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If there is one thing for certain, it’s that things are constantly evolving in the job market. From hiring booms to headcount freezes and people changing jobs roughly every four years (on average), there is a good chance, by choice or unfortunate circumstance, you could end up between jobs at some point in your career.

Should this happen to you, wouldn’t it be helpful to be ahead of the game and have people in your corner to help you figure out your next move? Maybe even a connection to a particular role you want to pursue? By building a relationship with one of our recruiters here at Southwest Search, you get all of this and more.

Instead of asking, “Why should I stay in touch with my recruiter when I am not actively looking for a job?” ask, “Why not?”

Check them out below!

In-Network recruiters are gold

Establishing a relationship with recruiters that are in your industry is a great place to start if you do not already have a relationship with a recruiter or a recruiting agency. One way to kick off this relationship is to search for recruiters or a recruiting agency that works specifically in your industry and start to follow them on LinkedIn. This way, you can keep a pulse on the type of jobs they post and how often they are hiring.

Make sure to interview recruiters to find the right fit for YOU

It is important to vet out a recruiter or recruiting firm that is right for you. A great place to start is to ask questions about their area of expertise:

  • Do they specialize in your industry?
  • What type of connections do they have?
  • How many placements do they do per month?

A good recruiter is transparent with candidates throughout the recruiting process. They will tell you upfront, “This is what I have, possibly if the company is looking to hire quickly, and this is the information I don’t have”.

We can’t speak for everyone, but here at Southwest Search, we work as a team. If someone might be a good fit for a role our recruiter is not working, they will pass them to the appropriate recruiter and vice versa.

Have an advocate in your corner

You often hear that resumes get overlooked because you don’t have that specific experience or you’re missing one thing. Recruiters can help fill in some of those gaps for hiring managers.  Recruiters can also advocate for your soft skills, like aptitude and attitude, which don’t come through in a resume or portfolio. By building a relationship and interviewing you for specific roles, they can gather stories and examples to share with hiring managers that set you apart from other candidates.

The time to start building connections with recruiters is not when you are on the hunt for a job, but before you need to. When you take a proactive approach, you might see that a great advocate in your corner may be one of the most valuable resources for your career.

Let’s get started!

Are you ready to start meeting with a recruiter? Our team at Southwest Search is here and ready to meet with you. Just email info@southwestsearch.net and attach your resume (even if it is not up to date) and you will be matched with the appropriate division.

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