx

David McElhaney

Global Recruiters of Huntsville

256.533.1444

dmcelhaney@grnhuntsville.com

www.grnhuntsville.com