2018 HBCU Careers Magazine

HBCU Careers Magazine

The best recruiters are honest about how often they will contact you (or if they prefer that you do the reach- outs) and they do follow-up when they say they will. The most successful recruiters are ‘matchmakers’ who work diligently to connect an employer and candidate based on skills, experience, education, and ‘fit’. When a ‘match ismade’ the client pays the recruiter a fee (usually a percentage of your salary) which must be paid to the recruiting firm usually within 60 or 90 days (sort of like YOUR probationary period at the hiring company). *You never pay a fee for job placement to a staffing firm–it is the responsibility of the hiring client to pay a fee to the staffing firm. If you are ever asked to pay a fee in order to get a job – grab your resumes and hit the road! You will be asked to complete some documents at most

staffing firms so you will need to bring at least 2 forms of identification with you. This will enable the staffing firm to “get you on their books” should be lucky enough to qualify for an immediate assignment. The recruiter should be checking in with you often and providing new leads and opportunities. A good recruiter is supportive and available. A good recruiter continues to work with you even when you ‘didn’t get the job’ he/she referred you to –a good recruiter won’t punish you but rather lift your spirits and encourage you to ‘get back on that horse’. You will be able to spot a ‘bad recruiter’ quickly: voicemails and emails go unanswered (or days go by and there must be repeated attempts). A bad recruiter will not ask for feedback on the interview and cares only about the client feedback. *Your feedback is just as important – this is your job, your life, and your thoughts should enable a ‘good recruiter’ to assist you in a more productive manner. A bad recruiter will spot mistakes on your resume but not bother to discuss with you if he/she feels you are not a good fit for their openings. Additionally ,it makes sense to “register” with more than one firm as each staffing firm has different clients and the ‘unpublished openings’ often go directly to a person who understands the culture of that company. Do not be afraid to try a contract or temporary position. In this “try before you buy” employment market, a contract position is often the best way to show a client how incredible you are and the chances of being offered permanent employment increases with each successful day on that job. When you are offered a position, the recruiter/staffing firm will help you go through the process to make your first days and onboarding experience a positive one. Questions, concerns, overall logistics is generally handled by the recruiter and this aspect of the ‘helping partnership’ makes life smoother for the new employee. So don’t be afraid to try a staffing firm. We can never have too many positive hands holding us up. Finding a reputable staffing firm should be easy. Begin with personal recommendations, industry professionals whose message you appreciate on social media, firms that post jobs that you have an interest in, as well as visiting sites such as Yelp for opinions from the public. Reaching out to

70