Five to ten years ago I would have been nervous talking to a recruiter. But having recently been reintroduced to them, I have come to realize that many generic ones don't have a solid grasp of the industries for which they are recruiting. I have even encountered a few that I would refer to as the ambulance chasers of the internet job boards. Of course that doesn't apply to all of them but it sets the stage for determining if they can really help you. Strong recruiters have a reasonably good understanding of the position's requirements and their client's needs when searching for prospective candidates.
So that brings us to you, the candidate. The prime thing to remember when dealing with a recruiter is that you are a commodity. Their goal is to quickly find a match between you and a client employer, which can leave you feeling rushed at times. A good recruiter will take the time to conduct a thorough analysis between your skills and a position's requirements to ensure a good match. And that recruiter will also not place you before a client until you demonstrate a solid understanding of the client company. Back in 2000, when I was working through a national recruiter to find a position after leaving the railroad, I participated in a three day mass hiring event which hosted at least 50 prospective candidates and almost the same number of companies. I took offense to the recruiter's lack of preparatory efforts and their assembly line approach to our needs: rewrite the resume, 20 minute mock interview and place you before an employer. I didn't complete the entire event after declining to meet with two prospective employers during our second day. I had no interest in the companies selected for me and the recruiter was visibly annoyed that he wouldn't be able to move me along easily. So if you feel like you're being rushed or not provided ample information to prep, then it may be time to have a talk with your recruiter or walk away and find another one.
Another thing to consider is their knowledge of the industry. If they are asking a lot of questions about what you do and don't seem to understand, then they may not have a grasp on what it is you do or what exactly you can do for a company. I recently interrupted a recruiter during a phone interview and asked what exactly he thought a Supply Chain Manager did because his questions were leading toward a Supplier Quality Engineer type of position. Obviously not a good fit. I have found that those recruiters who work independently, and not as part of large, national recruiting chains, have been able to better match me with opportunities.
If a recruiter reviews your resume and suggests rewriting then by all means take their advice and work on a rewrite. They're handling a lot of resumes daily and have a fairly good idea of what types of resumes are generating interest. It is easy to take offense at someone telling you that your resume won't sell, but so what, take them up on a rewrite. Keep a couple of versions and after awhile you'll be able to compare and contrast for yourself and build a better resume. Remember, the resume is a living document, keep it fresh. you may even need to tweak it for different positions. I always share my resume with friends in my industry and ask for copies of theirs. Sometimes I find a good idea hidden in one and make use of it in mine.
Again, everything contained in these blog entries is based on my experience, so you may have a completely different experience for better or for worse. I only hope to provide a reference point.
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