4 things to look for in a recruiter

4 things to look for in a recruiter.

A good recruiter will make your life easier by saving you time and money. Here are the things you should look for in a recruiter:

1. Experience.
I used to believe that recruitment was a young persons game. I used to believe energy and enthusiasm were enough. I was wrong. The need to be experienced, level-headed and able to remove the emotion from situations is more vital than ever before. Recruitment is tough, tougher than ever in some markets. Experience helps you spot things quickly. I can instinctively spot a time waster, question a contractor who will never go permanent regardless of what he or she is saying, know when a candidate is going to cancel an interview or when an offer is going to be turned down. A good recruiter will also arrange interviews, chase for feedback, negotiate salary and, most importantly, save you time!

2. Specialist knowledge
I believe the best recruiters are market specialists. They have their finger on the pulse and know what's happening and who's who in the industry. In the technology sector it’s impossible for a recruiter to be a specialist in Python and PHP and .Net. How can one person possibly be the “go to” person in all 3 markets?

I know some businesses who have the same recruiter searching for sales people on a Monday, project managers on a Wednesday and IT Managers on a Friday. Placements are made by luck. It’s a 10% service at best, and not one I’d want.

Personally I like to work to an 80/20 rule, 80% of my time and energy is spent working in a specific market of technology. The other 20% of my time is spent working on briefs for key clients I've worked with over the years.

3. Trust and honesty

You should be open and honest with your recruiter about:
What you really want
What you're prepared to pay
Who you're already talking to
Where you are in the process

And they should be honest with you about:
The current state of the market
Whether your requirements are realistic
Whether the salary is realistic

If you get this right you will build a level of trust that will serve both of you in good stead for any future dealings.

I’d recommend you look for signs of push back and see this as a positive. I’d be more inclined to trust a recruiter that doesn’t agree with everything you say. If you're not paying enough or have unrealistic expectations you need to know.

4. Deliver
Above all else a recruiter has to deliver. Building relationships is great, becoming friends and socialising with clients and candidates is a excellent perk of the job, but in my experience delivering the end result is what really matters. I worked with a recruiter who used to deliberately go to the other side of town to meet clients and buy them a beer every Friday. I’m sure they loved it but once he stopped delivering great CVs and making hires, the beer alone wasn’t enough to maintain the relationship.

It’s hard to judge delivery until you have given someone an opportunity but with so many good recruiters out there most of us know we have to make placements. If I were a client I wouldn’t be waiting for the next PSL review or worrying too much about how many cupcakes have been sent this week, my priority would be finding an experienced specialist recruiter who, first and foremost, delivers.

So there we go, some tips on choosing the right recruiter for your next hire!

For more information regarding this blog or Lewis Hollings please contact me on Jordan@Lewishollings.com or call me on 07858 973 473

My First Blog - 5 essential tips for job seekers

My First Blog - 5 essential tips for job seekers

I’ve been a recruiter for over 12 years. I’ve seen many things, had lots of different experiences and made plenty of mistakes. Despite many people suggesting I should, I’ve never written a blog or voluntarily shared information.

After interviewing a Senior Javascript Developer today, she thanked me for the insight and advice I’d given her. Lightbulb moment – perhaps after 12+ years as recruiter, I should start a blog and share my experiences with a wider audience.

So here goes; my first ever blog – ‘5 essential tips for job seekers’. Expect to see spelling mistakes, honesty and hopefully some insight and value.

1. Work with a decent recruiter
A good recruiter is worth their weight in gold. They should make your job search hassle free. You shouldn’t feel lied to, mislead or pressurised at any stage. Nobody should be calling your work number or emailing your boss. If this happens bin the recruiter!

2. Know what you want
What is your motivation for looking for a new job? What are your requirements? I’ve never had a client say to me “find me a candidate who only wants to earn more money”. It is important that you are clear about what you are looking for. I promise you, you are not only after a pay rise. Write down your goals and motivations, I ask every candidate I speak with to share their 3 main motivations for looking for a job with me. Money is never an acceptable answer.

3. Be clear about what you can offer
Make sure you understand what your skills and strengths are. These are the skills and areas you want to be working on in a new job so make that clear on your CV and to the recruiter. Most businesses want adaptable candidates with great attitudes who will chip-in with projects outside of the core focus without a hissy fit but rarely do they want a jack of all trades and a master of none.

4. Always attend interviews if offered
Candidates will regularly agree to an interview but then get offered something and cancel the interview, especially on the contract freelance market. I hear candidates saying I don’t want to waste his/her or mine time and I don’t agree with this at all. At worst, attending an interview is a good experience that will help you tailor what you like or don’t like about a business and/or your ability to interview, and at best you fall upon an amazing opportunity you didn’t know existed. I never understand why candidates or clients cancel interviews at short notice, make them shorter by all means, but never completely cancel them.

5. Be interview ready
An obvious one but always make sure you do some research about the company. You simply have no excuse not to know a quick elevator pitch about what the client does, and you should have looked up the interviewer up on Linkedin at the very least. And make sure you prepare your questions. They will give the interviewer an insight into your personality and culture fit. Questions should be about the job, company, role and responsibilities, not…

*What are the working hours?
*What’s the salary?
*How much holiday do I get?
*Can I leave early every Friday?

So there you go, my first ever blog. Only 5 pieces of advice but its 5 more than I had shared yesterday.

For more information regarding this blog or Lewis Hollings please contact me on Jordan@Lewishollings.com or call me on 07858 973 473