When deciding to look for a new role, a large part of displaying true commitment to this process is displaying flexibility in your job hunt. Not only do you need to be flexible about the roles you are going for themselves, weighing up different roles against technical opportunities, promotional opportunities and the overall package. But even more than that, you need to be flexible with your time in making yourself available for interview.
Having been in recruitment for more than 10 years, and having been in-house and in agency, you quickly spot who is truly committed to getting a new job. Alarm bells ring when people will only allow a 30 minute window to talk in 10 days’ time. Alarm bells also ring if you are only available to meet with someone at 7.30 am because you can’t be late for work, or after 7pm in the evening to meet with your recruiter. While meeting with your recruiter is not perceived by many as the highest priority in this process, to me as a recruiter, it says a lot about your true commitment to the overall recruitment process.
Employers are keen to hire, but they have busy days too, and want to get on with their process. They will tend to be flexible themselves with their availability, but ultimately your ability to make yourself available has a big impact on the overall process. Employers don’t want to be sitting at the first interview across from someone you insisted could only meet you at 7.30 am, or worse still, they may decide they don’t want to interview you at all because of your lack of availability, resulting in you completely missed the boat.
Most of the time hiring managers will be flexible to meet at first thing in the morning or later in the evening, or at lunchtime. But it is give and take and goes a long way to demonstrating your commitment. Don’t get me wrong, employers/ hiring managers can be difficult to pin down too, but that is a whole other piece….
So, when deciding you want to engage in a process, make sure you have the time and flexibility to commit to it. Being on a project where you are on site 16 hours a day, will not allow for you to be flexible. If this is a permanent issue explain it to the Recruiter, they will make this known and from the outset and support your need for flexibility with the hiring manager/ company.
