Why You Should Be Connecting with a Recruiter – Even If You’re Not Job Hunting

It’s beneficial to develop and maintain affiliations with recruiters who specialize in your industry – they have more to offer than you might expect, and it can make a huge difference to your career prospects and earning potential.

Don’t wait until you are urgently looking for a new job. A recruiter can help you keep a pulse on the external market, keeping you informed on where it’s going and what you’ll need to remain marketable should you be looking for work in the future. A simple coffee, phone call or virtual meeting a few times a year will help you do this at no cost to you.  Recruiters are paid by the hiring company after a placement is made, so you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. 

When You’re Job Hunting

This is when most people get in touch with a recruiter, for help with a job placement when they’re unemployed or immediately looking to leave their current job. But if you’re on the fence and thinking that scanning Indeed or LinkedIn for job postings is sufficient, then you’re missing out.

The unlisted job market accounts for somewhere around 80% of all available jobs. That means the vast majority of jobs aren’t being posted anywhere (especially high-paying positions requiring specialized skills) and are instead being filled through recruiters and networking. Hiring decision makers put substantial stock into trusted referrals that come from existing employees and recruitment partners. In this way, proactive networking will pay dividends.

Additionally, you can get much more information on a prospective job including the culture of the organization, the manager, and other details you wouldn’t traditionally get in a job description. This will help you make a more informed decision about where you want to apply.

When You’re Happy Where You Are

Even if you’re not currently searching for a new job, it can be valuable to know what is happening outside of your four walls. At the very least it may help you when making a business case for a raise with your existing employer. Additionally, if you’re somewhat open to the possibility of change it’s in your best interest to have recruiters share with you what is happening in the market and also keeping an open eye out on your behalf. You never know when the perfect opportunity might come along. Whether or not you opt to pursue it is beside the point; the awareness of what’s out there will allow you to make the most informed decision.

Access to Information You Won’t Find on Google

Microsoft recently made news by announcing that it will disclose salary ranges in all U.S. internal and external job postings by January 2023. While this is a great move towards pay transparency, if you had a relationship with a recruiter, you would be well aware of what kind of salary your skillset can command outside of the company you’re working for. Beyond scanning Glassdoor or similar websites, a recruiter specializing in your industry can give a very accurate picture of market rates for your occupation, and even provide recommendations for skills or training to acquire in order to level up.

Coaching and Advice

A recruiter can be an excellent resource for career coaching, advice, and mentorship. If they can’t offer it themselves, they can help point you in the right direction to find what you need.

Recruiters can advise on what sort of training or skillsets would help elevate your career in a particular direction. Within IT specifically, they can advise on which industries need a particular skill based on their direction of technological advancement. They can also offer counsel on matters like relocation plans, salary expectations, or jobs that would align with transferrable skills. 

Advocacy, Support, and Promotion

Recruiters have different clients and access to different opportunities; therefore, you may want to have 2 or 3 regular ‘go-tos’ to help you cover the market.

When you develop a rapport with a recruiter, you have an advocate. That personal touch makes a difference, they know what you offer and what you’re looking for and can help you find an opportunity that’s a fit for your expectations, personality, and goals. You become more than just an email in an inbox, or one in a hundred applicants; you have someone promoting you and your unique value and that makes you stand out.

Whether or not you’re currently job seeking in Canada or the US, we want to hear from you! Reach out to us through our website HERE or send us an email with your resume to info@millenilink.ca and get connected with a recruiter to review your resume and career goals.