Technical recruiters play a vital role in an engineer’s job search by acting as dedicated agents who offer specialized services. They leverage their industry expertise and networks to find job opportunities that align with an engineer’s skills and aspirations.
Studies show that around 2.4 million U.S. workers are employed through recruiters from staffing firms each week.
Beyond actively seeking out jobs for their engineering candidates, recruiters also provide services that include crafting tailored resumes that highlight key competencies, providing in-depth interview coaching, and offering valuable insights into salary negotiations.
To ensure they’re set up for success, engineering job seekers should ask their recruiters the following questions:
- Questions about the market/industry – Recruiters spend a lot of time researching the job market, allowing them to provide you with current data and information on market trends, open positions, and competitive salary rates for your level and industry. Here are some questions to ask about the market/industry:
- What insights do you have about current market trends in my industry?
- Are there any recent in-demand skills that most companies look for?
- Which areas and industries are hiring the most?
- What’s the typical salary range for this position based on the market’s rate?
- Questions about the job – When there’s a new job opening, the recruiter will usually have in-depth conversations with the hiring manager about the ideal profile for the role. This means the recruiter often has valuable insights about the position that can help boost your appeal as a candidate. To get more leverage and have a better understanding of the role, it’s beneficial to ask the recruiter some specific questions during your interaction with them.
- How long has the job been open?
- How did this position become available?
- How many candidates have been interviewed?
- What did the interviewers like or dislike about the other candidates?
- Beyond the job description, what are the hiring managers looking for? (Personality? Background?)
- What level of proficiency is required for the key technical skills areas?
- Do they provide training?
- Is there an up-ramping period?
- Who does this role support outside of just the hiring manager?
- How quickly are you looking to fill the position?
- Questions about my resume as it relates to the job – Since a recruiter’s job is to make sure the job and the candidate are a good match, they typically spotlight their candidates’ skills and experience through a well-crafted resume. Before applying for the role, ask your recruiter these questions:
- Does my resume fit the job?
- What skills and past projects should I highlight? How should I highlight them?
- Is there anything in my resume that needs to be added to make it stand out to the manager?
- Should I include my portfolio with my resume?
- Should relevant projects from college be included in my resume?
- Questions about the company/hiring manager – Recruiters frequently engage with hiring managers to gain in-depth knowledge of the company’s inner workings and the products they produce. They can share some of this information with candidates, giving them a competitive edge in the recruitment process. This knowledge also allows candidates to better determine if the company is the right fit for their next career step. To gain these insights, it’s beneficial for candidates to ask specific questions about the company and the hiring manager
- What’s the company and its culture like?
- What’s turnover like at this company?
- Have they had layoffs?
- Are they hiring for multiple positions for the same team?
- Have you placed other candidates in this company? Are they happy? Have they experienced any challenges?
- Do they expect their workers to wear many hats?
- What is the tenure of the employees in this company?
- In your opinion, what are the hiring managers’ biggest challenges with their current workforce?
- Based on my personality, do you think I’ll be a good fit with the current staff?
- Questions about the next steps – After you apply, recruiters typically receive feedback on your next steps in the hiring process. During this stage, candidates can get an idea of who the key decision-makers are and what to expect during the interviews. Here are the questions to ask the recruiter:
- Will there be technical assessments/exams/presentations?
- How long is the interview process?
- How long does each interview take?
- What types of interview questions should I expect?
- Will the interview be with a single interviewer or a panel?
- What interview tips and advice can you offer to help me make a positive impression?
- Should I dress formally?
A skilled technical recruiter can be an invaluable resource throughout your job search, offering much more than just job listings. Asking the right questions can unlock opportunities and insights that set you apart from other candidates, potentially making the difference in landing your ideal role.
Ready to take the next step in your engineering career? Contact SoloPoint Solutions today. Our experienced team is prepared to guide you through the job search process and connect you with engineering opportunities that match your skills and career goals. Chat with us today: