Where Can You Find the Good Recruiters?

Where can you find the GOOD recruiters?

You know, those less than 10%-ers that will truly help you and your career?

Where the heck are they?

In last week’s newsletter, I covered how to impress your external recruiter enough that they want to not only represent you to hiring managers, but just as importantly, wants to market you to those who may not be actively hiring now, but will develop an interest in seeing you anyway. But before I suggest to you how to find these top 10% recruiters, a quick reminder about the recruiting model, and my place in it.

The cold hard truth is that I don’t earn money by spending time assisting and advising those candidates I cannot place. However, I am personally a firm believer of WGACA…”What goes around, comes around”, and that is why I often choose to help someone I cannot personally place. I have often received calls from my candidates who tell me that it was my advice and approach that allowed them to get hired, naturally resulting in a nice placement fee for another recruiter. “You’re welcome!” (Side note – it was this offering of advice that led me into my coaching practice several years ago). But again, WGACA, and these people who I have given advice to will ask me to help them hire professionals at their new place of employment, and thus a new client develops, or a current one becomes stronger. I would estimate that at least 80% of my recruiting clients / hiring managers have been or are currently candidates of mine.

So at this point you’re wondering, in the spirit of WGACA, how are you going to help me, Mark?

When do you call a recruiter?

1) Just as you have been laid off, or if you sense you may be let go soon.

2) Curious about the market and your place in it as it evolves.

3) Heard that company XYZ is hiring again.

4) Friends are making more $ at a similar firm.

5) You'd like to share and receive insight from the recruiter.

How do you choose which recruiter(s) to call?

1) Referrals…ask your friends who they use and trust.

2) Ask internal HR if you’ve been laid off who they use (and recommend).

3) Check to see which firms are advertising in your desired career choice, and which seem to be most prominent in the industry websites you are on.

4) LinkedIn of course...see which recruiters / search firms are writing content in your area of expertise, and seek the ones that seem to have credibility.

Please note: Before you send your resume, it is critical to “interview” your recruiter, as they will be your career "agent" in the job search process.

Ask many questions, and try to determine if the recruiter is…

1. Articulate and intelligent – if they sound that way to you, they sound that way to the employers, and likely have a strong reputation in the business.
2. A good listener – they ask many questions about you and what you want to do, your goals, strategy, etc, as opposed to what they want you to do.
3. Knowledgeable of the business – understanding of the lingo, knows whom the players are, name-dropping.
4. Up-front and honest – they avoid sugarcoating, and play it straight with you, giving you a true assessment of your prospects.
5. Friendly and courteous – again, see #1, but also so much easier to work with someone that way.
6. Organized – it should be clear to you that they remember previous notes about conversations you’ve had, meetings, etc…
7. Not afraid to deliver bad news - this is a big one! How many times have recruiters disappeared after your interviews, never to tell you where you stand? You can likely figure out you're not the choice, but to be left in the dark is worse than hearing that you came in 2nd, 3rd, wherever. Plus, receiving constructive feedback on how to improve your interview performance is essential!

During the conversation with the recruiter, make sure to try, if logistically possible, to meet with them in person. You learn so much more about a person when you can look them in the eyes.

Now you’ve convinced the recruiter to meet with you…where do you go from here? 

First, it’s critical to break the ice, relax a bit, etc…you’re both in this together, and you both have the same goal!

If I am sending you into an interview against five other candidates, I want YOU to get the job, not any of the other five! I will do everything I can to prepare you for that set of interviews, because I want you to beat the competition. And not barely – I want their selection of you to be a no-brainer!

In fact, throughout my career as an executive recruiter, I've been preparing professionals just like you for your interviews by demonstrating the proven techniques that will get you closer to an offer, allowing you to take control of how the interview progresses, and teaching you the 3 critical steps to take when preparing for your interviews. 

Once you understand and learn to master these steps, you will have much greater confidence heading into your interviews, not being worried about any question you will be asked (what, you mean "where do I see myself in 5 years"? ugh), and be much more comfortable showcasing what you truly bring to the table, allowing your interviewer to envision you in that position.

I am hosting a special Win Again Clubroom presentation covering strategies that will help you be the front-runner in the race for the offer, the candidate who ends up being the winner in the sweepstakes for the job you truly want.

3 Critical Steps to Acing Your Next Interview

Friday May 5, 12:00 pm EDT

Register Here!

• Have you ever been the person who was told "sorry, we hired a more qualified candidate"?
• Did a recruiter tell you that you came in 2nd, or 3rd, or wherever?
• Do you struggle answering the typical interview questions, and aren't sure how to avoid being on the defensive for the difficult questions?
• Are you never sure what questions to ask?

You can be the one getting interviews in jobs that you previously thought were out of your reach!

But you MUST ace those interviews and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you!

I'm going to show you:

• How to prepare for each segment of the interview, from the initial "Tell me about yourself" straight through to the final exchange! 
• How to develop and maintain that synergy, the sometimes elusive "fit" with the hiring managers, leading to further interviews, and eventually offers!
• How to take control of the interview, and direct it away from being an interview, and more towards a professional conversation.
• How to make it seem clear that you are the appropriate person to fill the empty desk, and the things you can say that will convince the interviewer of that. 
• The most effective way to follow up post-interview with your interviewer, possibly the most important step in the entire process!

Save Your Spot Now! 

If you find that this post was helpful to you in any way, please share it with 3 of your connections, fellow group members, and share it on your social media. 

This is exactly how I pick up great tips and ideas from some of the other thought leaders here on LinkedIn, and I'd greatly appreciate any efforts you make to do the same.

And naturally, please leave comments below, I really do want to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Stay tuned for my next post where I cover other career coaching topics and tips. If there is something you're interesting in hearing about...drop a suggestion in the comments!

30 Seconds with Mark

Let’s get you ready for that interview!

Make sure you do your research beforehand.

But don’t just research the company.

Research the people that you are going to be meeting and have a few things on hand that you can mention about them during the interview process.

This will make you stand out and put you at the top of the pile!

If you found this helpful, make sure to use the link above to register for my

3 Steps to Ace Your Next Interview Webinar on Friday, May 5th, at 12pm ET!

For more great tips like this make sure to follow me and subscribe to the Win Again newsletter!

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See why we've had 1000+ impressive athletes, entrepreneurs, business owners and executives attend our Clubroom events!

Attending events in the Win Again Clubroom truly allows you to interact, move around easily inside the virtual event space, and develop relationships that become collaborations - it's been such a great way to expand our networks!

Read more about it here: https://www.winagainacademy.com/the-clubroom

See you in the Clubroom!

WIN AGAIN! - The Job Search Playbook

My book, WIN AGAIN! The Job Search Playbook, is filled with over 150 pages of my proven WIN AGAIN method, where you’ll discover how to define your ideal job and business and work towards it. You’ll turn strangers into allies and grow your network as you position yourself for meetings and interviews, negotiate offers, and anticipate your prospective client's or employer’s needs.

WIN AGAIN helps you transition from the playing field to the boardroom. Yes, there’s competition in the corporate world, but you’re used to competing.

You’ve already got an edge!!

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ABOUT ME

Combining my passion for sports and a desire to help others succeed, I founded Win Again, where current and former athletes can discover their identity beyond sports, develop the structure needed to succeed again, and receive the tips, strategies and actionable advice that allows them to WIN AGAIN and be elite in their next great career. Over the past 20 years as a business advisor and career coach, I have guided athletes and executives, holding them accountable during their transition.

The Win Again Clubroom events, "Make Your Mark" podcasts, and MYM Live webinars highlight athletes who are making a positive impact post-playing career, and my book “Win Again!” is a job search playbook for athletes, equipping them with strategies needed to land their ideal job or boost their entrepreneurial ventures.

As a graduate of Colgate University and a longtime Manhattan resident with my wife, kids, and Duke, I enjoy playing ice hockey, softball and golf, along with the guitar and piano.

Reach out to me anytime and let me know how I can be of service!

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