Working with Recruiters: 5 Critical Words for Candidates

As professional recruiters working both retained and contingency search assignments, we spend a significant part of our effort preparing both the candidate and the client employer for prospective interviews. Preparing each side to meet and interact removes much of the predisposed tension that is inherent to the interview process on both sides. If each participant of the interview is prepared thoroughly with a detailed mental picture of what to expect, the normal nerves or "butterflies" are lessened and the result is a more fruitful interview from both sides of the table. After all, the purpose of the interview is to discover if a variety of factors match from both sides and to hopefully provide an introduction to what it would be like to work together as part of the same organization.

While candidates and client employers place a tremendous amount of 'weight' on the first interview, from my perspective the most critical part involves the "debrief" or follow up after the first interview. That's why I put forth that the 5 most critical words for candidates are: Call me after the interview. Most candidates and client employers generally perceive the first interview as "make it or break it". I would assert that barring a disastrous performance by either side, very few candidates are hired after one simple interview. Client employers in today's ultra competitive market place are seeking candidates who have good "depth" to them. Generally, it takes more than one interview to determine if a candidate has this "depth". Thus, the debrief after the first interview is a critical step in the process for both sides. As a recruiter, we are tasked with the process of managing the expectations of both candidates and client employers during the process. Both sides must make a concerted effort to provide meaningful and significant feedback to the recruiter so he or she may determine:

1. That there is a high level of mutual interest in moving the process forward.

2. That both sides have exchanged enough information that a framework for subsequent discussion is natural.

3. That any key decision makers are now involved or scheduled to be involved in the subsequent interviews.

Additionally, after this first interview and during this debrief period, it fundamental for the candidate to follow up with written correspondence to the key decision makers that will reinforce their qualifications, key points discussed during the initial meeting and most of all, interest/desire in moving forward. The inexact science of recruiting contains elements of emotion and momentum. Keeping both emotions positive and momentum moving in a positive and timely direction is integral to a strong recruiting effort. The ability of the recruiter to perform for both the candidate and the client employer will be significantly enhanced by following those 5 critical words: Call me after the interview.

Executive recruiter William Werksman is a frequent columnist to job boards including http://www.NevadaJobBoard.com addressing both the candidate's and employer's perspective. Werksman's expertise has been featured in business magazines, national newspapers and television news segments. His firm, Resource Partners, is recognized as the leading source of specialized and executive talent in the Casino and Gaming industry. He manages a staff of recruiters out of his firm's Las Vegas, Nevada headquarters. He may be reached at: Bill@CareerInsider.com

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Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:50:53 GMT Finance officials comments at IMF meetings - Reuters Telegraph.co.uk Finance officials comments at IMF meetings Reuters - 37 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Financial officials from around the world are in Washington this weekend for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank fall meetings. Financial crisis unprecedented: Paulson AFP IMF/World Bank meetings bring surprise WTOP Wall Street Journal - New York Times - Bloomberg - MarketWatch all 1,114 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:13:01 GMT Palin: Obama put 'ambition above country' - CNN USA Today Palin: Obama put 'ambition above country' CNN - 1 hour ago JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday said Sen. Barack Obama put "ambition above country" after a newspaper reported that Obama may have tried to influence Iraqi politicians negotiating with the United States. Video: McCain Links Obama To Ayers CBS Fact check: McCain campaign's William Ayers ad Dallas Morning News International Herald Tribune - The Associated Press - Voice of America - New York Times all 5,408 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:51:00 GMT Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' - Bloomberg Washington Post Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Bloomberg - 13 hours ago By John Brinsley and Rebecca Christie Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson indicated that pumping government funds into banks is a priority and said financial markets will remain volatile. Obama welcomes Paulson plan to buy equity in firms Reuters US to buy shares in struggling banks Los Angeles Times KARK - Washington Post - International Herald Tribune - CNNMoney.com all 2,142 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:21:05 GMT US removes North Korea from terrorism blacklist - Reuters UK Reuters US removes North Korea from terrorism blacklist Reuters UK - 38 minutes ago By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist in a bid to revive faltering denuclearization talks in the final months of the Bush administration. North Korea off terror list CNN North Korea Removed from US Terror List in Return for Nuclear ... Voice of America BBC News - Telegraph.co.uk - United Press International - AFP all 2,332 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:12:26 GMT Austrian far-right leader Haider killed in crash - Reuters Telegraph.co.uk Austrian far-right leader Haider killed in crash Reuters - 1 hour ago By Alexandra Zawadil VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider, a charismatic populist who helped bring anti-immigrant politics into the European mainstream, was killed in a car accident on Saturday. Video: Austrian politician killed - 11 Oct 08 AlJazeeraEnglish Joerg Haider killed in car crash BBC News AFP - Bloomberg - Voice of America - Taipei Times all 930 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:11:52 GMT Zimbabwe's Opposition Says Power-Sharing Deal in Jeopardy - Voice of America Voice of America Zimbabwe's Opposition Says Power-Sharing Deal in Jeopardy Voice of America - 5 hours ago By VOA News Zimbabwe's opposition says a power-sharing deal is in jeopardy after President Robert Mugabe allocated key ministries to his ZANU-PF party. Zimbabwe: Mugabe Claims All Key Ministries AllAfrica.com Mugabe Hands Ministries to His Party New York Times AFP - CNN International - Xinhua - The Associated Press all 1,750 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:43:23 GMT Check Point On Obama, Acorn and Voter Registration - New York Times Seattle Post Intelligencer Check Point On Obama, Acorn and Voter Registration New York Times - 1 hour ago Senator Barack Obama addressing a crowd on Friday at a campaign rally at the courthouse square in Chillicothe, Ohio. By STEPHANIE STROM Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign on Friday stepped up its efforts to tie Senator Barack Obama to a ... ABC Report Suggests ACORN Is Committing "Voter Fraud" Progress Illinois Grassroots group at center of US voter registration uproar AFP MarketWatch - CBS News - Philadelphia Inquirer - Chicago Tribune all 1,008 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:53:43 GMT Clickbank Datafeed Legitimate Work From Home Jobs

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