When looking for a new job, candidates shouldn’t go at it alone. Even if you are armed with an impressive resume, it can be tough to even snag an interview. An experienced recruiter can be your guide and main point of contact with potential employers. But during a pandemic where many companies have enacted hiring freezes, you might be thinking there’s no reason to reach out to a recruiter. Wrong. Recruiters are proactively looking for candidates for when the economy rebounds and jobs open back up. When it opens back up, competition will likely be higher than ever due to the sheer amount of people who have been laid off or furloughed. You want to make sure you can stand out to hiring managers and increase your odds of success.
Like many, recruiters have also been hit by the down economy due to the coronavirus pandemic – many of their clients have put jobs on hold or cancelled them altogether. But some recruiters have even been successful navigating their clients through this by thinking outside-the-box and suggesting their clients do video interviews to keep the hiring process going, or suggesting they do contract-to-hire, rather than cancel a job order completely.
By reaching out to a recruiter now, you will have a leg up, as they are the ones with the insight as to where employers are in regards to hiring during the Covid-19 pandemic and after. Without a recruiter’s inside knowledge, you may see an old job posting on a job board and spend time revamping your resume and cover letter to apply… only to find out the job has been put on hold. Without a recruiter’s knowledge, you might call or email a employer several times a day for updates, potentially irking the hiring manager who views it as you not being understanding about the situation.
Despite the upheaval of the job marked due to the pandemic, some companies are still hiring, and recruiters are the ones who know who is hiring. But, it’s become an Employer’s job market and it’s very competitive, and working with a recruiter can help you from getting lost in the crowd.
Recruiters jobs are to help find the best talent for their clients’ roles – don’t be afraid to reach out to them, especially now. Some recruiters may not have as many job orders to work on right now, and may have the time to be able to further coach you, such as helping revamp your resume or prepare for virtual job interviews.