How to work with a Professional Recruiter

Benefits of working with a recruiter

A recruiter is especially valuable if you’re currently employed but want to change jobs. Discretion and confidentiality are important when you don’t want to openly publicize your intentions to your co-workers, friends or online.  They are able to present you opportunities that are not publicly advertised or you may not have been aware of the position. 

A quality recruiter will inform you of specific information that can help you present yourself as distinctively as possible from others who are interviewing for the same job. This helps you and the employer make the best decision based on your professional work ethics as well as your demeanor.

Recruiters usually have key information that can help you put your best foot forward; such as the interviewer’s personality, the specific qualities they are looking for and in some cases will reveal where other candidates or previous employees have failed to impress.  Lastly, other top benefits in working with a recruiter is having them be your verbal resume to the employer by presenting you in the best light possible, compared to those who email their resume waiting for a response or sitting in a resume bank in HR.  We also offer salary and relocation negotiation, coaching,  and watching over the best interests of the candidate as well as the client.  In the end result it is a win...win situation for both sides.

Best of off all...we are free of charge to our candidates!

When deciding on the right recruiter to work with, ask trusted professionals in your field for their recommendations.  You're looking for someone with strong communication and organizational skills in addition to experience in placing health care professionals.

If you feel that you can trust a recruiter, and he or she seems to have your best interests at heart—and is not just interested in making a placement—it can be the beginning of a great relationship.

Get the most from your recruiter

Candidates who are serious about finding the right opportunity are the ones who play by the rules of the marketplace and work closely with their recruiters. Therefore, you should:

Be honest

• The more open and responsive you are, the easier you are to market.

• If you haven't done so already, you need to define your career path and goals and then share them with your recruiter. 

• Be candid about your strengths, weaknesses and preferences. 

• How will a move affect your spouse's career? 

• What do your children need to make a smooth transition? 

• It's best to know from the start, for instance, that you crave year-round warm weather and would never consider moving to a northern city

Avoid overexposure

When you post your resume on the Internet, for example, you will be overwhelmed with calls and e-mails from recruiters. It's best to work with only one or two recruiters to make the most productive use of your time and to keep multiple recruiters from presenting you to the same facility. That doesn't look good for anyone.  So be selective on which recruiters you would like to present you to new opportunities in your field of expertise.

Expect confidentiality

• A professional recruiter won't send your resume out to a facility without checking with you first, and won't call certain sensitive references before it is appropriate.

Be accessible

• This process can seem slow and tedious one week and turn around quickly the next.

• If you are inaccessible for long periods of time, opportunities will pass you by.

• A recruiter may not be as inclined to work as hard for you as they would for someone who is easy to reach and easy to work with.

Be open to new opportunities

• As a good candidate, you need to keep an open mind and thoroughly explore all possibilities.

• Make sure you're not turning down a job possibility because of false assumptions.

• At the least, agree to a phone interview before making a decision.

• If you truly are not interested in a situation, let the recruiter know so he or she doesn't waste any time and can maintain a good relationship with the client. 

CQI recruiters have high standards, integrity and operate in the strictest of confidence! CQI is networked with over 25 healthcare recruitment offices around the nation allowing us access to all areas of the country.

About Carolyn Lee                                                         

Carolyn Lee has been in the healthcare recruitment industry since 1994 assisting hospitals nationwide in finding the right candidate for their positions, as well as helping healthcare professional candidates find positions that are offering challenges, higher income, relocation to their desired locations and opportunities to advance in their careers.

Carolyn is the owner of Continuous Quality Improvement Executive Search based in Dallas, Texas.  www.cqiusa.com