Due to globalization, there are more and more opportunities for any kind of specialist to find a dream job and to pursue the career one finds the most attractive. However, with a rapid growth of globalization and high numbers of migration, there is a new challenge in finding a job – thriving competition. Having to compete with many diverse people might make it substantially harder to find a desirable job and a right employer. One of the key advices to any job seeker is to know what recruiters want to hear from a candidate, and what needs to be said, so that recruiters can understand and learn the talents one possesses. So, how to turn one’s luck in a 180-degree angle with a recruiter?
7 most common things a recruiter wants to hear
First, it is important to understand the nature of a recruiter’s job. The main and far most important task, is to find the right and most fitting candidate to their client. Due to that, any recruiter will focus a lot on how one fits to the vacancy, the company, experience, accomplishments, etc. For that reason, the first task of any job seeker is to impress a recruiter.
Here’s what recruiters want to hear:
1. Being a quick learner is a good quality, however, it still comes at a high expense for a new employer compared to a seasoned employee. Therefore, it is advised to show and relate the skills and experience that fit the most with a new job. For instance, if one is a bit underqualified for the job, it is a good idea to focus on skills that are perfect for the work, instead of stating that due to being a fast learner, one will adopt and learn very quickly.
2. Motivation. It is important for a recruiter to hear that one is interested in a job and what motivates them in a workplace. In this way, they can assess the level of fitting of the potential candidate to a position and a company. As a result, recruiters will ask questions such as “Why do you want to work here?” or “Where do you see yourself within 5 years?” The advice here is to show up as motivated and as interested as possible.
3. Accomplishment. It is key to a successful interview with a recruiter to be able to clearly and extensively explain one’s accomplishments. Even more important, nicely formulated accomplishments on a LinkedIn profile, or in a CV, can be the reason for scoring an interview in the first place. Why is it so essential? Accomplishments show the real situation the candidate was in and if the person is assertive and keen on being the best. For example, it is better to say: “I have accomplished X by doing Y, resulting in Z”, instead of telling: “In (10) years of experience I was doing X, Y, Z, etc.”
4.Questions. Recruiters want to hear questions from candidates, one-way conversation is not only boring but also shows a lack of interest. Also, by asking questions, a person can show the ability to think fast and be critical. These are the qualities that employers are keen on finding.
5. Overtime. There is no need to lie if one has family and working overtime will not be a possibility, however, if a new candidate is young and single, expressing flexibility like that can be a great choice. Many already existing employees will be not available to work extra hours; therefore, one can get a competitive advantage by giving extra attention to work.
6. Research. Any candidate will score extra points by showing that they did their homework and researched the company and the vacancy. It shows that a person is interested in the position and the organization, how eager one is getting the job and the willingness to put some effort into learning something new. All this indicates the ability to move within the company for a higher position and to be a valuable asset to the team.
7. A good fit. It is not only having the right skills or experience, it is whether the person fits the company’s culture. One of the ways to demonstrate one’s suitability, is to dress the way the others do, which might be a hard task if the recruiter, who is performing the interview, is hired via a recruitment agency, not internally. Moreover, it is important for a recruiter to determine the suitability, because people who are fitting to the culture of the company are happier, perform better, etc. So, expressing capability to work with people and being a friendly person can be a great asset.
Overall, each recruiter and the industry one wants to work in vary; therefore there is no one rule on how to behave, what to talk about or what talents one must present. However, some of these tips are guidelines in helping to understand the nature of the average recruiter rather than just the rule that must be followed. Understanding the expectations that most recruiters have is a first step to success.
Written by Asta Kerkhoven for Together Abroad