If you’re on LinkedIn, chances are that you’ve received at least one message from a recruiter who thinks they have the perfect opportunity for you. If you’ve never worked with a recruiter before, you might be left with a bit of confusion and un-answered questions on what exactly a recruiter can do for you, why you should be working with one and how a recruiter is different from an internal human resources team. 

We’re breaking down for you the key 4 things you should know about working with a recruiter. 

  1. A recruiter is on your team.
    It’s in a recruiter’s best interest to help you land a position, while that’s not necessarily what HR’s goal is. A recruiter typically only gets paid when they make a placement, so they’re going to do everything in their power to get you the position you’re interviewing for. 
  2. What’s best for you is best for them.
    With the above said, it’s also in a recruiter’s best interest to negotiate a higher salary on your behalf, so you don’t feel like you’re leaving money on the table. 
  3. A recruiter can put more than one opportunity in front of you.
    Recruiters typically work with multiple companies at one time, and usually work in a few specialized niches. With that said, if you find a recruiter you enjoy working with but don’t get the first opportunity they present you with, continue to build that relationship. Chances are, they’ll be working with another company for a similar position soon enough, and they’ll reach out to their pool of trust-worthy candidates. 
  4. A recruiter wants to see you succeed.
    Since it’s in a recruiter’s best interest to help you land the job, that means they can offer personalized advice and help guide you through the process. This may come in the form of prepping you before the interview, helping advise on any resume tweaks/items you should highlight or guiding you through the follow-up process and helping you stand out amongst the crowd.

At the end of the day, think of your recruiter as your coach and teammate. They want what’s best for you, and they’ll do everything they can to ensure they can make that happen.