Working with Recruiters - the Inside Story

Job seekers will inevitably interact with a recruiter at some point in their job search.

The primary goal of a recruiter is to find the best qualified candidates to fill vacant positions in the shortest amount of time. So here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the role of recruiters, and hopefully also share some tips for job seeker success.

Once a recruiter starts “hunting” for the most qualified individual for a job, they will use diverse sources and methods to acquire talent. They may follow up on referrals, search on professional networking sites (like LinkedIn), leverage their own network, place job ads, conduct internal recruiting, post on the “careers” page of the company website, advertise at job fairs or campus recruitment events, etc.

Then recruiters gather resumes and build a candidate pool. They will focus on resumes that are concise and create a positive impression within the first few seconds of reading. Resumes that are strong, customized, quantified, and to-the-point score major points. Recruiters look for candidates who can clearly demonstrate why they are the best person for the position.

Then comes candidate screening, usually through a process with the Applicant Tracking System and short phone screen interviews. Recruiters use these phone screens to determine if someone is a fit for the job. Candidates are removed from the pool if they do not perform well or are unprepared over the phone.

Next, the recruiter will create a short list of about 4-5 promising candidates based on the strongest, best match resumes and the results of the initial phone conversation. Once the candidates are selected, the full interview process begins. Recruiters will reach out to this small group and schedule first interviews; typically the recruiter will conduct the first interview. Second or subsequent interviews are usually with the hiring manager or other company employees.

The recruiter continues to manage the process and is often the point person for any communication going forward. If and when an employer extends a job offer to a candidate, the recruiter is often the first person to share the news with the successful person. The recruiter will also regret the unsuccessful candidates, either by phone or email.

Visit our Virtual Resource Room at Calgary Career Hub for updated and relevant information on all topics related to job search!