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How to work with a recruiter or hiring manager

work with a recruiter

What is a recruiter?

Whether you’re on the lookout for your next opportunity in a similar field, or you’re a career changer, working with a recruiter can be a real advantage when enhancing your job search.

Recruiters are professionals who match individuals with positions, acting as the middle party between candidates and organisations looking to secure the best talent.

Whether recruiters are employed by the organisation directly, or work for an independent agency, they will typically handle each stage of the hiring process, with a key role in matching candidates’ skills and strengths to relevant opportunities.

What does their role entail?

Recruiters will be involved in a wide variety of tasks, which include the following:

Building relationships with organisations looking to recruit

An essential part of a recruiter’s role is building a close relationship with the organisation and/or internal department they are working with to fill a position. They will determine the essential skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out the specific role. This enables them to develop a clear brief when looking for the right candidate(s).

A recruiter who has a sound understanding of the opportunity will be in a strong position to answer any queries about what the role will involve and the expectations of the employer.

Building a network

Building an extensive network is vital for a recruiter to be able to fulfil their role. This will involve engaging in a range of events, industry conferences, and carrying out effective sector research to identify relevant organisations to work with.

The insights they gain through their contacts mean they will be an excellent source of information for you to tap into. Make sure you ask questions about organisations they are working with, the candidates they have previously placed, as well as establishing opportunities to broaden your own network.

Considering applications

Once they have identified a candidate, recruiters may be involved in reviewing applications. The process here can differ as some recruiters will encourage candidates to send direct applications, whereas others will be heavily involved in this aspect.

If a recruiter offers to appraise your CV and/or cover letter before you submit, this offers a valuable opportunity for you to understand whether your application meets the requirements of the organisation.

Recruiters might also host initial interviews on behalf of their organisation/clients. These can take place over the phone, in-person, or via video call, where they will ask both general and specific questions that will further establish your suitability.

Supporting candidates

A recruiter’s role may extend beyond support with the initial application and preliminary interview stage, to offer advice and guidance on the final stages of recruitment. This could involve a final panel interview with a hiring manager.

Draw on the recruiter’s knowledge of interview etiquette, typical questions that might arise, and what the employer is specifically looking for. This will offer you a greater chance of success as you will be able to prepare more effectively.

Recruiters may also facilitate negotiations between the candidate and the prospective employer, which could include the specific terms of a contract, the salary, or any benefits that accompany the role.

What does this mean for you, the jobseeker?

By understanding more about the role of a recruiter and what they can support with, this will put you in a stronger position as a prospective candidate, enabling you to produce a strong, tailored application. It will also allow you to utilise your time effectively to apply to positions that closely align with your own values, skills and strengths.

What is a hiring manager? What is the difference between them and a recruiter?

In some information, you might come across the term ‘hiring manager’, and it is important to understand some of the key differences between their role and that of a recruiter.

Whilst a recruiter will oversee the hiring process, ensuring there is a strong foundation for finding the right candidate(s), it will be the hiring manager who has the final say in making a job offer.

The hiring manager will be a key stakeholder in reviewing any shortlist of candidates, and will more closely evaluate your abilities, expertise and experience in line with their specification.

As a jobseeker you will most likely come into contact with a hiring manager towards the end of the recruitment process – at the final interview stage, when a job offer is made, and, potentially, as part of your onboarding process.

How to find a recruiter

There are a number of ways to go about finding a recruiter, but where to source those relevant to your job search will be determined by the sector or area of work you are looking to get into.

  • Establish if there are sector specific agencies – depending on the nature of the sector or type of role you are looking to go into, you may come across specialist recruitment agencies. Are there recommended agencies by any professional bodies linked to your field?
  • Consider the geographical location of your job search – you could carry out a general internet search to determine what recruitment agencies are working in the location where you are looking to secure your next opportunity. Once you have identified some options, you will need to establish whether they work with organisations in your chosen sector.
  • Continue to build your network – networking – whether online or in person – will be key to securing your next opportunity. By attending job fairs, networking events, or building your online presence, you can source recommendations from others or establish contact with recruiters directly.

What to expect when working with a recruiter/hiring manager

Remember, whilst the recruiter and, ultimately, the hiring manager, will want to ensure a positive experience for their prospective candidates, their priority will be sourcing and securing the best person for the position. Although a recruiter will advocate for you as a candidate, their main client will be the organisation they are recruiting to.

With this in mind, it will be important to clearly communicate your needs, interests and wants in relation to your next role. A good recruiter will want to understand your background, your career goals, and your values and motivation, as well as any practical considerations.

Being honest and open with a recruiter about what you are looking for, but also what you can offer, will be vital to ensure that you both benefit from your working relationship.

A Recruiter’s View – Do’s and Don’ts When Applying for a Job

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Clare Hall

Clare Hall (née Pitkin) has been working in the UK Higher Education sector for over ten years, including with students' unions, university careers services, as well as conducting research on graduate employability and race equality in HE for the University of Birmingham. Clare completed her MA in Education Studies in 2019, with a research focus on employability in the curriculum. She has recently developed an online employability award programme for students at the University of Portsmouth, where she has also been working in information advice and guidance for eight years. Clare has regularly contributed to online careers advice content, developed workshops to enhance employability skills and prospects, and has contributed to academic journal articles.

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