Developing a close relationship with a recruitment consultant could be one of the best uses of time in your career.

This tutorial tells you why it is essential to build good relationships with a selection of recruitment consultants.

Many of the most successful and satisfied people in their careers have a network of trusted recruitment consultants. These are smart individuals and they know the value of having a good consultant on their side.

It doesn’t matter who you are, the truth is your recruitment consultant could be your best careers advisor.

Why?

1: Recruiters can ‘sell’ you to a client, working more effectively than a direct application.
2: Recruiters know about a wealth of opportunities not advertised.
3: Recruiters know about forthcoming vacancies.
4: They have inside information about the culture of companies; the reasons staff join AND leave, the competition and the variable rates of pay.
5: Once they understand YOU, they can approach companies who they know fit your skills and use their experience to get you in the door.
6: Recruiters give you a helicopter view of the employment market, telling you where the demand is and where you can fit.
7: They will give you a reality-based opinion on what you are worth in the current climate.

What’s the trick?

> Identify recruitment consultants specialising in your field.
> Pick up the phone – emailing your CV and expecting someone else to do the work just won’t cut it.
> If the consultant you talk to seems uninterested, stay positive, give it your best shot then find another consultant to talk to.
> Treat all interaction with recruitment consultants as an extension of the job interview – they will only recommend you if they are impressed by you.
> Have a positive attitude at all times and be prepared to invest time to build the relationship.

Take Away Points

To get your job-hunt going you need recruitment consultants working for you. Don’t expect them to do this without effort on your part. So:
> Pick up the phone and introduce yourself, email will not be good enough.
> Be positive and always try to impress, treat it as an extension of the job interview.
> Build and maintain a network of recruitment consultants and call each one periodically.