From the outside, working with a staffing agency can look simple. You register, and at some point your phone rings with a job. What you do not see is everything that happened before that call. Most of a recruiter’s day is spent on work candidates never hear about, and understanding it makes it much easier to work with one well.
The Morning Starts With Employers
A recruiter’s day usually starts with the employers they work with. Overnight, somebody has called in sick, a plant has picked up a new contract, or a manager has decided they need two more people on second shift by Monday. Those requests are called job orders, and they set the agenda for the rest of the day.
A good recruiter does not just write the order down. They ask questions. What is the actual shift and does it rotate? What does the work involve physically? Is there anything that would rule somebody out, like a background check, steel toes or a minimum lifting weight? The more they know at this stage, the better the match later.
Finding the Right People
Once the orders are in, the recruiter works out who might fit. They start with people already registered, the candidates they have met and know something about. They look at who is available for that shift, who lives close enough to get there, who has the right experience and who has said they want that kind of work.
This is where it helps to have given your recruiter honest information. If they know you cannot work weekends, do not have a car on Tuesdays or want to stay off nights, they will not waste your time with roles that do not fit. If they know you are open to anything, they can call you first.
Most of the Day Is Phone Calls
A large part of a recruiter’s day is spent on the phone. Calling candidates to check availability, explaining a role, confirming a start time, calling employers back with names and answering questions from people already on assignment.
Many of those calls do not end in a placement. Somebody has already found work, is not available that week, or the employer has changed the start date. A recruiter might make a dozen calls to fill one shift. When your phone rings, it is usually because you were the best fit out of several people they considered.
Screening and Paperwork
Before anyone starts, there is paperwork to get right. Applications, identification and employment forms, background checks or drug screens where the employer requires them, and safety information for the site. A recruiter makes sure all of it is done before day one, so the new starter is not turned away at the gate.
This part is unglamorous and it matters. Missing paperwork is one of the most common reasons a start date slips, and it is entirely avoidable if both sides get documents in early.
Checking In After the Start
A recruiter’s job does not end when somebody starts. They check in with the employer and the new starter after the first day and again after the first week or two. Is the work what was described? Is the person showing up on time? Is anything about the shift or the site causing a problem?
Those check-ins are where small issues get fixed before they turn into somebody quitting. If something is not working, telling your recruiter early gives them a chance to sort it out with the employer, or to move you to a better fit.
Planning Ahead
Between calls, recruiters are planning for what is coming. Busy seasons, new contracts and holiday periods all mean more job orders at once. A good recruiter keeps in touch with reliable people even when there is no job to offer that week, so they can call on them quickly when demand picks up.
That is one reason it pays to stay in contact with your recruiter, even when you are working. Updating them when your availability changes keeps you near the top of their list.
When the Phone Goes Quiet
There will be weeks when you do not hear from your recruiter, and it is easy to take that personally. Usually it means the job orders that came in did not match your shift, your location or your experience.
A short call or visit to check in helps. Tell them you are still available, ask what kind of roles are coming up, and ask whether anything would widen your options, such as a different shift or a certification. Recruiters are far more likely to think of the person they spoke to yesterday than someone they last heard from a month ago.
How to Make Their Job Easier
Working well with a recruiter comes down to a few simple habits. Answer the phone or call back the same day, because shifts often get filled the same day they come in. Be honest about your availability, transportation and the work you do and do not want. Keep your paperwork up to date. Tell them right away if something changes, whether that is a new phone number, a new car or a change in childcare.
Recruiters remember the people who are easy to place. Being one of them means more calls and better jobs.
How Employment Solutions Can Help
At Employment Solutions our recruiters do this work every day across our Bryant, Russellville and Helena offices. We get to know the employers we work with and the people we place, so when the right role comes in, we already know who to call.
If you are looking for work, register with us and tell us what you are looking for. If you are hiring, call your nearest office and tell us about the role. Either way, there is a real person on our end doing the work to find the right match.
Your next opportunity could be closer than you think.
