As a recruiters, we speak with thousands of consultants to evaluate their background and determine the best fit for our clients’ requirements and for consultants. It is important for consultants to get he most out of every conversation with recruiters in order to access more opportunities. Here are two suggestions on how to best communicate with recruiters about your skills. Each point finishes with a question you can utilize to make the most out of every conversation.
1. The recruiter doesn’t need to know how you do what you do.
Not all recruiters will understand the technology you are using and that’s OK! Take a step back from what you know and aim to communicate how you put it to work on your last project. Break out your technical/hands-on experience and functional requirement gathering duties. Talking about a recent experience from a 10,000ft view will allow you to connect with the recruiter and quickly determine your interest and success on the project that’s being presented. Ask the recruiter: Where do you land on the techno/functional scale? (60/40, 70/30, 80/20)
2. Your most recent experience is typically the most relevant.
Your overall experience and career path define your current abilities to perform at a new company. Although, all of your experience is important, the past three years will heavily influence whether or not you quickly score an interview for a new position. If your recent experience has been 90% technical, recruiters will likely cue in on this and present opportunities that are heavy on the technical side. Selling your strong functional skills from five years ago typically won’t be weighed as heavily as your more recent experience. Framing your resume and conversation around your most recent work can be beneficial towards deciding if you move quickly through a recruiting process. Ask the recruiter: What have you been most focused on in the last three years of your working career?
Recruiters typically know the market for the position they are presenting. Part of our job is to work with the client to manage the expectations of their technical and functional requirements. When connecting with recruiters, be understanding and remember that they are advocating on their client’s behalf.
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