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  • Writer's pictureMatthew Coppola

5 things that every recruiter looks for in a candidate

If you want to stand out, get ahead and make an impression, it makes sense to understand what recruiters look for in a suitable candidate.


There's a high chance that if you are reading this now, you're probably looking for a job or considering your employment options and seeing what's out there.


And if that's the case, you are more than likely applying for jobs advertised by recruitment agencies on popular job search sites like Indeed and Seek.



Person applying for jobs on their computer
Make every job search count and take the time to apply for jobs

To get ahead in an ultra-competitive jobs market here in Australia, it's important to stand out. And to stand out, you need to know what recruiters (and employers too) look for in a candidate.



As an experienced recruiter and employment consultant, I know what recruiters look for.

And I can tell you they are:

  1. Solid experience in performing the same (preferred) or very similar work

  2. The right skills to do the job

  3. Enthusiasm, engagement and interest in the role advertised

  4. Personalised job applications, including a tailored resume and custom-written cover letter for the specific job being applied for

  5. Qualifications and knowledge expected for the position

When shortlisting candidates, the most pressing thing on a recruiter's mind is 'does the candidate have the skills and experience to do the job?' The recruiter is then interested in how long they have been in the industry, if they are experienced and if they come across as someone who will not let the recruiter down if they refer them on to the client.



Lady being interviewed by a recruiter
Recruiters appreciate candidates who take an interest in the position

In recent blogs, I have provided the ultimate tips to get a new job in 2022 and I have also talked about how important a cover letter is to a recruiter in persuading them to invite you in for an interview.


I cannot stress enough how important it is to apply for jobs that you can do. Recruiters have job placement performance targets to meet and so they don't want to muck around with endless interviewing.


It's in their interests to place the right candidates quickly into a job. Following the 5 things mentioned above can help you make the recruiter's job a whole lot easier. This is one of the many reasons why people use the services of professional resume writers all throughout Australia, particularly in the more competitive cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where Australia's best resume writing company like Client Centric understand what it takes to get the attention of a recruiter.

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