Staying in Control of Your Job Search

When commencing your job hunt, you might be tempted to partner with several recruiters with the belief that casting your net wider will prove more rewarding in terms of job interviews and opportunities. This is typically not the case. There are two common pitfalls with this approach:

• The more widely distributed your resumé is, the more it’s diluted. In a competitive job market, you do not want to be a rusty old boot, but instead a shiny trophy
• It becomes a challenge for companies to determine which agency sent a resumé first and which of these agencies were given consent to send their information. The best way to authorise that your details can be sent to firms is by emailing the recruiter: approval in writing cannot be argued

So you have decided to start exploring the market, and want to work with a recruiter.
What should you look for?

Recruitment consultants have worked hard to develop relationships with firms and their hiring managers, and can positively influence your application to ensure you receive an interview. Not every recruiter deserves to get your resume. You should find out how long they have had a relationship with particular firms and their history of helping people into the firm. A good recruiter will be able to tell you about the company’s culture and what it is like to work there.

Your resume is your intellectual property, and should not be distributed anywhere without your consent. You should partner with a recruiter who listens to what you are seeking in your next role, and who only represents you to firms once they have gained your consent. To use a holiday analogy, you would not want a travel agent to call you out of the blue to say what destination you are going to, and at what time. Much is the same with finding a job.

A word of advice – if you have spoken to various recruiters, then please ensure your resumé is not sent to a hiring company more than once. If your resumé is sent to a company more than once, it can hurt your credibility with both the company and the recruiter.

A productive relationship should be based on trust. Securing a new job is life changing, and you should be working with a recruiter who listens to what you want and how to best represent you. You need to be in control of the process.

Lawson Delaney is a leading executive search and professional recruitment firm based in Melbourne. We specialise in recruiting CEOs and leadership teams, and accountants of all seniorities for Accounting firms. Contact us on 03 9946 7300 or support@lawsondelaney.com.au to learn more about how we can assist you with a vacancy or new role today.