Supercharge Your Job Search

Supercharge Your Job Search. Use an Expert. A committed job search requires at least as much time as a major project, if not more. Updating a résumé, preparing cover letters, researching open positions and preparing for interviews – the list of required tasks is daunting in itself.

How does a busy professional successfully manage a job search while already juggling a full-time job and a jam-packed family and personal schedule? One effective method is to utilize the services of a reputable recruiting or staffing firm, both of which typically do not charge a fee to job seekers. Quality recruiting and staffing firms perform all these services and more; their fees are usually paid by the companies that contract with them to help fill their open positions.

“Partnering with a staffing firm raises the job search to a professional level,” says Jelle Bultsma, vice president of Randstad Corporate Services, an employment services provider. “We’re in the business of quickly and efficiently matching qualified job seekers with open positions. We can do in a matter of days what may otherwise take an individual weeks or even months.”

Larger staffing and recruiting firms have a comprehensive view of the employment market. They strive to learn who’s hiring and who’s not and are typically engaged with searches on behalf of dozens if not hundreds of employers at any one time. It’s a recruiter’s job to learn a client’s specific requirements in a new employee and then quickly source and present the best individuals.

Another great benefit of partnering with a staffing firm is the ability to provide an expert opinion as to your current and future marketability. They will know the current demand for your unique set of skills within your region or other areas should you be interested in relocating, and how that translates into potential income.

Additionally, a recruiter can offer insight into your strengths and weaknesses, and the things you can do to get a better position and advance your career. In fact, a staffing firm that is interested in establishing a long-term relationship with you will work hard to better understand your needs and career objectives and provide advice even if you’re not yet ready to seek a new job.

Have you ever been on a job interview where you came to the conclusion the position was not what you were looking for, or perhaps you later found the pay level was below your expectations?

“A staffing firm will only send a job seeker on those interviews where there is a strong likelihood of a good match,” Bultsma says. “In many cases, just one interview is all it takes.”

Another advantage of utilizing a search partner is confidentiality. “Reputable staffing firms do not send a job seeker’s résumé or name to prospective employers without obtaining their permission in advance,” said Russel Hicks, president and co-founder of healthcare staffing firm Martin, Fletcher. “An individual has as much right to a confidential search as does an employer.”

Conversely, some employers have a need to keep their hiring plans secret from competitors or even their employees.

“The ‘hidden job market’ oftentimes has the best opportunities for employment – staffing firms are regularly tasked with these searches,” Hicks says. “An individual job seeker can only hope to stumble across these positions while responding to positions on job boards and elsewhere.”

If you prefer the flexibility offered by contract employment, staffing firms typically can offer shorter engagements that offer challenging and stimulating work, without the politics of regular employment. Staffing firms can also provide competitive health-benefit plans and other options such as 401(k)s.

There is strong merit in engaging a staffing firm for your job search; nevertheless it should only be one of the tactics you utilize. You should still network and develop a powerful résumé that accurately emphasizes your skills and accomplishments. And preparation for interviews is still an essential task that only you can do. But a staffing firm should be looked upon as a valuable partner and long-term asset to your career. ( msn.com )