BY TAMMY STEVENS, NETWORK RECRUITER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
In one of my recent blogs I wrote about ways to get your resume noticed by a recruiter. Today I would like to follow up with that article by talking to you about what’s next. Once I identify a candidate as someone I would like to pursue there are several additional questions I always ask.
- Are you a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder? Some of our clients offer sponsorship and some do not. Let your recruiter know up front which category you fall under. This will save time and effort for both of you.
- Reasons why you left each employer? One of the first things I look for when I am looking for a particular candidate is “do they have a stable work history”. If there are several different jobs listed on your resume in a short period of time I might pass thinking you are a risky employee. If you have a legitimate or positive reason for leaving each employer and it is listed on your resume, that takes the guess work out and it may give me ample reason to consider you when I would not have by just looking at the dates.
- What is your salary history? Most Hiring Managers who are willing to pay a recruiter’s fee will not consider someone who is not showing progression in their salaries. They very seldom will consider someone who is making 100K but applying for a 75K position. Common sense tells them you will not be satisfied going backwards.
- How much are you willing to travel? Are you willing to relocate? If willing to relocate, what locations are you interested in? Do you own your own home or rent? These are all details that will assist the recruiter in getting you an interview scheduled. Remember, the recruiter is your representative, we have established relationships with the Hiring Managers and/or Job Holders. The more we know about you the better able to present you in a holistic and professional fashion.
- And finally, what is the minimum salary you would accept? Many candidates are leery to put an amount for this question, thinking it will knock them out of an interview. Remember it will come up sooner or later. It is much more effective for all involved to get your expectations up front. Career Development Partners has hundreds of job orders available to you, let us know what you are looking for so that we can spend time presenting you with jobs you are satisfied with and not settling for.
Don’t forget, you are the best person to find a job for yourself. So be sure to continue to visit our Jobs Page and apply online. Setting up alerts will notify your email of new positions as they are posted. Take advantage and keep searching.
