At Queen Consulting Group, we love working with our candidates! We especially enjoy finding the right candidate for the right client, and seeing that person through the process of becoming a successful consultant. With our years of experience in IT staffing, we have seen a lot and can share some of our DOs and DON’Ts of working with a recruiting agency.

While the IT recruiting industry is undergoing constant change—thanks in part to the pandemic, evolving technologies, and new trends in employment—many things remain universal; human connection and personal communication.  

Let’s take a look at what to do and what not to do as you prepare to work with a recruiting agency, while you are actively seeking employment and finally, once you’ve landed a position.

BEFORE YOU WORK WITH AN IT RECRUITING AGENCY

DO

Start with a well-crafted resume. Make sure your resume is clearly written, concise, and free of grammar and spelling errors. “You don’t get noticed if you don’t have a resume that’s appealing to a recruiter,” says Senior Technical Recruiter Brian Pedersen. “Your resume should be customized in terms of formatting and content,” adds Technical Recruiter Michael Donofrio. “It shouldn’t look like it was copied-and-pasted.”

Have an updated LinkedIn profile that reflects your career progression, tracks with your resume, include an up-to-date photo, and features recommendations from previous employers and coworkers.

Have a social media footprint. A current LinkedIn profile is a must. Beyond that, many of our clients expect technical candidates to have a presence on GitHub or if you are into Business Intelligence, having some kind of public profile (tableau public profile example). Recruiters check, not only the content but also the activity of your GitHub account. An account that is constantly active shows persistence and commitment.

Research the recruiting agency. Look into the agency—its reputation, its approach to placing candidates and any benefits it may offer—to determine if you will be a good fit for one another.

DON’T

Let errors slip past on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Proofread! Don’t let a small, careless errors reduce your chances of landing a great position.

Omit contact information. Don’t forget to clearly provide both your contact information and preferred method of communication (email or phone).

WHILE YOU’RE WORKING WITH A RECRUITING AGENCY

DO

Be honest. This includes “being honest about your experience and about whether you’re applying for a particular assignment through another recruiter,” says Brian. Keep your commitments as you move through the application and interview process. “Do what you say you’ll do,” adds Brian, regarding interviewing and responding to offers.

Be personable and relatable. As Michael says, “with any job, you can be taught the skills that are needed if you don’t have all the experience, but you can’t teach good communication. Be someone who is easy to speak with, and maintain a sense of humility.”

Be open to learning. “Present yourself as someone who is willing to learn,” says Brian. “Being in IT, the emphasis is often on what you know versus how you behave. A good attitude will go a long way to set you apart.”

Be organized. Keep track of what positions your resume is being submitted for and ask the agency for written confirmation of where it is sent, the offered rate and other details (Queen calls this a “right to represent”). Stay in touch with your recruiter throughout the application and interview processes and be available for questions along the way.

Partner with your recruiter. Ask your recruiter about their experience with the hiring company and suggestions on ways you can be a successful candidate. Accept feedback and coaching from the recruiter as you prepare for an interview.

Advocate for yourself and follow up. If an application has been out with no response longer than expected, reach out to your recruiter to check on its progress.

Prepare. Once you are offered an interview, research the position. Ask your recruiter for suggestions on strategies for the interview and go into it with several well-thought-out questions that will set you apart from other applicants.

DON’T

Shy away from a conversation. Some candidates prefer to receive all the details of a prospective position before communicating with the recruiter. It’s best, however, to start with a “get to know you” conversation to establish a relationship and perhaps identify interests and skills that weren’t apparent on the resume.

Apply to the same job multiple times. Don’t waste your time by having multiple applications submitted for the same position to the same company.

AFTER YOU START AN ASSIGNMENT

DO

Stay in contact with your recruiter. “Getting the job is just the start of your relationship,” says Brian. Once you’re in your new position, keep in touch with your recruiter and continue to build the relationship and the trust in each other. Ideally, you’ll be working together again on a subsequent assignment.

Provide feedback. Share your positive and negative feedback on the client company with your recruiter, who gains valuable insight on the employer and can advocate for you if there are any problems.

DON’T

Disappear until you need another position. Take advantage of the opportunity to cement your relationship with your recruiter, and you’ll be top of mind when the next opportunity comes up.

At Queen Consulting, we think the most important things to do when working with a recruiter reflect the most fundamental human qualities: be honest, be humble, and be a good communicator. These traits will take you a long way in life—and may just open the door to a great new consulting position!