Working with a recruiter can be a great opportunity to expand your network of job opportunities. But before you enter into a candidate/recruiter relationship there are a few things you should know:
Does the recruiter have the background, work experience and contacts needed to get you the job you want? Don’t just depend on the recruiter’s word, do a little research and find out where they’ve worked, who their connections are and how respected they are by the players in your industry.
How does the recruiter circulate job candidate resumes? Good recruiters will be sure to not flood the market with your resume and will only send your resume to carefully selected employers whom they believe would be a good match. It’s important to connect with a recruiter who understands and respects your need to avoid the mass distribution of your resume so that it does not lock you out of job opportunities with employers who might not want to pay a recruiter’s fee.
How well does the recruiter acts as an advocate for the job candidate when submitting their resume for a job? While a recruiter has an obligation to the employer to present only the most appropriate candidates for a job order, they also have obligation to the job candidate to assertively promote them to jobs for which they feel the job candidate would be appropriate.
Is the recruiter good at communicating with job candidates? Do they let them know where they are in the recruiting process after an interview? Or, do they often leave job candidates in limbo? Job candidates are best served by recruiters who are willing to communicate clearly to them whether or not they are being considered for a job especially after an interview.