Three Lessons I Learned as a Recruiter

In my twenties, I worked as a sales and technical recruiter for two companies. While there, I absorbed some formative knowledge that changed how I applied to jobs and coached clients.

1. Recruiters are Sales Reps

This is at the top because it’s probably the most disheartening and important lesson I learned. Before being a recruiter I looked at recruiters like armor-clad saviors with hundreds more connections than I had, ready to do my dirty work. But a recruiter’s job is to sell a candidate to a company and prevent them from hiring solo. While some recruiters are nice, empathetic people, it’s important to know their role is not necessarily to prioritize your needs and interests. They are there to close a deal.

2. Not All Recruiters are Equal

Some recruiters do have long-standing and outstanding relationships with their client companies. But SO MANY recruiters are new, inexperienced sales jockeys just thirsty to ring the alarm when they’ve won. Some recruiters will work their asses off to match a client company with a candidate and others simply won’t. And you may get more of the latter than anything else.

3. Some Candidates Need Coaches

I entered into the recruitment industry hoping to help people get jobs. I enjoyed parts of my job like interview prep and reviewing materials. But my perspective changed when I realized recruitment wasn’t designed to help the candidate but rather to help the paying company (recruitment is B2B after all). I realized that many candidates needed more in-depth and personalized help instead of the fly-by advice of someone just trying to get them through the funnel. Some candidates are making big moves like transitioning fields or returning after a long hiatus and they need advice and support that recruiters, no matter how nice they are, can’t provide. Some people benefit from recruiters, others need accountability partners, industry experts, mentors; coaches.

While recruiters can have access to jobs that aren’t yet posted, I advise my candidates to apply directly to companies when they can and make connections themselves via LinkedIn. It keeps their search manageable and trackable and it puts them in the direct line of feedback on their materials.

Applying for new roles can be stressful and needing help is natural. If recruiters end up not panning out for you, consider coaching instead. Coaching can help you build powerful skills and become a stronger candidate so that your materials speak for themselves without being presented by someone else. You can have honest, top notch support and accountability on your road to success.

If you’re making career moves and are interested in support and accountability, I’d love to chat.