How to Work with

a Headhunter

Without Losing Yours

About MeEighteen years of recruiting- mostly with

IT/Engineers

Worked as Corporate, Agency, 3rd party recruiter

Live in Minnetonka with husband 2 sons, dog Boomer

Currently doing contract recruiting & career coaching

Types of RecruitersCorporate Recruiter/HR

Internal employee of company Work with hiring managers May have other job functions Recruit for a lot of different types of positions

Staffing/Temp Recruiter Hired by company to find temp/contract people Employee of staffing firm- not corporation Multiple clients Specialize – administrative, financial, IT, Marketing etc.

Retained/Contingency Recruiter Similar to Staffing/temp Loyalty to client company – not you Referred to Headhunters Fee paid is percentage of annual salary

Why work with a Recruiter?

Often have access to positions that aren’t available elsewhere

Experts in a specific field- salary expectations, training etc.

Coach you on resume, interviewing skills

Good source of networking

A Typical RecruiterSpends about four to five hours a day on

the phone Makes contact with about 500 people

every week Receive anywhere from 500 to 1,000

emails every day Rely on their network for current

industry information and market trends Compensated for finding the right

candidate for their client companies

Top 10 Commandments of working with a recruiter

1. Thou Shalt Not Lie! Be honest about: Your resume What your previous salary was and what you are looking for next What are looking for in your next position • Let the recruiter know what you want – salary, benefits,

2. Thou Shalt know where thy resume has been - Make sure you know where your resume is going Make sure they get your permission before submitting to client Be careful of having resume submitted to same company by different recruiters -

Possibility of double submission Insist you see any changes in your resume before submitting to client

3. Thou Shalt know your recruiter How many people have they recruited in your field What are their expectations- what do they need from you and how often will they be in

contact, what is their process. Before ending a call, make sure you know the next steps and when they will occur

Find out about the recruiter and their company reputation – do you want to work with them

• If you have a concern or issue with the way something is handled, let them know

4. Thou Shalt Respond to phone calls and e-mails Especially with contract positions, time is of the essence- return calls or e-

mails ASAP Give alternate #’s and let recruiter know if you are going out of town If not interested in a position, let them know

5 Thou Shalt not whine and become a pest Ask the recruiter how often you should follow up Be respectful of their time and effort Don’t be offended if they don’t immediately recognize who you are when

you call Accept their feedback

6. Thou Shalt not contact the client directly – or apply online after the recruiter has contacted you

Except thank you note no contact with client If client does contact you, let the recruiter know Keep recruiter in the loop

8. Keep Organized Track who you talk to and where you submit your resume Know what companies and job #’s you have applied at Be careful of having resume submitted to same company by 2 recruiters

9. Thou Shalt Show Up Be on time for interviews – if running late, let them know Bring a copy of the resume the recrutier sent to the client to interview

10. Thou Shalt Refer Others If they have done a good job for you, then let them know by referring others Some companies give referral bonus’

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Don’t treat you with respectDon’t respondWon’t tell you who the client isSubmit your resume without your

knowledge

What to Expect Recruiter should spend time getting to know you

before submitting you to a client:

Review of resume What your main responsibilities were Reason for leaving each position Progression of career

Understanding of what you are looking for: Reason for job search Top 3 things you need in next position Salary history and expectation Type of culture/company you excel in

Explain next steps What the process is Current openings Timeline

What to Expect When submitting your resume to the client:

Your approval to be submitted Name of the company/position Job Description Interview Process Relationship with manager- VMS System, direct submittal, sub Time line

When setting up interview Information about client Interview tips Directions and contact info of people you will be meeting Next steps – when you can expect response What type of feedback

After the interview Client feedback Debriefing of how the interview went Next steps

What to Expect Offer Stage

Complete information about offer including salary, benefits Recommendation on counter offers Understanding of your time needs

Future Keep in contact with the recruiter If see a job that fits your qualifications, give them a call or send an e-mail Refer others

Where do you Find a Recruiter?Respond to a job posting

Look for someone who specializes in your field Knowledge, expertise, contacts

Ask for recommendations Previous co-workers, HR, family, friends

Check them out LinkedIn, Google

Questions?