In a tight employment market, you might wonder why anyone should work with a recruiter. After all, you likely receive auto-generated emails (like Glassdoor’s “We think you’d be a good fit for…”) and calls every day.
However, if you’re a talented, experienced technical candidate, you’re not just looking for “a job.” You’re looking for the right job, with the right company and the right environment for your career growth.
Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Use a Recruiter
Working with the right recruiter will save you time and give you valuable, actionable intelligence. It will also help you find the right fit for your next career move.
Technically speaking, independent recruiters are paid by the client company that hires them but the good ones work for YOU too.
“When you’ve been in the business for 30-plus years, you realize that your longevity in the marketplace is more valuable than just filling a quick job opening. Your success is built on maintaining great relationships with a network of candidates throughout their entire career lifecycles,” said Kay Durkin, principal at Phoenix Partners. “So while I’m hired by my client companies, I am always working for the candidate as well. I seek “win-win” placements because I want both the candidate and employer to be happy.”
Candidates Who Should Use a Recruiter
- You work in a field with a shortage of talent, but you require discretion in conducting your job search. A recruiter will help narrow the field of possibilities confidentially, with a minimum of exposure of you as a candidate. At the same time, because there is a shortage of talent, a recruiter will be well positioned to know what companies are hiring candidates with your skills.
- You’re looking in a specific industry. There are some definite advantages to using a recruiter, especially if you’re working in certain industries. Many companies in the technical and manufacturing industries work exclusively with recruiters to hire new talent. Always look for a recruiter that specializes or has experience in your industry or discipline.
- You don’t have a strong personal network in certain companies, or you want to relocate. Often, recruiters have contacts at the companies you are targeting so chances are they can make sure your resume is received by the right people at these companies. In the case of relocating, some recruiters (like Phoenix Partners) belong to both national and international recruiter networks that can help identify positions in different geographical areas.
- You have very specific and hard-to-find skills, or a lot of industry-specific experience. You’re a specialist or expert in your profession. Recruiters are an excellent source for connecting you with companies that may not even be advertising an open position, but who are always ready to consider creating a role for a candidate with specific skills and experience.
- You’re an experienced manager or executive. Many of these positions are handled exclusively through recruiters, who can help with assessing your skills for these positions and make the introduction to the appropriate manager.
- You have excellent qualifications but have circumstances or gaps in your resume that require explanation. A good recruiter will help get your resume to the right people and answer their questions about your resume. Simply relying on an applicant tracking system will not do this for you.
Candidate Who May Not Be Suited To Working With a Recruiter
- If you’re an entry-level job seeker, most recruiters can’t help you. There are a few exceptions, like college campus recruiters who specialize in entry-level jobs. But most companies won’t use recruiters for entry level jobs.
- You are looking to make a transition or pivot your career. Typically, the companies that place job openings with recruiters expect their recruiters to deliver experienced, qualified candidates. A company doesn’t usually place a job with a recruiter if there isn’t a requirement of specialized knowledge and an established track record in the discipline. Sometimes a case can be made for transferable skills, but that scenario is rare.
Are you looking to make a career move? Work with Phoenix Partners to enhance your job search.