Candidate Resources

Preparing Your Resume  /  The Successful Interview
The Professional Way to Resign

Before you begin to build a relationship with a recruiter, you should understand a little about how recruiters generally work.

Our business is driven by our clients' needs.

• We work specialized vertical markets or within particular industries.
• Our clients expect us to produce candidates with experience in their specific industry.
• Rarely, if ever, do people engage our services to find someone who they have to spend considerable time and money to train.

We generally work by industry, not geography.

• If you want to change industries, it will be difficult for most recruiters to help you.
• While there sometimes are those rare assignments where "Transferable Skills" will be acceptable, the vast number of positions require diligent effort on the part of the recruiter to find the exact match for the client company within the industry.
• If you want to make a geographic move, a recruiter may be able to match your background with an industry client within your preferred location.

Less is better.

• Don't create a conflict by working with more than one recruiter in an industry.
• In an exclusive relationship, some recruiters will work with you at the appropriate time, to market your background to your industry.

The most difficult interview you may face will be with a good recruiter.

• When we select candidates to present to our clients we are selecting the best of the best. Be realistic about where you may fit into this picture, and make yourself available to take coaching from your recruiter.
• In order to be successful in obtaining an interview through a recruiter you must be prepared to be forthright and cooperative in providing information. Trust a good recruiter's judgment about how and when to present material. 

Keep your eyes and ears open, but don't believe everything you read.

• You are CEO of your destiny. Be selective about whose advice you seek.
• Following a formula in a "how to..." book won't be much help unless the people you are interviewing with have read the same book.
• A good recruiter will know more about how to coach you through a particular situation, than any 10 books on the subject.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD RECRUITER
Go with the industry leader.

• Stay with the most reputable firms in your industry. Ask colleagues for names of quality recruiters with whom they have had a good relationship.
• Avoid sole practitioners who cannot provide multiple services to you and their clients.
• Find a recruiter who shares your standard of professionalism and makes you feel comfortable about the way you will be presented to a client.