How HVAC Job Seekers Benefit from Working with a Specialized Recruiter

If you’ve ever searched for an HVAC job before, you know that it can be stressful. Sending out your resume, researching hiring managers, attending countless interviews – sometimes it feels like it is all in vain. Working with a specialist HVAC recruiter during this process may be one of the smartest career moves you can make. They likely know everyone who is hiring in your industry and can help position and coach you to perform at your best. In this post, we explore some of the important ways that a specialist HVAC recruiter can help you take the next step in your career.

Access to the HVAC Recruiter’s Network

A specialist has their ear to the ground in the HVAC industry and can bring you opportunities you may have never been presented without their connections. They are in constant contact with candidates and hiring managers, giving them an inside look at upcoming changes at HVAC companies who may be expanding, going through a reorganization and so on. With this, they’ll know who’s hiring, who’s not, and the pros and cons of each company from people who have worked directly within the organization. This type of information is invaluable to you as a candidate when looking for a role that’s a good fit for your personality, your talents, and your goals.

Having a recruiter who works directly with HVAC clients day in and day out accelerates your job search. As a job seeker, building a working relationship with a specialist HVAC recruiter can further expand your own personal network of talented professionals. It’s not only advantageous for you as an HVAC professional, but also for the recruiter as well. Building a relationship with top candidates is a two-way street and a valuable connection for both parties.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better.

When it comes to working with a recruiter, in a specialized field like HVAC, you are often better served by the small specialist. A large, generic recruitment firm has to filter through tons of candidates in a multitude of job categories. A specialist HVAC recruiter has a much narrower pool of candidates to sift through since the search and industry are of a much smaller scope. They have the time to get to know you better and help identify a best-fit position.

A specialist HVAC recruiter may reach out to you on LinkedIn, email or other social networking sites to see if you’re interested in a role they are working to fill. Alternatively, you may reach out to an HVAC recruiter directly. Either way, once contact has been made between you and the recruiter, the two of you will begin by discussing your skills, experience, career objectives and resume. They may also conduct a skills assessment if required by the hiring company. Once you’re both on the same page about goals, skill level, your recruiter gets to work finding open positions you are suited for!

It’s important, as a candidate, to look for the right recruitment firm in your field. One that aligns with your goals, industry, and has a reputable name. Do your own research on the firm, and don’t be afraid to ask for references and prior success stories. It’s vital to connect with your recruiter on a personal level and to have full transparency and trust. Don’t be afraid to broach topics like:

Career goals: where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years.
Salary expectations: what’s your value in the marketplace and what you expect as a fair offer.
Position Level (entry-level, mid-level, expert): what level does your experience translate to.
Desired company culture: discuss work/life balance and flexibility. Do you need more PTO or flexible hours?

Whatever you do, don’t be shy. Now is the time to lay it all out on the table.

Getting Noticed

One of the most frustrating parts of a job search is getting noticed by the company or job poster. Today, most people have access to computers, which means jobs posters receive a ton of resumes when listed on public sites (LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Monster, etc.). Even when reaching out to the hiring manager directly, there’s a slim chance he or she will see your resume and respond. Part of a recruiter’s job is to build a trusting relationship with hiring managers and their clients. A specialist HVAC recruiter has relationships with hiring managers and human resources departments that can get you an interview. Sometimes, a recruiter will have access to positions that a company wants to fill privately before sharing on public job sites and forums — greatly increasing your chances of getting noticed by the right people.

Finding the Right Fit

Helping you to get noticed is just one of the perks when working with a specialist HVAC recruiter. It’s important for both you and your recruiter to make sure the roles you interview for are the right fit, One of the first steps a recruiter will take is to conduct a brief phone or in-person meeting with you to discuss your qualifications and background. This is more of an informal type of meeting where your recruiter can get to know you a little bit better on a personal level. After meeting with you, the recruiter will determine if he or she thinks you are a good fit for any open roles. If so, with your approval, he or she will then pass along your resume directly to the hiring company. If there are no current roles available, that’s okay – a recruiter will create a profile for you and keep you on file to alert you if something becomes available that seems like a good fit.

Dealing with Pre and Post Interview Jitters

It’s only natural to get nervous before an interview. Not knowing what questions will be asked of you and how the interview will be conducted can be unnerving for anyone. A specialist HVAC recruiter can help prepare you for an interview with question prep, interview tips and tricks, and discussing how to play to your strengths. Similarly, your recruiter can also help with the grueling process of waiting for feedback after an interview. On your own, you may not even hear back from most employers. When working with a recruiter, however, you can be assured to close the loop in a timely fashion. It’s part of your recruiter’s job to let you know if you are moving forward or not. They can also provide valuable feedback from the hiring company that can help you improve for the next interview – an added bonus!

Removing the Guesswork

Since salary and other sensitive topics can be uncomfortable to discuss with a prospective employer, you are often left guessing about what is fair compensation. A specialist HVAC recruiter can help remove the guesswork. First, when a recruiter is hired by a company to fill a position, they have already discussed things like the scope of work and salary with the hiring manager. Therefore, a recruiter will only present you with jobs that meet your desired salary range. In addition, your recruiter can discuss with you your fair market value and what’s reasonable for your level of experience. They can steer you away from jobs underpay and also help you identify the companies that pay the best for your skill and experience.

A recruiter can also help coach you on how to approach a counteroffer. They know what you deserve and how to get the best salary and have your best interest at heart. If you have been looking for months and are frustrated by the lack of an offer, you may get tempted to jump at a lowball offer. Your recruiter can help you avoid that mistake and advise on how much you can reasonably ask for in a counter-offer. Likewise, if you get something right away and you aren’t sure the salary is good enough, your recruiter can advise you on managing a counter-offer and buying time to consider additional opportunities.

Confidentiality

Recruiters understand the importance of confidentiality in your job search, especially when you are looking while currently employed. A recruiter will take every step possible to ensure your privacy. When you do your own search, you may have to post your resume online where your current employer may see it. With a recruiter, you have the added benefit of HVAC employers knowing you are open to new opportunities, without the risk of being exposed online.

About HVACEXEC.com Recruiters

At HVACEXEC.com Recruiters, we strive to offer HVAC recruiting services with the highest level of service and professionalism. This has enabled us to successfully build long-lasting relationships with both our clients and our candidates. We specialize in the sourcing and recruitment of HVAC, Facilities Management, Mechanical Engineering, Building Automation, and Energy Conservation Professionals. We advise our clients with integrity and treat our candidates with dignity.

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