I don't like recruiters.
I've always had a bad experience with them. They promise you the world and then the communication just stops.
There are some "good" recruiters out there, but they are few and far between.
If you are looking to make a move, my advice would be to seek out recruiters who are directly employed by the organisation. There will be less headache and more transparency as they will tell you the exact requirements and package on offer rather than getting sold a dream by a recruiter.
My biggest gripe is when recruiters tell you that you are being greedy. I hate it.
The condescension is unbelievable. QS's talk. Everyone talks. The industry is small. I know what someone with my skill set is getting elsewhere.
The funniest post I saw from a recruiter was that un-chartered QS's should put up with being underpaid so they can benefit from having a big-name firm on their CV. This recruiter didn't disclose that they were on a approved list of recruiters from the two biggest QS firms in the UK.
As a junior QS dealing with these people can be incredibly disheartening. So if you are looking to make a move here's what you should do instead:
Speak to your colleagues in the industry about the firms they work for. Find about the packages on offer e.g. salary, car allowance, healthcare and office attendance requirements.
Use LinkedIn to find the hiring managers at the firms that you are interested in and message them directly with your CV.
Make your requirements clear from the outset. If you are aiming for a certain number, be very clear and don't budge. If you are good enough they will pay. Don't be silly either - be realistic and look at the market. If you are an unchartered QS, don't ask for a £100k. That's director level money. If you are on £30k, it is not unreasonable to ask for £40-45k. All of this is dependent on your experience.
Prepare for interviews diligently. Find out from the hiring managers if there is going to be a technical interview. Use the job description to prepare.
Once the interview is confirmed, find out who the interviewers will be and find them on LinkedIn. Try and identify what their background is and what they specialise in.
Don't burn your bridges - if the interview isn't successful thank the hiring manager for their time and wish them all the best. That hiring manager may move to another organisation and you may encounter them again!
If you have any queries on the above, give me a shout give me a shout on LinkedIn.
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