Interviewing Tips: 4 Ways to Impress a Recruiter

As companies continue to grow and scale, it becomes increasingly difficult and rare for a manager to have the time and resources to recruit for their own team. Therefore, these managers turn to their trusted recruiting partners for assistance — either in-house or external resources.
I am beginning to find that candidates are also becoming accustomed to speaking with a recruiter as a first point of contact, rather than the hiring manager. But as their awareness grows that they are “only speaking with a recruiter,” I find that their casualness increases and their professionalism decreases, as well.
In this post, I want to express the importance of taking a phone interview with a recruiter seriously. I have recently had experiences speaking to candidates who are unprofessional, or even rude during our initial conversation. I do not quite understand this, but I do have a feeling if the first call was directly with the hiring manager these candidates would be acting entirely different.
So why is it that some candidates feel as though the initial phone interview with a recruiter does not have to be as serious as with a manager? One reason could be candidates’ experiences speaking with many agency recruiters.

Not All Recruiters Are Calling for a Quick Chat

Of course, every agency is different. At the risk of generalizing, however, I have typically found that agencies encourage recruiters to “pound the phones” and speak with as many candidates as possible throughout the day. It’s possible that one of the consequences is a lack of professionalism on the recruiter’s end. Perhaps candidates are mirroring this behavior and believe any interview with a recruiter is essentially a“quick chat” lacking structure or even respect.
When speaking with corporate recruiters, I want to encourage candidates to remember they are making a lasting first impression. It is highly important to be as timely, respectful, and prepared with a recruiter as it is with a direct hiring manager.
Please don’t forget that a recruiter is empowered to decline an individual’s candidacy based on that first call. You want to be sure to give a great first impression to be considered for the job.

4 Interviewing Tips to Take into Your Next Call with a Recruiter

1. Be Prepared: Do your homework and be familiar not only with the company and what they do, but also the role and its qualifications. Be ready to explain how your skills and qualifications match the job opening.
2. Be Punctual: If a call is scheduled for a specific time, give yourself a few minutes to find a quiet space to answer the call. Things out of your control are bound to come up, and if so, alert your recruiter asap to reschedule.
3. Always Be Professional: Keep your reputation in mind. Even if the position is not a great fit, or the company is not what you’re looking for, end the call on a positive note. If you are interested in the role, follow up with a quick thank you within the next day.
4. Ask Questions: An interview ideally will go both ways. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the company culture or the reason why the position is available.

By following these tips you will make a positive impact on the recruiter and begin to build a fruitful relationship. This will benefit you for landing a job interview, or for assistance in potential future opportunities.