Working with outside recruiters is inevitable at some point during your career in the insurance industry. The senior-most searches are typically handled by executive recruiters to preserve the confidentiality of the search and to access the broadest pool of candidates. Mid-level and even some entry-level searches are also often tackled by recruiters so it’s helpful to form a relationship with someone who specializes in your niche early in your career.
If you choose to work with a recruiter, or a recruiter seeks you out, follow these tips to ensure that you can develop a smooth, positive, mutually rewarding relationship:
Be responsive to recruiter inquiries. Speed is one of the most critical factors when working with a recruiting firm. If a recruiter is trying to reach you to discuss an opportunity, he or she will want to talk to you right away and will likely move on to someone else if you are hard to reach. Take the recruiter’s call, even if you are not looking for a new position. A recruiter in the insurance industry can provide valuable information and help you shape your career path. Treat conversations as a way to build a relationship that will follow you through the stages of your career.
Don’t be hard to find. Recruiters know how to find candidates, even ones who are not seeking new opportunities, but you can make their jobs easier by publishing a robust LinkedIn profile, joining insurance industry groups or networks and ensuring that your profile is set to public viewing. You want recruiters to have the most updated information about you, which will help you get paired with the specialist who can help you find the best possible job.
Be open about your recruiter relationships. Let your recruiter know if you are working with another recruiter. If two recruiters submit you as a candidate to the same firm, you may not be considered by the client company at all, even if you are a perfect match. Companies don’t want to mediate an argument between recruiters about who “owns” the candidate.
Be specific about your career requirements. Always be upfront with the recruiter about the kind of work, the type of company, your salary expectations, and other considerations that you need to have before you explore any opportunity further. The recruiter’s goal is to fill open positions, so the more information you can provide about your non-negotiable requirements and where you are willing to make compromises, the less likely it is that the recruiter will position you to the wrong company.
Recruiters are essential to making a good next career move. By understanding how they work, communicating with those who reach out to you, and keeping up-to-date on social media, you can nurture meaningful relationships that will pay off in the long term.