Recruiters can be a valuable resource for you, and not only for jobs. Top recruiters can often provide insights about where you are in your career path, your compensation levels, and how to address conflicts or challenges within a firm. They have met with and interviewed hundreds of hedge fund professionals and have a wealth of information to share.
But keep in mind a recruiter is not your personal agent. Their first responsibility is to the firm looking to hire. Some recruiters may be more aggressive than others in putting forward your credentials. But they are primarily looking to place someone in that position, and you may be one of several names they have put forward. Here are a few other tips to improve your results when working with recruiters:
1) Establish relationships with recruiters early in your career. Do the research and identify 1-2 top recruiters to work with and approach them before your job hunt begins. That way you will have laid the groundwork should you ever need their services.
2) Always be courteous and professional when a headhunter calls. Take their calls and spend a few minutes hearing what they have to say. If the position does not fit your career aspirations or background, let them know. Better yet, refer them to others who may be interested in the position. The recruiter will remember the gesture and keep you on their list of people to call.
3) Be a good listener. Chances are the recruiter knows more about the potential employer than you do, may have even placed people at the firm before. A good recruiter will be able to coach you on how to present yourself in a specific situation.
4) Set expectation levels. How often should you check back with the recruiter? Will they contact you if you’re a candidate for a particular job?
5) Provide feedback to the recruiter. If the position is not appropriate for your situation, explain why. If you go on an interview set up by the recruiter, be sure to report back on how it went and why. Share any useful information you may have learned about the company. In addition, a good recruiter should also be able to give you feedback after speaking with their client on how it went from the employer’s perspective.
If you are interviewing elsewhere or considering other job offers, let the recruiter know. The recruiter may share this information with their client and this could speed up the decision making process.
Hedge fund recruiters play a key role in the job search process. As you gain experience in the industry and move up the career ladder, chances are a recruiter will be part of your successful hedge fund job search.
References:
Job Search Digest interviews with Hedge Fund Recruiters – See Alpha Calling categories
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