If you’re deep into your substance abuse counselor job search and want some professional, consider a job recruiter. As most know, professional recruiters work on behalf of the hiring companies but there are ways to get them working for your interests as well. Consider these tips:

Learn How to Make Recruiters Work for You in Your Substance Abuse Counselor Job Search

Depending on the industry and where you live, working with a recruiter may be a foregone conclusion.  Last year, recruiters helped nearly 13 million U.S. workers find temporary, contract or permanent jobs and recent surveys have revealed that 90-95% of large U.S. employers are now using staffing firms to fill vacancies.  So, while they are technically working for the employers, you may get a call from one of them and there are ways to ensure that they land and remain on your side for the duration.

• Set the tone from the beginning with them.  This means that you don’t want to come off as desperate or too casual.  Give them your elevator pitch if it’s appropriate and find out if there are any open positions that they are looking to fill at this time.  There probably are or they wouldn’t be calling you.  Also determine how and when you stay in contact.
• While they may hold many, if not all the cards, that doesn’t mean that you are to take everything that they say as gospel. You still want to ask questions and confirm that this is someone that you should even be dealing with all.  With the internet today, you should be able to Google anyone by name and get information on them pretty quick.   Take a look at their LinkedIn profile, which will include feedback.
• Meet in person.  If the recruiter is local to you, make the effort to meet them in person.  This has actually become rare and doing this will make a memorable impression on them.
• Stay in contact.  If you feel that this is a good person to deal with, continue to stay in contact and build rapport with the recruiter.  This will put you back in the forefront of their mind and may place you in front of other candidates when new positions become available. Call or email occasionally to check in and let them know that you appreciate the continued work that they are doing on your behalf.
• Don’t talk salary first. This is important as you want to get the best deal possible and, in the end, the recruiter is trying to get the best deal for the employer.  Although sometimes they get commissioned so there is a conflict there.   If you have any leverage, such as another potential offer, use it.  This is still a business transaction and a negotiation.  Don’t forget that.

There are a lot jobs out there in this industry, but if you are looking for help with your substance abuse counselor job search and are contacted by a recruiter, don’t write off the idea of working with one as it can benefit you immensely.