Your first conversation with a recruiter. What do you need to consider?

Your first conversation with a recruiter. What do I need to consider?

If you’re active in your jobsearch, there’s a good chance you’re going to speak to a recruitment consultant for help at some point.

Whilst the conversation with a recruiter is very different to the one you’ll have with a prospective employer, it’s still important to establish an effective relationship if you’re to get the most benefit from working with them.

Each time a recruiter introduces you to one of their clients, they’re staking their reputation on you after all, so you’ll want to ensure that you build trust and rapport.

Good recruiters can open doors that can be tricky to do directly. You’ll therefore want to have them fighting your corner ahead of your competition.

Here’s a few tips to help you get off to a good start:

**Be specific about your career goals**

Being open minded to everything and anything will be a concern for recruiters. Employers want to see enthusiasm from interviewees. If you’re not able to articulate what you really want from your next role, recruiters won’t feel confident recommending you to their clients. A recruiter should be willing and able to help you consider what options you could explore however, so if you’re really unsure, ask for advice to help make some decisions.

**Be open about your motivations for a move**

Recruiters aren’t going to judge you for wanting to be paid fairly, nor for hating your boss. We’ve heard it all before and we want to help. Tell it like it is. It’s builds trust and allows us to fully understand your motivations, which will help to avoid wrong moves. If you’re vague or reluctant to discuss your motivations for a change it creates doubt, which won’t help you to reach their shortlists. We can also offer help in how to effectively discuss these motivations with a prospective employer.

**Ask them questions about the market in which you specialise**

There’s two reasons you should do this. Firstly, it shows enthusiasm and that you’re serious about making a move. A specialist recruiter should be a valuable resource of information that you can tap in to for free. Take advantage - we generally like talking and it helps build that rapport. Secondly, it allows you to assess them too. It’s a two-way relationship after all, and you want to be working with a credible, knowledgeable recruiter who knows their market and shares advice and expertise generously.

If you work within #legalfinance and are looking to build a relationship with a recruiter who’ll support you throughout your career, please get in touch and we can arrange a convenient time to talk. 

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