Managing the recruiter relationship

Looking for a job can be a time consuming effort involving a great deal of research, patience, and perseverance. While many job seekers choose to "go it alone" as they search for their next position in today's challenging job market, others turn to staffing agencies for help in finding both permanent and temporary positions.

But for those who pursue the latter option, simply working with a staffing agency is not enough. It is important that you manage the relationship with your recruiter. The following tips will help ensure that your job search is a positive, productive experience.

1. Make an effort to build a rapport with your recruiter

Developing a professional relationship with a recruiter provides you with an opportunity to promote yourself above and beyond what can be communicated through a resume. After your initial phone screening, ask if there is a good time to come into the office and meet the recruiter in person. Face-to-face interaction will allow you to expound upon your relevant experience/qualifications and allow your personal brand to shine through - making it easier for the recruiter to identify the right personality or culture fit for you, and to "sell" you to a potential employer.

2. Actively solicit, and be willing to accept, professional feedback

Recruiters can provide valuable feedback on the content and formatting of your resume, offer helpful interview tips, and make recommendations on what kinds of jobs might be a match with your unique set of skills/qualifications.

3. Tap your recruiter's expertise

Recruiters are often experts on specific industries; listen to what they can tell you about the current state of the market. Any insights you are able to gather regarding current market conditions within certain industries - specifically hiring trends, pay rates, typical career paths - will only help you in your search.

4. Create a mutually agreed upon communication plan

Agree upon dates and times to connect with your recruiter. Prior to any interview, it is very important to speak with your recruiter to gain insight about both the position and the employer. It is also critical to touch base with your recruiter after an interview. All good recruiters follow up with the employer after your interview to see if your skills were a fit, how the interview went, and if the employer would like to move to the next step of the hiring process. Ask your recruiter to share this feedback with you - this is valuable information that you need to hear in order to improve your interview skills.

5. Be open about your personal career goals

Discuss your career aspirations with your recruiter. Doing this upfront provides you with an opportunity to take a collaborative approach to defining the parameters of your job search, and it helps the recruiter to identify viable opportunities that he or she may not have realized you were interested in by just reviewing your resume.

Having a frank discussion about your personal career goals will also help you avoid situations where you may be tempted to take an interview - or worse yet, accept a position - that you know does not meet your expectations.

6. If working as a temp, keep in contact

If you have been placed in a temporary position, maintain a relationship post-placement so that as the initial assignment end date nears, you will have a head start in your search for a new assignment.

7. Don't expect the recruiter to do everything for you

Doing your own due diligence pays off. Research the industry, the company, and the requirements/expectations of the position itself prior to meeting the hiring manager. While you won't land every job you interview for, if recruiters receive positive feedback from hiring managers regarding your preparation for and performance during an interview, they will continue to dedicate time and effort to helping you find that perfect position.

Tom Egan is vice president of talent acquisition at Veritude.