Recruiters and Headhunters

Do you like recruiters? Do you have an opinion on them?

If a recruiter has ever found a job and placed you there, you must have high praise for them. And of course, their biggest wish is that later when you are the hiring manager, you will call only them. Most of the time, the fee that a recruiter gets for placing you is equal to 20% to 30% of your first year’s salary. The hiring company pays this, not you. There are also “recruiting” companies that charge you, although I have chosen to never use one. In my career, recruiters were wonderful for me when I was at the level of a staff accountant or even a senior accountant. As I moved into management positions, it seems I do a better job of finding the job for me than they have. However, that may also just be a product of the times. In the 1990’s, a company would make up a job description with 10 requirements and be happy if they could find someone that had 3 of them. Today, a candidate better have 12 of the company’s 10 requirements just to get an interview.

In my shotgun approach to the job search, recruiters are always a part. Remember: “Never Say No To Yourself”. So, why not also let them be looking for you. Here are some things to remember about your relationship with recruiters:

1. Register with as many as you can find. Last time I was looking, I was with 50 different recruiters. The problem is about 10% of the recruiters you sign up with will really be working hard for you. Also, a hiring manager will only call 1 or 2 recruiters. They will say: “Here is what I need, send me 3 resumes.”  If you are not with that recruiter, you are not up for that job.
2. Tell each one you are only working with them.
3. NEVER give a recruiter a list of the companies that you have already applied to. A recruiter will tell you they need a list of the companies that you have already applied to. Their reason is that they don’t want to submit you for the same job. The reality is they are looking for you to do the marketing part of their job for them. By giving a recruiter a list of positions that you have applied for, you are actually giving them a list of companies that are looking to fill open positions. The recruiter will then try and send another of their candidates up for the position. Tell the recruiter that you just started looking and the ads you have applied to have been “blind ads” (the company was confidential).
4. Call and check-in. After meeting a recruiter, call at least once a week to check-in and remind them that you are ready for a new job.
5. Connect with them on LinkedIn. A lot of the recruiters will post a brief description of a position they are trying to fill. However, you must be connected with them to see it. They almost always accept a request to connect and it is a quick way to increase your number of connections.
6. Keep a business card.  When you meet with a recruiter, be sure to get a business card. In my experience, I have found that recruiters change companies frequently.
7. Find recruiters through ads. A lot of the jobs posted on websites like Careerbuilder and Monster, and even in your local newspaper, are actually ads placed by a recruiter. It is a good way to find them and get your foot in the door.