Teamworx Blog

5 TIPS TO WORKING WITH RECRUITERS – RECRUITER.COM

I recently read this article on recruiter.com and wanted to share it with you as it explains how to get the best from your Recruitment Agency - enjoy and happy job hunting!

Working with recruiters is the next best thing to working with hiring managers. Recruitment professionals know their clients and they pride themselves on knowing their candidates in the hopes of making the right connections. In order to make this happen there are a few things you need to know:

TELL THEM EVERYTHING:
When building a relationship with a recruiter, this is no time to be shy. Recruiters need to know everything there is to know about you and what you are looking for in your career, i.e. salary, perks, specific employers, etc. Building an effective relationship with a professional recruiter starts with trust and honesty, so be forthcoming with your requests.

FIND OUT EVERYTHING:
Relationships are a two way street. When working with a professional recruiter you need to know as much about them as it relates to their capabilities and ability to help you secure employment. Do a thorough background check on the recruiter and/or the company. Review all the social networking sites where the recruiter does business and if they do not recruit via these new mediums, be aware; it might mean that they are not keeping up with workforce trends and new recruiting practices.

COMMUNICATE OFTEN:
Unfortunately securing a recruitment professional does not mean you will secure employment immediately. There can be a lot of waiting involved. Sitting still and waiting for the phone to ring is not an option for you. You are part of the communication equation and you must take an active role in all aspects of your career.

Behavioural Interviewing @ Teamworx

A lot of candiates i meet with get extremely nervous when they hear they will be attending a Behavioural Interview. However, this shouldnt be the case! Behavioural interviewing is a popular approach to assess the past experiences of a candidate to judge his/her response to identical situations on a future job. Essentially, behavioral interviewing is based on the premise that “past performance in comparable circumstances is the best predictor of future performance.”

Follow these 6 steps to ensure answer behavioral interview questions and ensure you nail that dream job!

STEP 1

1. Listen to the question carefully. Commonly, behavioral interview questions tend be longwinded and may sometimes sound vague (blame an overuse of adjectives, adverbs and trendy language.) Here is an example: “Good problem-solving often includes a careful review of the substantial facts and weighing of options before making a decision. Give me an instance of how you reached a practical business decision by an organized assessment of the facts and weighing of options.”
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3. STEP 2
4. Ensure you understand the question before you begin to answer. You may paraphrase the question and ask the interviewer if you understand it correctly. If necessary, ask the interviewer to repeat the question. Do not, however, ask the interviewer to repeat every question — the interviewer may question your ability to listen and comprehend.
6. STEP 3
7. Organize your answer. Allow yourself a few seconds to collect your thoughts and structure your answer.
9. STEP 4
10. State your answer. Attempt to conclude your answer in about two/three minutes. Three minutes is long enough to relate a story comprehensively and short enough to hold the interviewer’s attention.
12. STEP 5
13. Stick to your answer. Resist the temptation to think of new details as you state the answer. By sticking to the details and structure you had planned for, you can provide a consistent and well-reasoned answer. Be concise and stick to the point.
15. STEP 6
16. Answer follow-up questions. In response to your three-minute answer, the interviewer may pose follow-up questions. These questions can be confirming questions that require simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers or clarifying questions that require brief answers.

If you need help with interviews, CVs or any other aspect of your career search, contact our Career Coach, Denise Brady @ 045898037.

Your Career Toolbox for the New Year

As the end of the year approaches, were all inspired to make life changing moves however its important to plan a Search strategy for your career that is realistic and will get you where you want to go!  From experience, plans that work best are those that are specific and measurable.  Vague career goals that have no thought or planning as to how you will achieve them will usually prevent you from securing your long term career objectives.

So to ensure you have the edge on your Career Hunt in 2012 follow these 5 steps  and keep your fingers on the pulse of the job market

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2. Break down your career plan

Knowing where you want to be five or ten years down the line is fantastic however you need to know how to get there. Specific, measurable, short term goals are paramount and will give you a greater chance of achieving your long terms goals.  Ensure your goals are also realistic and set up a spreadsheet to keep on track of everywhere your CV is being sent to.  Although it may be tempting to apply for every job you see, you will not only waste your time but a potential employer or recruiters time.  Only apply for jobs that your qualified for.  If the advertisement asks for you to have five years IT experience and you don’t, move on to a better suited opportunity.

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2. Keep your CV up to date and personalize your cover letter

The beginning of 2012 is the perfect time to update or compile the perfect CV & Cover Letter.  It may be necessary for you to have two or three targeted CVs depending on the roles you are applying for and ensure your career accomplishments are incorporated your CV as well as any other online profiles you may have online.

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2. Build your online presence

You cannot afford not to have an online presence anymore so loose those fears and take your job search to new heights. Consider joining up to Linkedin, Twitter, jobsites, join group discussions and upload a visual CV.  A strong online presence will open new doors with potential employers and uncover that all important hidden job market.

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2. Network

Most jobs are now filled through personal connections, recommendations and referrals.  Meet up with old friends and colleagues and let everyone know that your looking for a new job (unless your currently in one).  Join Networking sites, local Enterprise Boards, attend Career Fairs and stay in touch with other professionals in your area. Take every opportunity possible to get advice, meet with the decision makers and expand your networking possibilities.

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2. Follow up

As the job market has become more competitive over the past two years, its imperative to follow up on any CVs sent, potential leads etc.    Job seekers worry that following up can be aggressive but potential employers will want to see that your pro active and passionate about your job search.

Nothing kills an opportunity faster than a negative attitude so keep a positive outlooks, set realistic goals and reward yourself for success along the way on your path to securing your dream career.

For more information on Retail opportunities in 2012 contact Teamworx @ 045898037. Wishing you all a very happy New Year.