What should I look for in an employement recruiter?
Asked by
kellylet (
858
)
November 9th, 2009
Does anyone have experience with a recruiter? Is it worth it? How to choose between companies?
I have been looking for work myself for a few months and I am starting into look at other options. I am new to San Diego and do not have much of a network here. So I thought a recruiter may be helpful at exposing some of the hidden job market. I have been approached by Taylor Wingate, Chessman Careers recruiters and a few others.
Their sales pitches sound amazing but I am a little tentative that they are making big promises they won’t keep. It’s expensive but worth it if they keep their promises.
Just FYI if it helps:
I am looking for an outside sales job. I have been through a few interview processes but no one has picked me yet. I’ve been the second or third choice a few times and haven’t been getting responses the last few weeks.
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5 Answers
I don’t think there’s any reason you cant use multiples.
Staffing agencies make money if they place you somewhere. You’re not contractually obligated to just one.
They want me to pay up front and it’s a lot of money.
First of let me ask something personal, what is the salary (yearly or hourly) that your wish to get? I ask because there are plenty of recruiters out there looking for salesmen that won’t require you to pay and unless you are looking for director/executive level positions I seriously doubt they are worth it.
Like @The_Compassionate_Heretic said, they “make money if they place you somewhere” so why would you also need to pay?
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Unfortunately, it’s hard to really know what they’re like until you’re with them. I have joined various agencies and some are much better than others. Join a few but don’t join so many that you can’t keep up with them In mine and my friends’ experience, agencies work best if you contact them pretty much every day, either by phone or e-mail, so that you are always at the top of their list. They will allocate jobs, fair or not, to those that spring into their mind first, and it is enitrely possible to be signed with an agency for months and never hear from them – this has happened to me.
Go into the place and visit them, see if you like the staff, if they seem like they would be able to help you. It is important to form a strong personal rapport with whoever your agent is, so that they will trust you and think of you as an excellent candidate. You really can’t make too much of a good impression on them. Any good thoughts they have about you, they will likely pass onto prospective employers.
So, sign to a few, if you are willing to keep up a long and sustained period of contact with them.
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