I recently had a conversation with a friend who is potentially facing redundancy and is on the hunt for a new role. They came to me for some tips on where to start their search, and it occurred to me that I have been naïve in thinking that everyone knows how the world of recruitment works.
I gave them the following suggestions on how to make their LinkedIn profile more accessible to recruiters and why they should engage with recruiters as opposed to handling a search on their own. I've also included some tips that I know I would've appreciated in my own job searches:
Making your profile stand out to recruiters:
Change your profile to "Open to Work"
You will have the option to choose up to 5 job titles that would be of interest to you
Add your preferred locations and employment type
Visibility- selecting the option of "Recruiters only" will ensure that no one within your current organisation will be able to see that you are open to work, but recruiters will be able to find you, and know you are open to engaging
Add relevant keywords and skills throughout your profile
Recruiters often conduct key-word searches when looking for individuals with specific skills, so adding things such as "FIA", or "db pensions", or "SII" to your profile summary and skills section will ensure that your profile is easily found
There is also an "add profile section" button at the top of your personal page in which you can add even more info and accomplishments
Engage in relevant LinkedIn content
Likes, comments and connections are key! By liking posts within your industry, such as colleagues' achievements or news, your profile is likely to appear on a relevant recruits' feed page.
Expanding your network by connecting with colleagues within your industry and with recruiters in the industry will increase the chance of hiring managers and recruiters approaching you
Post about your achievements
Whether it's a promotion, a successful project completion by your team, or your contributions to diversity and inclusion within your organisation, post a picture or status
Attending industry events and networking is also a huge booster
Why you should use a recruiter: Efficiency
Recruiters are there to take the burden off of you. From tailoring your CV for each job to writing cover letters for you, you will be sure to save time
Recruiters will share only relevant roles with you, which saves you hours of scrolling on LinkedIn and Indeed
Exclusive access to roles
Through long-standing relationships with our clients, recruiters often get access to roles that are not publicly advertised
Recruiters will also have a better grasp of what the client is actually looking for, not just what is written on the job description
Career mentorship
I sometimes find that many individuals that I work with don’t utilise the “consultant” aspect of a recruiter's role. A strong recruiter does more than just send you to a couple of roles, and they will provide consultative advice on your career path
Recruiters often have access to market insights that can help you plan your career trajectory and will be able to best advise you on what your next move should be based on your goals
Building a strong, personal relationship with your recruiter can be beneficial for long term career development and advice
Stronger Interview Performance
A specialist recruiter will schedule your interviews, share useful interview preparation with, conduct mock interviews, and even let you know what your interviewer’s personality might be like (i.e, this one can be a bit stern!)
Your recruiter will pass on consistent feedback from interviews which will help you improve
Efficiency in scheduling interviews and conversations -aware of your schedule
They may even know some common interview questions for a specific role/ client
Negotiation power
With market specialist recruiters, they will have in-depth knowledge of salary trends. They will be able to advise what salary would be reasonable for someone with your experience and qualifications
Greater likelihood for a more competitive salary offer as they will be able to best negotiate offers when they are handling all of the processes
Less stress !!
Going at your own pace- know you have other things going on outside of work and interviews. Working with one recruiter avoids the Rat-Race of being sent to multiple roles and having to interview ‘now, now, now’
A good recruiter will be working FOR you, not AGAINST you. It will take the pressure off knowing that you have someone on your side and someone who you can openly ask any questions that won’t impact your chances with a role
Make sure you choose the right recruiter for you. Finding a recruiter who specialises in your industry and has a strong reputation in the market will make all the difference to the outcome.
It is also important that you get along with your recruiter on a more personal level, as the more transparent you can be, the better. Be clear with your expectations, whether that be career goals or salary expectations- the more they have to work with, the more efficient and effective their service will be.
And lastly, be patient, especially if you are a senior hire. As much as recruiters can have an abundance of jobs to choose from, it might take some time for the right one to come onto the market.
Do you think you might benefit from a recruiter? Get in touch with our Actuarial Recruitment Consultant, Yasmin Andrews, to have a conversation about your job search:
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