{"id":311,"date":"2023-03-08T20:58:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T01:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/?p=311"},"modified":"2023-03-21T07:00:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T11:00:19","slug":"make-choosing-the-right-recruiter-the-first-step-toward-your-new-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/news\/2023\/03\/make-choosing-the-right-recruiter-the-first-step-toward-your-new-position\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Choosing The Right Recruiter THE First Step Toward Your New Position"},"content":{"rendered":"

I originally published this article middle of 1st Quarter a few years back and made reference to the laundry list of New Year\u2019s resolutions we make each year.\u00a0Toward the top of most lists you will find a topic relating to Career Advancement or Career Change.\u00a0There are many reasons why one\u2019s Career is always a major resolution area including Improved Quality of Life, A Better Commute, Promotional Opportunity, and most commonly MORE MONEY!\u00a0 With the insane amount of change to company culture and Work From Home capability during the Global Pandemic, many will have new criteria for their Careers and how they fit into the total life style. \u00a0Approaching this common resolution can be more daunting for some than others, as the fear of change is one of the most common human emotions that we encounter.\u00a0Some have a distinct dislike for their job duties, their colleagues or boss, their financial package, company benefits,\u00a0the office location, work from home arrangements OR the financial health of their company which makes this change easier.\u00a0\u00a0This change becomes more complicated for those who like the people they work with and are OK with their comp package and company.\u00a0\u00a0When your major career wound is that you know you have become complacent and it is time to stretch your legs and reach for the next step in your career, it is human nature to find excuses to avoid taking on this added life pressure of a career change.\u00a0If you have taken a deep look at your life and your career and recognize that you are ready for the next level or for a better scenario there are ways to make this process much more comfortable and successful.\u00a0The important first step is to\u00a0Choose the Right Recruiter!<\/strong><\/p>\n

In any major life transaction, most of us consult a professional or industry expert.\u00a0If we buy a house we use a real estate agent OR If we make a large investment in the stock market we use a financial planner or investment adviser.\u00a0If you are going to change careers you should consult with a recruiter who specializes in your industry.\u00a0With the internet we all theoretically have access to these transactions without these agents or consultants, but why would you want to go into such a huge change alone?\u00a0In the case of the job market, there are countless sites that offer job listings which everyone has access to.\u00a0For the instant gratification of starting the job search process quickly (or after a bad day in the office) it is common that candidates will shoot resumes out to see if something happens.\u00a0Candidates realize quickly that these advertisements are often a black hole and never receive any acknowledgement.\u00a0Most ads you find on job websites are out of date and often already hired, however, for those that are active you have no idea who is on the receiving end of the resume.\u00a0It is almost like blind dating.\u00a0For such a sensitive and confidential transaction this sure seems like a dangerous way to operate.\u00a0Your career is arguably much more important than buying a house or making a large stock market investment given that you can\u2019t do either without a successful career, yet there are still candidates who make critical career changes without leveraging the perspective of a Recruiter.<\/p>\n

If you are open to making a job change, I strongly encourage you to\u00a0Make Choosing The Right Recruiter THE First Step Toward Your New Position.<\/strong>\u00a0You should do this NOW even if you do not plan to interview for a few months or even in the next year or two.\u00a0 You cannot start your relationship with your recruiter too soon.\u00a0Rather than blindly shooting a resume into a company job advertisement, you should contact your recruiter for a review of your resume or even help with resume samples to be sure you are representing yourself properly.\u00a0I have worked with many candidates who start their search process on their own and I review resumes with typos, poor grammar or dated formats.\u00a0These candidates now have clouded reputations within the companies they have applied to.\u00a0In addition, once your resume is submitted to a company these organizations will not allow a recruiter to represent you.\u00a0Recruiters generally work with line hiring managers who they have often placed in these roles and have long standing relationships with\u2026you will have a greater advantage by submitting your reviewed\/revised resume via the recruiter directly to the hiring manager instead of coming in off the street via an ad response.\u00a0\u00a0The recruiter is incented to be sure your resume is in tip-top shape as their reputation rides on your resume as well.\u00a0Since we have now established that it is critical to make Choosing The Right Recruiter THE First Step Toward Your New Position, I would like to discuss a few criteria that you should consider when deciding which recruiter to choose.<\/p>\n

Every career specialty has a wide quality spectrum.\u00a0For example, In a Public Accounting Firm Senior class, the best Senior Auditor has significantly better performance evaluations and client satisfaction than the lowest achieving Auditor.\u00a0The same quality spectrum exists in the Recruiting industry, however, with the drastic impact that changing jobs can have on a candidate and on a family these differences can be magnified.\u00a0Quite frankly there are a few really bad recruiters who sometimes give the entire industry a bad name\u2026.don\u2019t worry these bad recruiters wash out quickly.\u00a0Generally I think most recruiters mean well but there are certainly a select few out there in each region who are able to exhibit the highest rates of success for both their candidates and clients on a consistent basis year after year.\u00a0You want to identify and choose these recruiters!<\/p>\n

I am an expert in the Accounting & Finance market, and like many other career disciplines, this market is heavily leaning toward the candidate side these days so candidates are actively recruited and receive unsolicited calls and e-mails about opportunities on a regular basis.\u00a0It is important for the candidate to remember they still get to CHOOSE the recruiter they work with.\u00a0Before quickly responding or blindly sending your resume to the recruiter on the other end of the call or e-mail, you should do a little research.\u00a0If nothing else, a simple check of their Linked In profile to confirm tenure in the industry OR stability within the firm(s) they have worked.\u00a0You might feel comfortable by seeing some common connections on their LinkedIn Profile.\u00a0Recruiters provide a free service but just because it\u2019s free, you should be careful to concentrate your relationships to 1 maybe 2 of the highest quality recruiters in your market.\u00a0\u00a0Below is a quick outline of some criteria and suggestions you should consider when Choosing your Go-To Recruiter:<\/p>\n

Experience\/Tenure:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The natural tendency when choosing a consultant\/adviser on a major transaction is to evaluate the number of years they have been in the business.\u00a0This is perhaps the most surface way to evaluate a Recruiter.\u00a0In general the more time a recruiter has been in business, the larger the network they have, which SHOULD translate to the most job opportunities.\u00a0The number of years is not, however, the end all in recruiting.\u00a0There are less experienced recruiters who perhaps spent time working in the industry as an Accountant, lets say, and they have significant relationships with former colleagues and clients that help them to quickly expand networks.\u00a0There are recruiters who are big on social media and well networked in local communities and networking groups who may develop great networks quickly as well.\u00a0While Experience\/Tenure is not the end all, it is a good way to begin your evaluation.<\/p>\n

Stability:<\/strong><\/p>\n

As with any resume, evaluate the stability of your prospective recruiter.\u00a0As recruiters are generally bound by non-compete agreements it is not very easy to move from firm to firm.\u00a0If a recruiter has been with a different firm every year or two this should tell you that they have likely been terminated for some reason OR their prior firm didn\u2019t think enough of them to prohibit their competition.\u00a0You want to build a long-term relationship with your recruiter so you should be cautious of someone who cannot commit for any length of time.<\/p>\n

Prior Industry Experience:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some candidates take comfort in the fact that their recruiter has worked in the same industry and been in their shoes before.\u00a0Working in Accounting or Finance doesn\u2019t automatically make someone a good recruiter by any means, however, a good recruiter who adds this layer of life experience can provide valuable perspective in helping you make career choices.<\/p>\n

Sense of Urgency:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you initially reach out to a recruiter their initial reaction time can tell you a lot.\u00a0If you are a premium candidate in your field and you do not hear back from the recruiter you choose for an initial introduction very quickly you likely have an issue.\u00a0Perhaps you aren\u2019t the greatest fit for what this recruiter specializes in.\u00a0Perhaps this is an example of the urgency you will receive in an interview process.\u00a0Top recruiters, even if they are super busy, will get back to your initial introduction within 48 hours to at least set up a better time to talk.\u00a0 This is a trait that can not be taught and service providers in ANY industry who exhibit the highest Sense of Urgency are often the best in their respective businesses.<\/p>\n

A Busy Schedule is a Good Thing:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you are initially getting to know your recruiter you certainly want to take a good 45-60 minutes on the phone or in person to have a comprehensive conversation about everything you are interested in, have done, and of course any peripheral things that might add to your attractiveness as a candidate.\u00a0To maintain a good relationship, you will want to catch up periodically to see how things are going OR to update the recruiter with anything new that might be helpful.\u00a0You should be worried, however, if a recruiter has time to call you for a 30 minute call once a week and they are not bringing you new opportunities on these calls.\u00a0From the candidate perspective, I want a busy recruiter.\u00a0I would want someone who is stretching their schedule to know as much about the market as they can (both job opportunities and candidates).\u00a0I would rather be the beneficiary of the less frequent\u00a0but thorough job opportunity update calls than regular lengthy discussions about where I am going on summer vacation or how my current situation is progressing.\u00a0 The goal is for your recruiter to be out hunting for you and they are certainly incented to call you the second they have a great fit.\u00a0With this said\u2026all recruiters are human and we do appreciate the check in e-mails and calls to ensure your place on our radar!<\/p>\n

Ask Colleagues \/ Friends Who Have Made Job Changes:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

This seems like common sense but over the years I have noticed that candidates are often shocked that my firm placed their former colleague in a new position.\u00a0It\u2019s almost as though it is taboo to talk about this.\u00a0If you have an interest in making a change and you have a friend or former colleague who has done it successfully over the past few years, ask them confidentially who they worked with.\u00a0There is a good chance you will have a similar experience with this recruiter.<\/p>\n

Have a Phone Conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before sending a resume to any recruiter, have a brief phone call.\u00a0You can tell a lot about a recruiter by their approach and enthusiasm over the phone.\u00a0You can often establish initial chemistry and your comfort level.\u00a0There will generally be a proverbial \u201cclick\u201d with this person or there will not.\u00a0You should feel compelled to send your resume to the recruiter after the call\u2026not required.\u00a0You should feel comfortable discussing and learning about the recruiter\u2019s background as well. Choosing the best recruiter for yourself is not an exact science and may take some trial and error.\u00a0The key thing to remember is that you have a choice and you should not just settle.\u00a0Changing jobs is one of life\u2019s biggest transactions and most people will only do it a handful of times so it is critical to align yourself with the best recruiter in your market.\u00a0\u00a0There is no reason to go into a job search alone!<\/p>\n

Contact the author & Founder of Legacy Search Advisors, Brian Piotrowski,\u00a0BPiotrowski@TheLegacySearch.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to begin your career search OR to make your team’s next strategic hire!<\/p>\n

Written by Brian Piotrowski<\/strong>, Founder & Head of Recruiting,\u00a0Legacy Search Advisors\u00a0<\/strong>BPiotrowski@TheLegacySearch.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Article Re-Released with Updates April 2021<\/p>\n

Brian Piotrowski is a 15+ Year Recruiting Expert whose firm, Legacy Search Advisors, provides Concierge Level Placement Services to Accounting, Finance, Banking, Legal, Human Resources and Administrative Professionals Across the US with Special Focus on Family Offices, Venture Capital, Private Equity & Their Portfolio Companies, and Closely Held Family Owned Businesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prior to his recruiting career, Brian spent time with a Top-10 International CPA Firm & worked for an entrepreneurial company as an Assistant Controller which built his strong foundation and credibility to successfully place more than 1,000 Accounting & Finance Professionals SO FAR in his career.\u00a0He is excited to bring his network and experiences to a greater variety of career disciplines throughout the US with his new firm!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I originally published this article middle of 1st Quarter a few years back and made reference to the laundry list of New Year\u2019s resolutions we make each year.\u00a0Toward the top of most lists you will find a topic relating to Career Advancement or Career Change.\u00a0There are many reasons why one\u2019s Career is always a major…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311\/revisions\/327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelegacysearch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}