3 Reasons to Use an Executive Recruiter
March 7, 2024 – Whether you’ve been recently laid off or you’ve finally decided that you need to leave your current company, the idea of launching a job search can seem daunting. Between sending out countless resumes, dealing with constant rejections, preparing for interviews, and struggling through salary negotiations, it’s no wonder that so many people put off job hunting until their situations become dire, according to a recent report from F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants (FPC National), a nationwide network of over 60 franchised executive recruitment offices.
In addition, the employment scene is tightening. Amid a rapidly changing economy and recent reports of widespread layoffs, the study explains that workers are now facing growing uncertainty and instability in the job market. As job growth slows and available opportunities decrease, job seekers are seeing fewer choices and growing competition.
The FPC National report says that there is help available. “Working with a professional recruiter alleviates a lot of the stress of the job-search process, and in a vast majority of cases, yields better results,” the report said. “And best of all, working with most recruiters is free (for the job seeker). Even if you’ve had success in the past landing a job on your own, you will soon find that times have changed, and the process has become far more complicated.”
It no longer pays to go through the job search alone. FPC National provides three key reasons why you need to partner with a recruiter to land your next job.
1. Access to Hidden Opportunities.
As an independent job seeker, you have access to the same job openings as everyone else, according to the FPC National report. “This is why it’s not unusual for companies to receive hundreds of applications for a single job opening,” it said. “When you apply through a job board, your resume often lands in a database, unseen by human eyes. You have to hope that your resume has the exact magic keywords to get noticed by an HR screener. For anyone who has gone through this process, you know how confusing and frustrating it can be.”
Working with a recruiter, however, opens you to a world of new opportunities, the report notes. FPC National explains that recruiters have cultivated relationships with hiring managers, which gives them exclusive access to openings that never appear on job boards. “Once you find a recruiter who specializes in your industry and profession, you have an inside track to job openings that you never would have found on your own,” the report said. “In addition, it’s up to the recruiter to assess your background and vet you for key opportunities, so you know you are in a much stronger position when it comes time for your interview.”
2. Professional Guidance.
It’s easy to get confused about the application process. FPC National notes that recruiters understand what employers are seeking and can guide you every step of the way until you land your dream job.
Related: 5 Reasons to Hire a Search Firm to Find Your Next Leader
“Good recruiters will coach you in every aspect of your job search, including resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and interviewing techniques,” the study said. “Because recruiters have personal connections with hiring managers and an in-depth understanding of the job market, they are in a perfect position to advise you in all areas of your job search. They eliminate a lot of the guesswork and give you valuable, actionable guidance to make sure you present your best self to prospective employers. After all, their success is based on your success. They have a vested interest in helping you find a great job quickly.”
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In addition, FPC National says that recruiters give you timely feedback on where you stand during the application process. “You no longer have to deal with ghosting or lengthy delays after an interview to find out if you got the job,” the report said. “Recruiters are in constant communication with hiring managers and let you know exactly where you stand following an interview.”
3. Salary Negotiation Support
Recruiters say that job seekers are at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to salary negotiation. “Most applicants will negotiate a salary with an employer once every few years (or even a decade or two), and they are negotiating against experienced HR professionals who do this for a living,” FPC National said. “Hiring executives are used to playing the game and are experts at negotiating with job seekers. They even take classes in effective negotiating strategies.”
“But when you work with a recruiter, they act as a go-between during negotiations,” the report said. “Of course, their job is to balance the expectations of the company with the needs of the jobseeker, but your recruiter’s goal is to get you the salary you deserve. In addition, recruiters understand that salary is only one component of your total compensation plan. Benefits, work environment, and other perks are all on the table during the negotiation process.”
Lake Success, NY-based FPC National is a national executive search firm comprised of more than 65 independently franchised offices. Founded in 1959, FPC offers job seekers access to its nationwide network of professional executive recruiters and job opportunities in over 40 different industries and 40 different disciplines.
Related: Choosing Your Executive Search Firm
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
