Evaluating Recruiters | No BS Job Search Advice

Evaluating Recruiters | No BS Job Search Advice

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

From the archives. In 2013, I still did recruiting. Now, I am a career and leadership coach helping people with hiring, job search, management, leadership and more.

The former hiring manager was appreciative of the advice he received.

“I have never received such coaching in my career,” he said.

“You’re welcome,” I replied.

“First of all, the questions you taught me for the interview were terrific and well-received. Then, you gave me info about the people I would meet with and what to expect from each.”

“But most of all, your manner just calmly told me to relax and deliver the goods during the meeting. As you can imagine, being out of work as long as I have and not getting many interviews and believing that this one was so important, your information and your manner relaxed me and gave me confidence going into the in-person meetings. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

So this is article is not to toot my horn but to point out one difference between recruiters.

Many can “prep you (prepare you)” for the interview with speeches that sound reminiscent of something like a movie script (Go out there. When you meet them, look them square in the eye. Offer a firm handshake and don’t turn down the offer if they make one until we speak and I have a chance to beat you up and make you take the job).

Very few can give you useful tools to perform well in the interview. Even fewer are skilled enough to know what to say to someone to put them into the best frame of mind for a phone or in-person interview.

Many recruiters are little more than high-pressure salespeople with little more than a passing interest in what is right for you and what will help you get the job you want.

I confess companies paid me, rather than people so, ultimately I focus on filling positions. There I spent time with someone to teach them what they need every step along the way.

When you evaluate recruiters, pay attention to what they say and what they don’t say. You will learn a lot about them.