HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RECRUITER RELATIONSHIP, WRITTEN BY A RECRUITER
Before I was a recruiter, I didn’t pay much attention to how the recruitment agency function really worked. I didn’t have a recruiter I trusted and I certainly didn’t take advantage of the vantage point they hold across the industry.
Now that I’ve come to the dark side (just kidding) I know there is so much value in having a relationship with a truly trusted recruiter who specialises in your field. If I wasn’t a recruiter myself, here’s exactly how I’d take advantage of someone like me.
First, I’d find someone who isn’t a generalist working across multiple industries. I’d work with someone who specialises in my specific industry. And then I’d use this 10-step playbook to my advantage.
Pictured: The Author ; )
Engage with salary insights. Download the free guideds (duhh) but take it much further. Schedule calls to understand what’s actually happening for your role, location and the specific brands you want to work for. Ask what salaries are actually being offered, not what is being advertised.
Use those insights to benchmark your worth. Take the information into performance reviews, or ask for a pay review opportunity if the market has shifted (or if you work for one of those brands who need to be prompted). Remember that salary insights aren’t just about asking for the right price in a new job. They should inform your current salary and your current company too.
Stay across industry movement. Ask which brands are scaling, who is pulling back on staffing, and which brands you should have your eye on for the next ‘big’ role on your resume. Recruiters know where the stability is and can guide you to that next big thing.
Ask for a real skill review. I love this question: how do I compare to my peers in the market right now? I’m often only asked this at a senior or exec level. But I think everyone should be asking their trusted recruiter this question. What skills will move me up a level? What are the best candidates in-market doing that I’m not? It’s not just about the salary but about skill and portfolio positioning too. I love the opportunity to give feedback like this!
If a role caught your eye, ask what was actually offered. Not the advertised range. A great recruiter may not reveal the brand, but they will give you real salary insights.
Leverage our negotiation skills. Your recruiter relationship should help you to avoid underselling yourself, understand where you sit in the market, and most importantly should help you negotiate more confidently.
Ask for the lay of the land. Who is saying what, about which brands? Which teams thrive? Which ones burn people out? Where is the succession strong, and where could you get stuck? Recruiters know the internal culture behind each shiny product they work with. And more importantly, if they know you well, they’ll know which are a good match for you, because of course, culture is in the eye of the beholder, darling.
Check in regularly. It doesn’t have to be a long call, sometimes a quick email serves us both best!
Build a relationship strong enough that you bypass the recruiter interview. When we know your strengths, your communication style, what matters to you in a role, we can put you forward instantly. And pace is often what gets you to the front of the line when the role is competitive.
Use our reputation to elevate yours. When a respected recruiter backs you, it holds weight with the brands who trust them. Never underestimate the difference between a SEEK application versus a trusted recruiter who says to their client … you have to meet this person.
A relationship with a trusted recruiter shouldn’t only exist when you’re active in the market. Find someone whose expertise you genuinely rate, check in consistently, and use their view of the market to your advantage.
Agency recruiters spend all year recruiting for the same roles, across multiple brands and at volume. The level of market mapping, salary benchmarking and offers we negotiate holds so much power, and you deserve the in.
If you’re going to invest in one relationship in 2026, make it a recruiter who knows your niche, and who you genuinely click with. Perhaps, that’s me?
With love,
Lauren xoxo
