Working With a Recruiter

Signing up with a professional job recruiter can open doors to career opportunities you may not find on your own. There are recruiting agencies for virtually any job type or field. Many companies hire search firms for specialized jobs and for senior level positions, saving them time in finding the right candidates for interviews.

Will they want me?

First, consider whether you will be of interest to a recruiter, whose job it is to find qualified candidates. Do you have at least an undergraduate college degree? What other education, certificates and training have you completed? If you are a veteran, how are you explaining the value of military schools and job specialties?

Recruiters want top-notch candidates with outstanding skills, experience and references — so they can deliver excellent results for their employer clients.

You might someday receive a call about a job opportunity, even if you haven’t signed up with a recruitment firm, But if you are seriously interested in a job move or career change, be proactive. Get your name in the right hands for a shot at that rewarding and well-paying position.

Remember that executive search firms are working for their employer clients — not directly for you, although building professional and ethical relationships with job candidates is vital to their profession. Among other things, recruiters need a reservoir of qualified applicants throughout the year, and that’s a benefit for you.

What does the search firm expect of you?

The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), a worldwide professional organization for retained executive search firms, provides this advice to job candidates:

• Be honest. Under no circumstances should you inflate your resume, misrepresent your work history or “hold some cards back.” Also, be genuine about your interest (or lack of) in the position. Completing an accurate disclosure by the candidate is an essential element in the search process.
• Be flexible. Make every effort to fit appointments and interviews within your schedule.
• Educate yourself. Conduct your own due diligence on the search firm and the client organization, and understand the unique value of retained executive search consulting.
• Have realistic expectations. Understand that the process takes time and that you will be one of several qualified candidates.
• Negotiate in good faith. Do not lead search consultants to believe you are negotiating only with them if you are considering offers from more than one organization.

Background checks

Recruiters will check your references and conduct other research to uncover any possible problems that could hurt your candidacy. This process may include checking:

• Employment history
• Education and professional credentials
• Criminal records
• Civil records

Recruiters will also look for your name in media coverage, on social media networks and elsewhere online. What you say — and what’s been said about you — matters more now than ever.

How will I be treated?

What can you expect, as a candidate? Confidentiality, communication and full disclosure, according to AESC’s “Candidate’s Bill of Rights.”

You should be told about the kind of job and job requirements, the compensation package (don’t forget to ask about tuition assistance, sick leave and other possible benefits). During initial conversations though, the recruiter isn’t obligated to provide the name of the employer. That will come once you are vetted and considered a viable candidate for the position.

Patience, please

Start the process of working with a recruiter when you don’t really need another job, if possible. It can take many months before the right match is made. And of course, there are no guarantees. Consider search firms to be just one strategy for finding the work that’s right for you.