Diary of a Recruiter

This “hurdle” is all too common in the life of the recruiter.  I am dealing with two situations in particular right now, where my clients have been great… but THEIR clients are making them look bad… which, in turn, makes ME look bad to my candidates.  Job seekers don’t always understand what goes on “behind the curtain” when they are being considered for opportunities/projects that are for the clients who have hired my client.  There’s just one more layer to go through that can slow, or even STOP, the process.  I genuinely want my candidates to experience a smooth ride.  As a recruiter, it is my responsibility to keep them informed every step of the way.   It is common to experience roadblocks, and no matter how frustrated the candidate is, I am equally frustrated–if not more.  More often than not, I can truly empathize with the “situations” my candidates are experiencing–unemployment, under-employment, stagnant/no longer challenged, no growth opportunities, megalomaniac bosses/colleagues, impending layoffs–I’ve experienced almost every one of these, and it’s never fun.  It brings you down and it saps your motivation, and it’s a sucky way to live.  But we have rents and mortgages to pay, and kids to feed, and we sometimes experience situations that come out of nowhere… even with financial intelligence and common sense.

So my point is this…  Please understand that I, as a recruiter, am ON YOUR SIDE.  That may not seem like the case sometimes, but I assure you it is.  On a steady basis, things are simply out of my control.

But here’s the reality:  The more money you make, the more money I make.  Plain and simple.  And yes, I do actually feel a great sense of accomplishment when I’ve effectively “sold” you–and both parties are happy.  (It’s kinda like my form of crack)

Forge on…

A LinkedIn contact of mine recently asked if I would elaborate on the importance of job seekers utilizing social media.  Though I could write a lot more on the subject, this was my rapid-fire “highlighting the basics” response (which I will probably expand on at a later time):

When you’re in a job search, you need to “hit it” from as many angles as possible. You’ll figure out what works best, and you’ll also figure out what DOESN’T work. What is right for one person (or discipline) is not necessarily right for another. Be persistent, but tactful. There’s a whole lot of competition out there, and you MUST utilize social media in your job search efforts, or you’re simply missing the boat. I fully support Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook (yes, Facebook) for getting your name out there and making yourself visible. One thing I really like is when candidates have their own URL which features their resume and/or portfolio (or better yet, allows me to download a Word/PDF version). We are becoming a more and more “web based” society — and it’s all about quick access right now. Your web site can be as simple as your first and last name, and it’s very easy to secure a domain name and get a site up in no time. AND… there are lots of devoted sites/free templates out there that really simplify this process

For what it’s worth, I found my last THREE jobs through connections on LinkedIn.   So… it works!