The Hunter and the Hunted
First – clearly there are wide ranging opinions about recruiters. A top recruiter and a friend of mine once jokingly said: “Recruiters are like toilet paper - when you need them, they're very useful. When you're done, you just flush them away. “ This is not exactly the case, especially with good recruiters. Good recruiters can be very helpful not just finding you a job, but with career advice, or by challenging you to perk up your resume, cover letter, coaching you for improved interview behavior and connecting you to opportunities only available to them.
So if you are considering calling a recruiter it is worth your time to shop around and find out more about the recruiter and the company he or she is working for. Typically working with up to 2-3 recruiters would be most effective. More than 3 – you may start running into trouble. It is not worth it even if you loose one opportunity just because two separate recruiters sent your resume for the same position and by doing this made you look desperate.
Second – you still need to remember that recruiters work like any other consultant from a management-consulting firm. They will defend their own interests. They want good relations with you and they need even better relations with the companies, who use their services. Because the companies are the ones paying the bill in the end – there may be some disadvantages for you or even there may be ‘hidden agendas’.
The best way to find a job is through your professional networking. It is part of the professional experience to learn how to measure your exposure to recruiters. So if you haven’t done so already – go to LinkedIn and create a professionally looking profile. Then connect to all your contacts that are already part of the network and start taking advantage of the opportunities there. LinkedIn has established itself as a primary professional networking site and I don’t see this changing in the coming years.
Third – if you find a position that you like, DO NOT call your recruiter to learn more about it. The recruiter has a vested interest to send in your resume and application, but he or she will also send all the other candidates’ resumes that are a good fit. So by telling your recruiter you may have just increased your competition.
If you really are an excellent fit for the position – do not hesitate to apply directly. This can save you time and the company will not have to pay your recruiter, which often would be to your advantage when they are making the hiring decision. So remember – the only positions you discuss with your recruiter are the ones he or she brings to your attention. (Sorry Victor!)
So if you are considering calling a recruiter it is worth your time to shop around and find out more about the recruiter and the company he or she is working for. Typically working with up to 2-3 recruiters would be most effective. More than 3 – you may start running into trouble. It is not worth it even if you loose one opportunity just because two separate recruiters sent your resume for the same position and by doing this made you look desperate.
Second – you still need to remember that recruiters work like any other consultant from a management-consulting firm. They will defend their own interests. They want good relations with you and they need even better relations with the companies, who use their services. Because the companies are the ones paying the bill in the end – there may be some disadvantages for you or even there may be ‘hidden agendas’.
The best way to find a job is through your professional networking. It is part of the professional experience to learn how to measure your exposure to recruiters. So if you haven’t done so already – go to LinkedIn and create a professionally looking profile. Then connect to all your contacts that are already part of the network and start taking advantage of the opportunities there. LinkedIn has established itself as a primary professional networking site and I don’t see this changing in the coming years.
Third – if you find a position that you like, DO NOT call your recruiter to learn more about it. The recruiter has a vested interest to send in your resume and application, but he or she will also send all the other candidates’ resumes that are a good fit. So by telling your recruiter you may have just increased your competition.
If you really are an excellent fit for the position – do not hesitate to apply directly. This can save you time and the company will not have to pay your recruiter, which often would be to your advantage when they are making the hiring decision. So remember – the only positions you discuss with your recruiter are the ones he or she brings to your attention. (Sorry Victor!)
posted by Vlad Zachary at 9:18 AM
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