Recruiters are the secret weapon of your next job search. They play an important role in helping job candidates find top positions. But what if you aren’t looking for a job? Can recruiters be a valuable part of your career network now—even when you’re not looking to make a change?
How Recruiters Help 365-days a Year
Recruiters spend all day learning about the job market. If one of them contacts you, don’t push them away immediately. We recommend making the connection and even spending a few minutes having a conversation. You can glean valuable insight into what’s happening in your field by even a 15-minute talk with a recruiter that specializes in your area of expertise. Ask the recruiter:
- Would they be willing to give you some feedback on your resume for down the road when you’re ready to begin your career search?
- Are they noticing any trends in the job market that they think you should be aware of?
- Are salaries increasing and what are the kinds of benefits employers are offering these days?
- What’s the demand like for someone with your specific skills?
Recruiters can have these conversations with you while keeping things confidential. If you share your resume and ask for feedback, the recruiter will put you in an applicant tracking system (ATS) database. This will help you get notified later on if there is a job opening that fits your special set of skills. Make sure your resume is as up-to-date as possible, with keywords associated with the jobs you’re targeting. It’s a good way to build for the future state of your job search.
Another reason to have a conversation with a recruiter in times when you’re not looking for a career change is to start building a relationship. Recruiters walk the line between the employer and candidate. You should look for a recruiter that you feel understands the work you do but also is someone you can trust to represent you to top employers. Finding the right recruiter can and should take some time—but you should also make it a point to talk to every one of these professionals that calls you. Why? Because it builds your network (you never know who is connected to the recruiter, after all) but also because you’re getting to know which recruiters have the best follow through and know the most about your market.
Recruiters can also give you feedback on the technologies and tools you’re using. That way, if you’re preparing for a career shift, you may discover what you should learn to shore up your resume. Don’t be surprised if a recruiter asks you questions about where you are in your career and even your salary expectations for the next role you’re in. We recommend being as candid as possible to help the recruiter understand your goals.
When you’re ready, a recruiter can help you in countless ways. But we encourage you to reach out to the PrideStaff team right now to start to build the relationships you’ll need later on to further your career.
