Here’s How to Make Your Experience With a Recruiter Successful

Finding a new job that checks all your boxes is hard work. Whether you’ve been pursuing new career opportunities for a while or are just starting your search, working with a recruiter can be an invaluable experience.

Having a career expert guide your search can open doors you never thought possible — or didn’t even know existed — but the level of success you achieve largely falls on you. Follow these tips to get the most from this partnership.

Choose a Behavioral Health Recruiter

Many recruiters claim to place candidates in any field but be wary of them. A track record of helping candidates find work in a variety of industries doesn’t equate to expertise. It’s much better to work with a recruiter who specializes in behavioral health because they’re immersed in your specialty. They truly understand the type of job you’re looking for and have an extensive network of relevant contacts.

Accept Constructive Criticism

Receiving feedback on things you’re doing wrong — or could do better — doesn’t always feel great, but it’s the only way to learn and grow. Your recruiter fills open positions for a living, so be open-minded when they make suggestions to improve your resume or critique you during a mock interview. Put your ego aside and accept help from someone who truly wants you to succeed.

Listen to Your Recruiter

If this is your first time working with a recruiter, it might be a bit of an adjustment. Until now, your job searches have always been a solo effort, so you could do as you pleased. This isn’t the case when you have a staffing partner. If you’re told not to directly contact hiring managers or apply for positions without running it by your recruiter, there’s a very good reason for it. Show some respect by following the rules, because they’re put in place for your own good.

Make Yourself Available

Working with a recruiter makes your job search a partnership. The two of you can’t function as a team if you’re impossible to reach, so be accessible. Respond to phone calls, text messages, and emails as quickly as possible, because it’s both polite and failing to do so can cause you to miss out on job opportunities. Treat every message from your recruiter as important, because they wouldn’t reach out unless they needed something from you.

Be Open and Honest

Your recruiter wants to help you find a job you truly enjoy, but they’re not a mind-reader. Steer them in the right direction by being honest about what you’re looking for in a new job. This includes both the responsibilities associated with the position and company culture. If they present a position you’re not interested in, don’t be afraid to say no. Being upfront will allow them to better tailor their search, saving both of you a lot of time and energy.

Starting the next chapter in your career can feel intimidating, so allow a trusted advisor to guide your search. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you find your next behavioral health position, contact us today at (513) 651-9500 or by email at [email protected].

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