Are Recruiters a Job Seekers Friend or Foe

Are Recruiters a Job Seekers Friend or Foe Are Recruiters a Job Seekers Friend or Foe?If youre on the hunt for a job, you may have thought about reaching out to a professional recruiter. But, youve also heard a lot of shady things about recruiters. Is it worth the effort?The first thing to know is that recruiters are not agents for job seekers. They are hired by companies to fill open locations. Theyre not getting paid to find you a job, theyre getting paid to fill a job. Thats an important distinction.So is a job recruiter a friend or foe to the job seeker? The quick answer is that a good recruiter is a great friend to have during your search, a bad one is a foe who can drag your name and your job search down. TWEET Here are a few simple signs to look for when finding a recruiter to help you land your next gig.Communication.Friend This may seem basic, but you want to find a recruiter who communicates well with you. That means they call when they say they will. They respect your cur rent job and do not call during your work hours. When a possible position comes up, they keep you in the loop as things progress good or bad so you arent left hanging.Foe The recruiter who calls you randomly in the middle of the day and expects you to stop what youre doing to listen to them is not your friend. If youve applied to a job but havent heard back from the recruiter in a couple of weeks, youre not getting the treatment you deserve. Worst of all, the recruiter who schedules a phone call and then blows you off. This sort of poor communication lets you know that this recruiter only sees you as a payday.Knowledge of the job.Friend A good job recruiter should do enough research to give you details into any open job they want to discuss with you. Because they are used frequently by the same companies, they can build relationships that help them get information beyond the job posting. They should be able to tell you what the job title is, the actual responsibilities, and mayb e even some insight into the culture of the company. Josh Dubay, an Executive Recruiter in Tampa, FL believes that this could be the fruchtwein important benefit when working with a recruiter. Not only do we know more about the job, we have direct interaction with the person who has the hiring authority. That means they can help you bypass the slush pile and even help you prepare for an interview.Foe If you are dealing with a recruiter who isnt sure about the details of a job, its time to move on. If they dont have the time to find out about the job and the company offering it, how can they expect to find the right person for that position? Their client is the company offering the job, so if they cant even do that much, you do not want to do geschftlicher umgang with them.Job fit.Friend You should feel comfortable that the recruiter you work with knows your skills, your pay scale, and your priorities. If you do your part, you can make it easier for them and you. Even though the re cruiter isnt getting paid by you, it is in their best interest to find the best possible fit for every job. That way, they have a happy client who has a happy person in the right job (thats you). Its a win all the way around.Foe Not every job recruiter wants to wait for the perfect fit. Some think its easier to do a blanket-style approach, putting your resume out there for any job that seems even close to your field of work. Pay, location, and company culture are not something they pay a lot of attention to on a daily basis. Why bother? If a recruiter wants to put your resume in for a job that doesnt feel like a fit to you, find a new recruiter.Expectations.Friend Whether its good or bad, its always better to hear the truth when it comes to your job hunt. A good recruiter isnt afraid to set realistic expectations even when the outlook may not be great. If your field of work isnt their specialty, they should let you know and possibly even suggest another recruiter or firm that woul d better suit your needs. If your resume is selling you short, they should let you know that you need to get it up the standards that their clients expect. A good recruiter can handle the tough love approach.Foe Simply put, the recruiter to avoid is the one who tells you what you want to hear, always. Youll get a job within a week. Youll have five interviews before Friday. Your resume is flawless. You know the drill, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. When you first meet a recruiter, pay attention to the language they use. If its full of promises and rose-colored expectations, proceed with caution.Relationship.Friend A good recruiter focuses on interactional relationships rather than transactional, says Dubay. A good recruiter should see you as a resource, even if you dont fill a current position with them.This means that you want a job recruiter with whom you can build a mutually beneficial relationship. Maybe they cant help you today, but a few months or even a yea r down the road when that perfect opportunity pops up, they should reach out to you. Why? Its all about matching the best possible fit for each job.Foe What you really want to avoid is the recruiter who is focused on the transactional benefits of relationships. In that relationship you are only as valuable as the commission check you might represent. Recruiters with this mindset want to fill jobs. Period. You may feel like theyre pushing you to go after jobs that dont fit your skills or priorities. Its all about filling open positions before another recruiter does so they can cash that check. In the end, these recruiters dont typically last too long in the business. Their clients and the people who get hired are not going to find the results they want. Just dont get stuck with this recruiter while they are at it.More friends than foes.In reality, there are more good, honest job recruiters out there than bad ones. If they like what they are doing, its in their best interest to do it well for both their clients and the job seekers they meet. If youre looking for work or just want to see if something better is out there, a recruiter can help you get a feel for the job market and possibly help you make some great connections. Just pay attention to these telltale signs to know for sure if the recruiter youre talking to is a friend or a foe.Let TopResume help you write the next chapter of your career. Heres how.Related Articles