Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WERQ! Career Advice for Gay Men

Use a headhunter to help find that perfect job

By Simon O'Mahony

Editor's Note: Simon O'Mahoney is recovering from a delightful vacation back home in Ireland with his family so this week's column is a repost of one of his classics.
 
Sometimes - well, most of the time - finding a new job can feel like a full time job in itself. So why not have someone help you? Someone who can open doors for you and get you exposed to a world of opportunities that you may not find posted on the internet - a recruiter or headhunter!

Here are the main benefits of partnering with a recruiter or a headhunter:

1. Recruiter Services are FREE!

The majority of recruiters are paid by the hiring company. They get paid if you get hired. So in essence, they need YOU.

2. Resources

Since a recruiter will get paid if they place you they will typically offer FREE advice on resumes, interviews, follow-up, etc. They will coach you through the entire hiring process. That kind of advice can be invaluable.

3. Contacts!
A seasoned recruiter will have hundreds of contacts that they can get your resume in front off. This helps eliminate the frustration of applying online and the uncertainty of wondering where your resume will end up.

4. Leg Work!
If you are currently working and looking to make a change, then finding time to search online for a new job can be challenging. A recruiter will be doing that work for you, making calls, contacting connections, hiring managers, etc., and getting your resumes into the right people’s hands.

5. Recruiters Often Have Access to Unpublished Jobs

There are several companies who, for confidentiality reasons, do not publically publish or post all of their open positions. Probably one of the only ways to know about these positions is by working with a recruiter.

6. Confidentiality
If you are currently working and looking for a new job, you always run the risk of your current company finding out that you are looking. Working with a recruiter eliminates this as they will 100 percent guarantee confidentiality when sending out your resume.

7. Negotiating

A recruiter can help you negotiate the best salary and terms. Also, a good recruiter knows when to stop negotiating.

8. Final Tips
Always be 100 percent honest with your Recruiter. They should be someone you can trust and be totally honest with. And never go behind a recruiter's back if they share a lead with you. Bad job karma, that.

Simon O’Mahony, originally from Dublin, Ireland, was personally recruited by Sage Hospitality and joined the organization as a Corporate Recruiter in 2006. In 2009, Simon was promoted into the role of Talent Acquisition Manager for Sage Hospitality and Sage Restaurant Group. Simon is responsible for hiring management positions for Sage Hospitality nationwide and for their corporate office in downtown Denver. He is also involved in overall recruiting initiatives including college recruiting programs, diversity initiatives, and employer branding. Simon works with several local and nationwide agencies, colleges, universities, in order to build a network and pipeline of candidates. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Sage Innovation Award as a result of his use of social media networking to enhance the recruiting process.

When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.


Simon can be reached at Simon.OMahony@SageHospitality.com.