How personal can I be with a recruiter?

NewRN089 · Mar 22, 2014

Yes -

If they ask why you chose nursing AND your answer does not make you appear to be a potential burden to them. These stories are meaningful to us but often TMI

in an interview. If it's in the past and does not affect your ability to give 100% to the job then it might be ok.

Good Example: I helped my diabetic younger sister learn about her condition and manage her insulin and diet. I realized that i really enjoyed helping and teaching. Great for peds or any nursing job.

Cli

Bad example: I have Crohn's disease and have so can relate to.my patients as they deal with their disease/condition. I would not share this up front.

As for the typical story of watching/helping a loved one go through a long term illness, being touched by the nursing care, etc.- I think this can appear to be too cliche.

Remember- relevant and not a current burden.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2014

Agree with PP. Remember, a recruiter is never your friend, and your interactions with them should reflect a professional relationship. As long as you can relate your experience without breaking that professional relationship, then go for it. If not, find a way to reword your experience to make it less personally revealing.

CticuRN95 · Mar 23, 2014

I'm in touch with a recruiter. If I had something to tell her would I call or send her an email saying what I need to say?

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 25, 2014

The nature of your relationship with a recruiter should be determined by figuring out who they represent. Recruiters are like Realtors - they can either work for the buyer (employer) or seller (you). If the recruiter is working for an employer.... their goal is to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates that will STAY with the organization. They are rewarded on those two factors... filling jobs & retention rates. It is their best interests to help screen out anyone who may not stay for the long haul. So - DON'T tell them anything that you do not want the hiring manager or potential employer to know.

The "other" types of recruiters (AKA Headhunters) work for you... their job is to "sell" you to an employer. You can be assured that they would not divulge any personal information that would be perceived as a negative by the employer. You could tell them anything.

Chances are, you won't be dealing with headhunters in the early years of your career... so, be very cautious about sharing any information with a recruiter. They are an agent of the organization which means they cannot inquire about any information that is not specifically related to the job qualifications. They don't need to know anything about your family situation, religious preferences, hobbies, lifestyle, financial status, etc.