If you're looking for a job, chances are you don't want to alienate the person who might be able to help you get your foot in the door: a recruiter. It seems counterintuitive for an eager job seeker to make an enemy out of the very person they need to impress.
Perhaps hate is a strong word to describe the irritation some recruiters feel upon seeing your name on the caller ID or email from line, but either way, you don't want to blow your chances with recruiters - they can often be your best advocates in pitching you to potential positions.
We asked our team of recruiters to name a few behaviors that turn them off to job seekers. Want to build better relationships with recruiters? Avoid these behaviors to avoid alienating people who could be an asset to your job search.
Following up 10 times a day.
Though recruiters appreciate a certain level of enthusaism about a job, over-contacting them isn't an effective strategy to getting the position (or being considered for other positions!). Most recruiters are working with many candidates and many different positions. Good recruiters will update you of changes, interviews, offers, and other updates. Calling or emailing constantly won't make you seem eager -- you'll seem like a pest. If you haven't heard from a recruiter about a job you're being considered for, by all means follow up, but one phone call or email should suffice.
Not revising your resume.
Resumes can be a touchy subject, but they're the first thing a hiring manager sees when you apply for a job. Recruiters know what hiring managers are looking for when they read resumes. If a recruiter advises you to make a change, it would pay to take their advice, especially if they've been working with this particular hiring manager for some time. No one is telling you your resume is bad, they're just telling you that you can maximize your chances of getting an interview if you include or omit certain things. Swallow your pride and listen to the recruiter's advice!
Lying about your experiences.
Nothing upsets a recruiter than a fabricated resume. Though sounding super impressive can get you in the door, employers don't like employees who have grossly inflated their abilities or work histories. If you've lied about your experiences, most likely the recruiter will never trust you again and will not be submitting you another position. They're trying to do their due diligence for hiring managers and your lying reflects poorly on them.
Not showing up for the interview.
This seems elementary, but it actually happens. Failing to show up for an interview is terribly unprofessional. Calling your recruiter and telling them you can make an interview the day of is just poor manners and will not get you the job. You're not only making yourself look bad, but you're also severing ties with your recruiter. It reflects poorly on them when you don't show up to an interview. Also, if you're interviewing, make sure to prep. The recruiter often can provide helpful hints about the interview process. Listen and heed their advice!
Turning down an offer.
At the end of the day you don't have to accept any offer. An interview isn't binding. However, part of a recruiter's job is to make sure you are a solid and firm candidate (that's why they ask you if you're still interested after each step of the process and why they constantly follow up), so rejecting an offer for no good reason is upsetting to a recruiter. By all means, if you have another offer or you don't agree with the terms presented by the company, don't accept. But don't follow though the whole process if you're not interested in the job at all. It's a waste of everyone's time.
Build a great rapport with recruiters and you'll thank yourself. Let recruiters be an asset to your job search.
To see RGBSI's current jobs, click here.
