How do you like to communicate with your recruiter?
With how much technology has evolved throughout the years, it’s hard to know what the best form of communication should be for a recruiter/candidate relationship. Calling, emailing, texting, video calls, LinkedIn, etc., there’s endless ways to connect, so here’s what Crecia, Heather, and I think about the pros and cons of the main ones (calling, emailing/texting):
Benefits of a live conversation:
- We get to know you on a more personal level, and trust and rapport can be better established
- Your recruiter is able to get to know your communication style, and personality
- We get to hear your excitement or enthusiasm about a position you’re exploring
- It allows us to discuss your background and experience in more depth, and it gives your recruiter the opportunity to ask follow-up, or clarifying questions
- It allows your recruiter to give an in-depth overview of the company/position we’re partnering with (most of which wouldn’t be in a job description or be found on the company website)
Disadvantages of a live conversation:
- With a busy schedule, it can be hard for a candidate to find time to speak
- You may be in a location where you’re not comfortable sharing certain information (like compensation, or what you’re looking for a new position, or that your interviewing) depending on the crowd around you
- With recruiters and MSLs spending a lot of time on the phone during the day, it can be hard to catch each other on the fly, leading to a day of playing phone tag
Benefits of emailing/texting:
- It’s a quick and easy way to communicate
- You don’t have to set aside too much time to send or review an email/text
- It’s great for follow-ups, or check-ins with both the recruiter and candidate
- You have information documented (like interview dates/times) so you have it handy to add to your calendar
Disadvantages of emailing/texting:
- Feelings/tone may not be conveyed appropriately (like excitement for a position after you interview, concerns about a company or role, gauging interest from a company and candidate standpoint)
- It doesn’t leave a lot of room for questions, or further explanation
- If something needs to be discussed further, a string of writing emails/texts back and forth could end up taking longer than a call would have
- There can be a delay in responses on a topic where you might not have much lag time. You can be left hanging when an urgent response may be needed
At PharmaFinders we see a huge benefit to continuing to have live conversations, and it’s definitely our preferred method. We are here to advocate for you through the entire interview process. We also want you to have thorough updates/feedback, and want to be as detailed as possible, which is best done through a call. Although this is our preferred method, we understand that’s not always best for everyone, and we are open and happy to tailor our approach based on your style and schedule.
This is all from the prospective of a recruiter though, so we’d love to hear from you! What is the method of communication you prefer to have with your recruiter?