5 Great Resources for Finding a Recruiter

5 Great Resources for Finding a Recruiter We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A coworker of mine is a starving musician. He is constantly looking to be discovered. While he gets gigs now and then, the likelihood of being discovered in a restaurant while performing is very low. While talent is important, no leads means no auditions. And, like with everything worth doing in life, its all about who you know. So in his case, having an agent would be a big help because an agent can open doors and get him auditions that he is not going to get on his own. Of course, there is a catch 22. Most agents wont talk to him until he is somewhat known. And, he cant really become somewhat known if he is not getting the right auditions. A recruiter is your agent for job search. They can open doors that you may not be able to open on your own. They have connections you dont have and can sometimes fast track your job search. But, just like the agent that gets my friend his audition, you too have to audition (interview) and once you are on the interview it is up to you to perform like a star and get the part. Now the good news is that it is much easier to get a recruiter than it is an agent. The bad news is that this makes it all the more difficult because you need to find the right recruiter for you. This post provides some of the tools you need to find your job search recruiter. Working with Recruiters Basics: There are some things to consider as well as some ground rules when working with recruiters (for them and for you). They are: While they will help you find a job, they dont work for you, they work for the hiring manager. They get paid to find the best candidate for the job. Say Yes and follow through If you agree to go on an interview, then show up and dont cancel at the last minute. Both your credibility and the recruiters reputation are on the line. Be Honest Dont hide any potential issues from your recruiter. They are there to help and will find a way to work around any issues (like being unemployed). Networking with Recruiters Add recruiters to your network. You may be able to help them find candidates for opportunities where you do not qualify. If you help them, they will remember and this will pay off. Finding a Recruiter: The first step in using a recruiting firm is finding one that is reputable, respected in your industry and fairly well known to hiring managers. There are many types of recruiters and, depending on what your needs are, you should narrow your search so that you dont waste your time or their time. Recruitersonline.com This site allows you to narrow your search by your field of interest and then where you want to work. Once you make your selection and click go, the site returns a list of recruiters that match your criteria. You can click on view jobs for these recruiters or you can click on the recruiter link to see their page. If you choose to view jobs, you can drill down into the job spec as well. Headhuntersdirectory Similar to the previous site, this site also helps you find a recruiter. Click the your country then select your state (for the US as an example) and then select your city. From here, you can select your recruiter. Once youve done that, you can select a recruiter (email or website). There is also an indication of where they are located and the types of jobs they fill on the right hand side of the page. Using a Recruiter: Okay, finding a recruiter is only half the job. Now you need to know how to work with a recruiter to get the best results. Keep the following key points in mind: NO COST! You should not be paying for a recruiter, they are paid by the company that is hiring. Any executive search firm or recruiter that wants you to pay them a fee should send you running for the hills. Now, if you feel you need a job coach to help you find prepare everything you need to find a job, that is a different process. Not all jobs are posted Sometimes job opportunities are only given to recruiters and not posted elsewhere. Get a foot in the door Most recruiters have key contacts in the firms they deal with. If they think you are qualified (and you dont have two heads), they will send your resume directly to the hiring company. But, you are not alone! They will likely send 5 other resumes along with yours. Some Articles to Get You Started: Learn How To Use Recruiters In Your Job Search! How Recruiters Search Using LinkedIn What We Look For When to Use a Search Firm or Headhunter Do I need a cover letter for a Recruiter? Yes, you do. But dont use a form letter. Spend a few minutes to adjust your cover letter to match the recruiter and why you think this particular recruiter can help. Take a look at the following ==Cover Letters to Recruiters Require Special Handling We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by