How to Work with an Employment Recruiter

Working with a recruiter may be a great way to find a job quicker. How do you locate one? And what should you expect? An excellent way to locate a recruiter is to ask around. Ask any of your friends or family if they have had anyone specific recommended. Check the Yellow Pages (look under Employment Agencies) and the Internet (visit www.google.com and search for "recruiter" plus any industry or geographic area that applies to you; for example, "recruiter technology Nashville").

Look for a recruiter who specializes in the industry in which you want to focus. It is a common misconception that recruiters can help those who want to change industries or careers. Helping persons change fields is not the recruiter’s specialty. The benefit of working with a good recruiter is that he or she can introduce you to good jobs before they are ever advertised. A recruiter may offer tips on interviewing, too. The recruiter will probably know the types of questions the hiring manager is going to ask you, and being prepared for the interview is vital.

You should not have to pay the recruiter. The hiring company should pay the recruiter to fill the position. This situation is known as a contingency search, and it forces the recruiter to find the right person more quickly and work harder for you. You should never pay a fee.

It is fine to work with a few recruiters at once---you will not hurt their feelings, but if a recruiter takes your resume and presents it heavily to companies, staying loyal to that recruiter is wise.

You will be more respected if you sit down face-to-face with a recruiter. Only 5-10% of job seekers do this. Also, you should do the initial research if you can. If you call 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 love you because you have just made his or her job easier.

You can do corporate research and find target companies at www.hoovers.com and www.referenceusa.com.

If you signed up to be a Trevecca Mentor please click here to complete registration.  For more information regarding the mentor program, contact the Career and Counseling Center at 615-248-1237.