Advice from a Senior Recruiter at Etsy about how recruiters really work and how to best use recruiters in your job search.

Recruiters can get a bad rap. Whether one hyped you up for a role only to not advance you past the initial phone screen or you've talked to a ton but none have led to a job offer, recruiters should still be an essential part of your job search strategy.

Knowing this, I wanted to debunk myths around recruiters for all the job seekers out there. I might be a Career Coach now and was a hiring manager in the past, but I am not a recruiter. So I turned to my friend, Ariel, a Senior Recruiter for Corporate Functions at Etsy who immediately said, "Yes!" to myth busting for you.

Before we jump into these myths, there are a few things you should know about a recruiter's day. Recruiters are often:

• Juggling sourcing and hiring for multiple roles,

• Being flooded with resumes, regardless of fit,

• Managing a lot of internal conversations around roles, interviews, and offers, and

• Up against hard deadlines.

It's important to keep this in mind because, well, recruiters are just like us! They have a lot going on and can't always get to every email, they take sicks days, and are doing the best they can.

With that in mind, let's walk through Ariel's 6 myths about recruiters and the truth behind what you think:

Myth #1: Recruiters don't care about who they place, just as long as they make a placement.

The truth is, recruiters definitely care about the quality of the candidates. It's not just lip service. In fact, you can find a lot of recruiters giving out tons of helpful information on their LinkedIn profiles.

Think about it this way: hiring good candidates who are going to be successful in the roles reflects on the recruiter's performance. If they are presenting candidates who don't fit their clients needs, they are failing at their job and will be the ones job searching soon.

Myth #2: Recruiters are only needed for active job seekers.

Regardless of where you are in your career or job search, recruiters are a great source of information. Having a strong relationship over the years with a well-informed recruiter can pay off big time in the long run.

When you're not job searching, take the opportunity to build up these relationships. Then when you are job searching, you already have that built in network to turn to. You can let them know you're on the market before you even update your resume!

Myth #3: Recruiters are only needed for a professional looking for a mid- or senior-level position.

Recruiters want to make relationships with all people in their career journey, wherever that might be. Entry-level hires turn into senior leaders. Management roles can vary in requirements across industries and organizations. Wherever you are in your career, there's a recruiter out there that is looking to place a candidate with your years of experience, skill set, and interests.

Myth #4: All recruiters are the same.

Like in all jobs and professionals, not every recruiter is alike. Take the time to find the right recruiter and make sure that they understand what you’re looking for.

Also, be sure to set clear communication guidelines from the start. If you feel you and a recruiter are misaligned, it might not be the best use of your time to continue working together.

Myth #5: Recruiters are only helpful with submitting my resume to their clients.

You know who usually has a huge network and knows hiring managers far and wide? Recruiters! Even if you're not a perfect fit for a role or the role isn't a perfect fit for you, having a conversation with a recruiter can help you tap into their network. There's a good chance they'll know someone out there that's hiring for someone like you. Then you can work with the recruiter to get your resume into hands beyond their own client's.

And with their own clients, recruiters are with candidates until the end. Yes, the process begins with submitting your resume to the hiring manager for review, but recruiters are a wealth of knowledge for candidates throughout the interview process. They will guide you on what to expect in each round and sometimes even give you intel on how to best prepare for specific interview questions. The best part is that when a recruiter believes in you, that recruiter will defend you if the hiring manager has some pushback. An internal advocate is priceless to your job search!

Myth #6: All recruiters ghost candidates.

Are you picturing recruiters dressing up as ghosts for Halloween?

Unfortunately, there are recruiters who are not good with communication. Don’t let one bad experience hold you back from engaging with a new recruiter.

To avoid this, set the tone early with your recruiter and let them know that you want to be updated throughout the process, and especially at decision time. The market is hot right now, and most recruiting firms and internal recruiters are doing their best to keep up with the demand.

Takeaway

Partnering with recruiters should be part of your job search strategy. Set clear expectations early on and network with multiple recruiters to optimize your job search.

And remember, it's not just about the job offer, it's also about building relationships for your career in the long-term.

Interested in joining Etsy? Check out open roles on Etsy's LinkedIn page.

Have more questions about how to work with a recruiter to get a better job faster? Email me at heather@shatterandshine.com and let's talk!

Want more job search tips and tricks? Follow @shatterandshine on Instagram and me on LinkedIn.