Now that you have a clear understanding of why should you care about your recruiter being candidate focused and all the amazing benefits of working with a candidate-focused recruiter, you’re probably wondering how, exactly, are you supposed to know if a recruiter is candidate-focused?
Glad you asked.
Here are the four essential questions you should ask potential recruiters to figure out if they’re candidate-focused.
What’s Their Stick Rate?
This is the percentage of candidates that a recruiter has placed that are still at their job two years later. Look for recruiters with a stick rate of 80% or higher.
When they’re in this range, they have a good track record of placing candidates in positions that they’re happy with and a good fit.
What’s Their Search Volume?
While this may seem random, finding out how many searches a recruiter is working on can be a good indicator of whether they are structured to provide you with personal attention, or if their focus is more on quick output.
Having a recruiter with a large number of searches can be a great thing, as they have could have multiple positions to put you up for.
However, if they have too many, they are likely spread too thin and are more focused on quick turnaround as opposed to spending the time to find the right person for each role.
What’s Their Approach?
All recruiters have different methods for placing candidates, so before establishing a relationship with someone, it's a good idea to get a sense of their approach.
A very telling question to find out if they’re candidate-focused is to ask their process for getting to know candidates.
You want someone who does more than just look over your resume and actually takes the time to understand your experience, your goals, and your strengths.
What Is Their Communication Protocol?
It’s important to understand what they will be communicating to you and how frequently throughout the process. Will they be prepping you for interviews? Providing feedback after you speak with a company?
Will they keep you in the loop throughout all stages of the hiring process? A candidate-focused recruiter is more likely to provide more consistent contact as they value your time and want you to feel as involved in the process as possible.
Take Out The Guess-Work
Considering these four questions should help you understand if the recruiter you’re working with is candidate-focused.
Explore our “Ultimate Guide to Eliminating the Sunday Scaries” to find out how we can help you find the job of your dreams.
If you want to completely take out the guess-work while going through the process of working with a recruiter, reach out to us at Captivate Talent and schedule your first consultation.
