Planned Resources recruit across the niche markets of planning, engineering, architecture and design, property, and government support. We operate​ across private and public sectors in Melbourne, Victoria, and Australia. Here, our senior consultant Rebecca Slaviero gives her advice on how to work with a recruitment consultant. 

So it’s that time of the year, month, or day when you’re thinking about a new job – and the hardest part is, ‘where do I start?’ I’m here to tell you that job searching doesn’t have to be ridiculously complicated!

If you feel that you’re in a bit of a rut career wise, perhaps it’s time to contact a specialist recruiter (like ourselves) who can listen to your employment experience and guide you through the next steps. You can even be guided on the stepping stones to reach what you’re aiming to achieve in the next 5-10 years. (Yes, a lot of people still have a 5–10-year plan!) 

So how do you partner with a recruiter?

Meeting with a recruiter can sometimes be on par with a blind date – essentially you’re sussing out whether the recruiter is going to be able to help you move forward. Reach out to a specialised recruiter who is relevant to, and understands, your industry. You may end up speaking to more than one recruiter, but you want to make sure that the person/s you choose to partner with understands who you are as a person and your career to date, before they can really help you or make suggestions about what direction might be best.

My biggest piece of advice is: Tell the truth.

Tell us where you’re at and what your thoughts might be; If you’re in a rut in your current workplace you can trust that we’re here to listen to the issues and pain points. Sometimes talking through these challenges can be the best way to work out what you do and don’t need from your next employer. 

Honesty and transparency go a long way in our business. 

It’s also the best way for us to know where you might be suited – not just on a job level, but also with cultural fit. In return, we’ll work in the same way and keep you consistently informed along the way. If we feel that we may not be able to help you, we will let you know – and if this happens, it’s usually due to candidates with similar experiences and knowing that our clients’ feedback will be based on that. 

If you’re applying for roles and not getting very far, for example not receiving interviews or feedback…

You may want to have a look at your CV to see if there’s a way to clarify and condense it. Remember, recruiters and employers tend to spend up to 7 seconds scanning a CV! Which isn’t a long time to capture the attention of your reader! 

A recruiter can help by talking you through the content of your CV.

We can let you know what is and isn’t relevant in your CV to help you stand out amongst other candidates. It’s not about fancy formatting or loads of information; recruiters want to know what you’ve done so far and be able to see that information as quickly as possible. (Read more here on how to get your CV noticed)

Remember, the process doesn’t have to be frustratingly hard… we’re here to help when you need it! 

By: Rebecca Slaviero, Senior Consultant

Rebecca is a specialist in Town Planning recruitment in both the public and private sectors; she understands what makes a business tick and the importance of finding the right fit for a company’s success. 

Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn

Contact: 0451 118 717, rebecca.slaviero@plannedresources.com.au