Benefits of Adding a Recruiter to Your Employment Tool Kit

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Finding a new job can be time consuming and stressful. From searching open positions to crafting an eye-catching resume to nailing the interview to getting the offer, there are a lot of steps in the process. Likewise, for business owners finding the right candidates to fill those jobs can be tough. That’s why having a recruiter can be helpful.   

A recruiter is the bridge between an employee looking for a job and an employer who needs to fill an open position. It’s the recruiter’s responsibility to find candidates who fit the needs of their business client. They work to ensure candidates are screened and well-suited before a face-to-face (or virtual in most cases right now) interview. The recruiter advocates on behalf of the candidate, showing the client exactly why they’re a great match, and makes sure the candidate’s goals align with the goals of the employer.  

There’s another side to the life of a recruiter that isn’t commonly considered – researching and networking. Given today’s health and safety protocols, networking is a limited tool for job seekers and employers. Historically meeting at business events such as Chamber meetings, conferences and related events led many professionals to find the next right job or employee.  Recruiters regularly research employment information, pay history, and more to fully understand the industry and companies that are clients.

By connecting with a people (employees, owners, managers, etc.) in said industry, recruiters build a network of influential players who become key to matching candidates with employers. More often than not, recruiters know professionals who aren’t actively thinking about changing professional jobs. The recruiter can make contact to have a conversation and plant seeds about open positions at a time a professional wasn’t even considering making a job transition.

For these professionals, knowing a recruiter in your industry can lead you to these unexpected opportunities that allow you to advance professionally. Other benefits include:  

• Having someone to consult during the entire process. As the liaison between employee and employer, a recruiter can answer any questions about the position, the company, next steps, and more. Not only that, but recruiters will help you stay on track, creating a more efficient and quicker experience.  
• Recruiters know about jobs before they go public. Before a job goes live on Indeed or LinkedIn a recruiter, more often than not, knows about the position opening via their network of employers. This means they’re actively recommending job candidates.
• Access to information. Prior to an interview, job seekers spend time finding information about the company that they’ll be interviewing with along with the potential boss. A recruiter has this information and will provide it to candidates before the interview.
• Coaching to market yourself and your skills. Recruiters provide tips on improving resumes, how to market skills and experience during the interview, and other consultative approaches to finding new employment.

Recruiters also help job seekers prepare with a list of commonly asked questions. Here are several we provide to job seekers from entry level to executives. Feel free to borrow these if some work for your next interview.

1. What does it look like during the busiest and toughest times for this job? 
2. What would my first week at work look like? 
3. Could you tell me a little bit about the person I would report to directly (if you’re not speaking with them directly)? 
4. How does employee feedback get incorporated into day-to-day operations? 
5. What could you tell me about the company that isn’t widely known? 
6. What is the work culture like here?  
7. What are the prospects for growth?  
8. Where you would like the company to be in five years? 
9. What gets you most excited about the company’s future? 
10. What’s different about working here than anywhere else you’ve worked? 
11. What kind of leadership/management style do you promote in the company?  
12. What types of people are the most successful here?  
13. What are the current focus areas for the company as a whole?  
14. What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?  
15. How frequently do employees make themselves available outside of normal working hours? 

The current job market is tight and competitive. Having a trusted a recruiter to support hiring and job seeking can be the boost you need to stand out amongst the competition. 

George Lessmeister is CEO and founder of LGC Hospitality, a staffing firm that works with hotel and restaurant leadership to place executives and temporary workers. LGC is headquartered in Indianapolis operating in over 35 cities across the country.