Working with a recruiter can add significant value to your job search. But how does a job seeker know if their recruiter is offering the type of value they deserve?  Below are a few questions that job seekers should ask themselves when determining if their recruiter measures up:

1. Does your recruiter have extensive experience recruiting for your specific specialty?  Working with a recruiter who has scant experience and connections with firms searching for someone with your experiences and skills could make your use of a recruiter less productive.
2. If you’re already working with a recruiter, ask yourself, how often do they check in with me?  Does the recruiter call or send an email to let you know that you’re still on their radar? If you’ve interviewed with an employer, has that recruiter kept you up-to-date on the progress of the employer’s hiring process?
3. Did the recruiter take the time to explain how you two will work together?  Did he/she make it clear that they have job opportunities available that might be a good match for you?  And if there are no job opportunities available currently, did they indicate when they expected job opportunities to become available in the future?
4. If you’re working with a recruiter already, do they send resumes without checking in with you first?  Effective recruiters make sure that a job seeker hasn’t already applied for a job already before they send out their resume.
5. Did the recruiter take the time to find out about your work history and you career goals for the future? The most effective recruiters want to know your salary expectations and career goals before they match you with an employer.