What to Expect in an Interview with a Recruiter

A recruiter is a useful resource to help you find work. Recruiters have relationships with many companies, and their recommendations hold weight to the businesses they work with.

Making a positive and lasting impression on a recruiter could be the gateway toward professional success, while a bad impression could prevent you from being considered as a candidate for all of the companies who trust the recruiter to do their hiring.

Because it is so important to make a positive impression on a recruiter, you absolutely need to be prepared and ready to ace your interview. Knowing what to expect during an interview with a recruiter is the key to acing it. During your interview, keep in mind that recruiters:

 

• Ask tough questions…be ready.

A recruiter wants to find out information regarding your job skills and abilities. Recruiters also want to know what questions you have. Be prepared with good answers to common interview questions and with intelligent queries that show you’ve given thought to the job-search process. You should also be ready to tell the recruiter about yourself and provide a brief summary of the reasons you are a good candidate. 

 

• Assess your professionalism.

The day of your interview, dress in appropriate business attire, make sure to arrive on time, and be prepared to provide clear and concise answers. Don’t tell long stories or share too much personal information. Behave professionally in all of your interactions with recruiters: this means not disappearing on vacation without telling the recruiter, making sure the resume you give the recruiter is up-to-date and includes your address, and telling the truth about any gaps in your employment history or other past employment issues. 

 

• Match you to the right companies.

A recruiter wants to make sure you are a good fit for a job and that the job is a good fit for you. Be honest and upfront about what you are looking for. Don’t just say you will work anywhere; provide the recruiter with useful details about your interests. The more info you offer, the more likely it is that the recruiter will find you an appropriate job.

Recruiters are your allies in the job search, but this does not mean you can be overly causal about your meeting with a recruiter.  Take a phone or in-person interview just as seriously as you would meeting with a company that could hire you. Making a positive impression on a recruiter opens several doors for your future career.

Finding the right staffing professionals to impress is the key to making your job hunt a successful one. The Reserves Network has a long track record of placing qualified candidates in great jobs. Contact our team to discover how we can help you advance your career today.