Want
to access the hidden job market and find a job faster?
Working
with a recruiter may be just the ticket.
But
how do you locate one? What should you look for? And what should you expect?
To
find out, I interviewed two experienced recruiters: Rick Fox, Branch Manager at
the
Where
do you start looking for a recruiter?
An
excellent ways to locate a recruiter is the same way you’d look for a barber or
dentist -- ask around, according to Pat Riley. “I suggest using the ‘friend
network’ first by asking friends and family if they know any good recruiters,”
he says.
Other
avenues include the Yellow Pages (look under Employment Agencies) and the
Internet (visit www.google.com and
search for “recruiter” plus any industry or geographic terms that apply to you;
example: “recruiter retail
“Look
for a recruiter who specializes in the industry you’re in and want to stay in.
Recruiters really can’t help those who want to change industries or careers --
this is a common misconception,” advises Rick Fox.
What
are the benefits of working with a recruiter?
A
good recruiter can introduce you to good jobs before they’re ever advertised.
“If
an opportunity is available in your industry, you may get a call from a
recruiter with information that very few people are going to know about,” says
Fox.
A
recruiter may offer tips on interviewing, too. “The headhunter will probably
know at least a couple of questions the hiring manager is going to ask you.
They should never put words in your mouth, but they can at least tell you what
to expect,” says Riley.
How
much, if any, should you pay a recruiter?
“Not
one red cent,” says Riley. “The hiring company should pay the recruiter to fill
the position. This is known as a contingency search, and it forces the
recruiter to find the right person more quickly and work harder for you.”
Fox
concurs. “If you’re a candidate going to a search firm, you should never pay a
fee.”
Is
it OK to work with more than one recruiter?
In
a word, yes. “I view recruiters as strong horses that you hitch to your wagon
-- you want to have as many pulling as you can,” says Riley.
Every
recruiter understands that you want a job and that you’ll work with whoever can
help, so don’t worry about hurting their feelings.
BUT
… if a recruiter takes you to market and starts shopping your resume around
heavily to companies, it’s wise to stay loyal. “They may feel cheated if you
use someone else,” says Fox.
How
can you get the most from working with a recruiter?
It
may help to call and offer to sit down face-to-face with a recruiter. “Only
5-10% of job seekers do this. I respect the initiative of those who come and
see me, and I tend to work a bit harder for them,” says Riley.
You
can research your way to better results, too. “If you call up and say, ‘I’ve
prepared a list of 15 companies I should be working for -- companies that need
me -- and here’s why,’ that recruiter will be all over you, because you’ve just
made their job really easy,” says Fox. You can do corporate research and find
target companies at both www.hoovers.com and
www.referenceusa.com.
Action Step: It’s
easier than you think to find and work with a recruiter. There’s one for almost
every career and level of experience, so why not hook up with one this week?
Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin
Grab your Free Guerrilla Job Search Audio here.
