#7 How To Find Clients Without Exhausting Your Network with Adela Schoolderman
Episode Summary
Looking for new ways to network and find freelancing roles outside your current network? On today’s episode, Adela Schoolderman and I get into the nitty gritty of networking and how to differentiate yourself in an interview with a recruiter. Adela Schoolderman is a highly experienced recruiter in the technology space who brings an authentic human approach to recruiting. Adela makes it her mission to match freelancers with roles that are fantastic fits with her clients - it’s more than just a numbers game for her, she sees recruiting as much more than filling positions. In this episode you’ll learn what’s going through a recruiter’s mind when they’re interviewing you, how to ace an interview with a recruiter, and perhaps most importantly, why it’s important to build relationships with recruiters and how to find ones who have your best interests at heart.
Episode Takeaways:
How Adela went from driving an ambulance to building a successful career as a recruiter
When speaking or working with a new recruiter, trust your gut. If the relationship doesn’t feel trustworthy from the beginning, it’s perfectly fine to walk away.
Why it’s important to talk to recruiters - even if you’re not actively looking for a new position
What evergreen recruiting means and why recruiters may reach out to you even if they don’t have a specific role for you at the moment (and why you should still talk to them!)
Holly’s firm belief on the importance of speaking to recruiters. Why it’s important to talk to everyone who reaches out and why this can be a golden opportunity to learn about the industry when it comes to rates, understanding hot roles, and of course, networking
Helpful tools to negotiate negotiation
Why it’s important to showcase your soft skills and specific problems you have solved versus the more tangible skills that everyone has
Why it’s key to tailor your resume to the position in which you’re applying, and the ideal length of a resume. Hint: 5 pages is too long!
The importance of using strong leadership-driven words in your resume.
Have a story and talk about your experience to tell when you apply for a new role.
How freelancing gives you the freedom to work on lots of different projects in various industries and builds your skillsets.
Use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters who can help you to find your dream role.
Keep your LinkedIn profile and resume updated, as well as share articles that showcase your expertise.
Remember...
Keep talking and asking! You never know what doors could open and who you’ll meet. Your dream role could be just around the corner..
In this episode you’ll learn:
03:00 – Adela’s Journey to Becoming a Recruiter
06:40 – The Signs of a Good Recruiter
11:03 – The Importance of Conversations
13:07 – Evergreen Recruiting
14:15 – The Benefits of Speaking to a Recruiter
16:54 – Interview Tips for Freelancers
23:10 – Personality over Qualifications
25:47 – Common Mistakes Freelancers Make
29:45 – Describing Your “What”
32:46 – Getting Started as a Freelancer
37:50 – Freelancing During a Pandemic
43:55 – Finding a Recruiter
46:49 – Tips on Finding Your Next Role