Treat your first meeting like a job interview

Before your first meeting with a recruiter, it’s important that you’re as prepared as possible. Treat it like a job interview and make sure you’re dressed appropriately and have spent a bit of time preparing yourself, so you come across confident and eager.

Before meeting with a recruiter, you should…

• Know your goals – Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What’s your dream position? Are there any particular employers you’d love to work with?
  
  
• Prepare answers to common questions – The recruiter will likely ask a few generic questions initially to get to know you. Rehearsing some key points about yourself will help you to respond confidently and accurately.
  
  
• Update your CV – Bringing an updated copy of your CV to give your recruiter will not only come across professional and organised but it’s a great way to give them a clear understanding of your experience, qualifications and career history.

Be honest about your expectations

You might not feel comfortable disclosing everything about yourself when you first meet your recruiter. It’s normal to downplay your expectations if you feel inexperienced or under qualified. But the more you tell your recruiter, the more opportunities they can put you forward for.

Be honest about what you don’t want, too. There’s no point going for jobs that are in the wrong location or are outside your salary expectations. The more your recruiter knows, the better they can tailor your job search.

Respond promptly

Working with a recruiter requires effort from both sides. While it is the recruiter’s job to source job opportunities, they can only help if you cooperate. Replying to messages as soon as possible and returning missed calls shows you are proactive and helps the two of you develop a rapport.

Keeping an eye on any correspondence from your recruiter also means you won’t miss out on time-sensitive opportunities such as same-day interviews.

When using a recruiter to find a job, the more available you can make yourself, the better. If possible, keep your phone on full volume and near you at all times. If this isn’t possible, try to find time each day to dedicate to responding to any missed correspondence.

Ask for feedback

Constructive criticism is incredibly valuable. You don’t want to find yourself making the same silly mistakes over and over again. If your recruiter doesn’t volunteer feedback or the employer doesn’t provide it, ask for it. It can only help you.

Keep a record of all submissions

When it comes to securing a new position, things can quickly become a stressful. The best way to keep on top of things is by keeping a record. Write down in a notebook or make a note on your phone every time you’re submitted for a job.

Then, if you’re contacted directly by a potential employer, you can quickly discern exactly which role they are referring to.