3 Reasons Why You Should Be Upfront With Your Recruiter

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Many job seekers fail to see the benefits in building a strong relationship with a recruiter. However, a recruiter can be an integral piece in the hiring process when it comes to the hiring manager’s final decision.

There are 3 reasons why you should be upfront with your recruiter throughout the interview process.

1. You will get free coaching.

Let’s face it, recruiters are experts when it comes to interviewing and hiring. If you’ve found a good recruiter, you will have access to a plethora of interviewing advice. Guidance on interview attire, behavior, as well as follow up advice are important tips that can help you land the job.

Knowing when it’s appropriate to ask certain questions throughout the interview process is something that many job seekers struggle with. Your recruiter should know and advise you on the appropriate questions to ask throughout the interview process.

In addition, if the hiring manager has a sweet spot when it comes to a certain skill-set, the recruiter will know and will be able to inform you of this prior to your interview.

Also, do not be hesitant to disclose previous problems in your work history. When you have a previous employment issue from your past, your recruiter will be able to help you properly position this with the client so there are no surprises down the road.

The ways in which a recruiter can help out throughout the interview process are numerous. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of free interview coaching from an expert in the field?

2. The recruiter often has access to the hidden job market.

Maybe your recruiter doesn’t have an immediate job that fits all your requirements right now. However, that doesn’t mean that you should push the recruiter off and not explain your key desires.

Recruiters quite often have access to job opportunities before they ever hit the job boards. Having a shot at a job that hasn’t even been posted yet is a huge benefit and can put you miles ahead of other talent in your field.

3. Your recruiter can influence the hiring decision.

When it comes down to it, the recruiter actually works for the hiring manager. However, don’t misunderstand what this means for you. If you are a good fit for the position, you definitely want the recruiter on your side.

Hiring managers partner with recruiters because they rely on the recruiter’s assessment when it comes to the right candidate. If your recruiter has your back, she can influence the hiring manager in making a final decision as well as an appropriate offer that can guarantee a signed agreement between you and the hiring manager.

By being upfront with your recruiter in the beginning, she will know how to position your interest and requirements to the hiring manager in order to provide a win-win situation for both you and the hiring manager.

 

Originally published at http://blog.sparkhire.com/2015/12/06/3-reasons-you-should-be-upfront-with-your-recruiter/

5 Silent Habits That Are Affecting Your Success

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If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

You’ve no doubt heard motivational messages like this one before, maybe from your manager; perhaps a parent. When you’re clearly in need of some kind of motivational boost and someone rattles off a line like this, it’s easy to shrug it off as a corny, slightly patronising gesture. Thanks, but no thanks!

The thing is, we do need to believe in ourselves if we want others to. We are our own harshest critics; the first to call ourselves stupid or beat ourselves up about missing an opportunity. We put immense pressure on ourselves to achieve the unachievable, and when we don’t; stress about how we could have done things better. These thought patterns are poisonous and slowly sabotage our chances at success. As much as we’d hate to admit it, often we are actually to blame for bringing ourselves down.

The good news is it’s never too late to pep ourselves back up. Sometimes all it takes is a little self-reflection and resistance. If you want to start achieving great things, these are the toxic habits you’ll need to break first:

1. Comparing yourself to others

If you look around your office or scroll through your Facebook news feed, it’s easy to convince yourself everyone’s more successful than you. When you start to feel like you’re lagging behind your peers, friends or family members, you need to stop right there. Everyone is leading totally unique lives, full of different challenges and successes. Nobody likes to broadcast their troubles; so you’re probably comparing your bloopers to their highlight reel anyway (as the saying goes). Stop focussing on everyone else, and start concentrating on reaching your own potential.

2. Taking too much on

Living life on the verge of a major panic attack from being overworked is incredibly unhealthy; both physically and mentally. Stop saying ‘yes’ to everything, and learn how to say ‘no’. Taking on an unrealistic workload and over-committing yourself will leave you feeling exhausted all the time, and will strip the enjoyment out of everything you do. You’ll start resenting everything that eats into your precious energy stores and things you used to enjoy will likely become burdens. Recognising your tendency to burn yourself out is the first step in breaking this habit. Stop letting guilt pressure you into spreading yourself thin.

3. Failing to switch off

Mastering the art of relaxing outside of work hours is difficult to do, but imperative to your success. If you want to start each day feeling refreshed and motivated, you need to learn how to switch off when you leave the office. Stop checking your work emails at 10:30pm before you go to bed; stop taking client calls at dinner time. Remember, you work to live; not the other way around. The sooner you prioritise ‘switching off’ when you’re not on duty, the sooner you’ll start to feel your energy levels and drive at work increase.

4. Holding onto your mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes; no one is perfect. Holding onto past slip-ups and misfortunes will only prevent you from moving forward. If you keep referencing your failures and obsessing over how and why you let it happen, you’ll only feel lower about yourself and hold yourself back form accepting new challenges, for fear of failing.

5. Making self-deprecating comments

This one’s not really a silent habit, as it involves talking, but the quiet mental fallout that occurs after you’ve brought yourself down is where the real damage manifests. Stop selling yourself short and making jokes at your own expense. A cheap laugh like this will cut into your confidence. The moment you start taking yourself seriously and supporting your own goals is the moment others will follow suit.

 

Originally published here: http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/silent-habits-sabotaging-success/