Four types of recruiters, and how to impress each of them
How your job interview goes does not only depend on you but also on who is sitting opposite you. It can be beneficial to know who the recruiter is serving. After all, there are certain types of recruiters. The four types are each best approached differently to be successful.
1. The C manager
Depending on the size and organizational structure of the company, there is a real chance that you will have to apply for a job at the C level. The C level refers to all people within an organization with a C in the front of their title. Think of the CEO, the CFO, the COO. By telling the following things, you can pack those bigwigs like this:
Show courage and daring. It is often by taking risks that those people themselves have gotten to where they are now.
Emphasize that you are a team player and support this with examples from your daily life. If you are active in sports or club life, these are certainly assets.
A hurdle can be that this kind of manager does something out of the blue. Please treat them with respect, but also command respect by not being too impressed.
2. The external recruiter
Sometimes it is people from an external recruitment agency who conduct the job interviews for an organization. They have been given a strict profile to look for. They, therefore, do not have the power to deviate from this if an applicant seems to be of value to them but does not match 100% with the sought-after profile.
When dealing with such an external recruiter, it is best to summarise the required competencies as a guideline. Explain point by point why you are the worker they are looking for. This will allow you to convince the recruiter that he or she can introduce you to his or her client.
Professional recruiters who work for agencies have to deal with many applicants who don’t show up. They also know best what it costs a company when someone is absent for a day. Show that you are very punctual and reliable. It’s hard to hide your enthusiasm for the job.
3. The team manager
The team manager will become your direct supervisor when you pass your application. Demonstrating that you have the right competencies is always essential, but your attitude also plays a significant role. The team manager will pay more attention than anyone else to see if you would fit well into the team. Whether or not you feel a click with someone is mainly an intuitive matter and difficult to prepare.
The reverse also applies. The team manager will try to estimate whether you are a nice person for the team, but you can also evaluate whether the team manager is a lovely person to work for.
4. The HR Manager
Your extensive knowledge, your exceptional competencies, or your tons of experience are of secondary importance for the HR manager. During your day-to-day work, you will not have to work directly with him or her as often.
What is essential for an HR manager are your soft skills, communication skills and resilience. They are looking for people who are flexible and easy to deal with.
There is no all-encompassing theory that applies to every job application. Adapt to your interlocutor and conquer that job of your dreams.
