You need a new job and want the process to be as pleasant as possible. So you’re curious… “Should I hire a recruiter to help me in my job search?”
“It depends,” is the answer. I’ll show you how to determine for yourself whether or not to utilize a recruiter.
First and foremost, we must distinguish between the two sorts of recruiters out there.
Recruiters are classified into two types.
There are two kinds of recruiters: “in-house recruiters” and “agency recruiters.”
In-house recruiters work for a single organization and assist it in hiring. That’s all.
In-house recruiters conduct job interviews and “screen” applicants, but they cannot take your résumé and send it to various companies, nor can they assist you in broadening your employment search. So let us proceed.
What about staffing agencies? They work for a recruiting firm and assist different firms in finding qualified candidates. They are the ones we must concentrate on in this piece.
But not so fast… they can’t help everyone. Let’s look at why.
Agency recruiters work for the firm rather than for you.
That is the truth. They meet the needs of the businesses that hire from them.
When was the last time you paid a recruiter as a job seeker? The correct answer is “never.”
Meanwhile, the corporations with which they collaborate pay them thousands of dollars. That should suffice to demonstrate who they truly work for. (More information on how much they get paid and how it works to follow!)
That doesn’t mean recruiters can’t assist you…
As a result, recruiters primarily serve the company. They also require job seekers.
A position cannot be filled until both sides of the equation are present. Furthermore, most agency recruiters are only compensated when jobs are filled. That is the good news. But here’s the bad news…
Because of the requirement to fill vacancies, they must prioritize candidates with in-demand skills or extensive experience. Not necessarily the ones who require their assistance the most.
So, let’s look at how you may rapidly determine whether you should hire a recruiter in your job search.
Should You Use A Recruiter?
Who recruiters can most effectively assist in their job search:
If you fall into one or more of these categories, you should consider utilizing a recruiter to locate work.
- You work in a field where there is a scarcity of skills. There are more unfilled positions than qualified candidates to fill them (software engineering is an example right now in many cities).
- You have incredibly specific and difficult-to-find abilities. Or extensive experience in your field. You are a professional or expert in your field.
- You work for a major corporation known for its outstanding employees (Google, Facebook, Tesla, LinkedIn, etc.)
- You are seasoned management or executive. When they get you a job, most recruiters are paid a percentage of your starting salary (15-25% is typical), so they are willing to spend more time assisting you if the prospective payout is greater.
- You are a consultant or contractor seeking a temporary role rather than a permanent position. If this is the case, you should speak with a number of contract recruiters. The majority of this essay assumes you want full-time, permanent employment.
Who recruiters can least help in their job search:
- You are a job seeker at the entry-level. Most recruiters will be unable to assist you. There are a few outliers, such as college campus recruiters who focus on entry-level positions. However, most businesses will not pay recruiting agencies to fill entry-level positions since they can locate enough qualified candidates on their own. (Remember, businesses pay a 15-25% charge if they hire someone through a recruiter, so they must determine whether it is worth it for each job!)
- You want to change careers or make a career change. A corporation will not pay a high charge to a recruiter if you do not have specialized knowledge and a track record of doing what they require. So, if you’re a customer service professional wanting to get into marketing, you’re better off going it alone.
- Because your employment does not require any specific skills or knowledge, employers may readily fill available jobs.
- You’re seeking work in a new city but don’t have a compelling reason to hire you over a local candidate (such as a shortage in talent in that city, or unique skill or piece of experience you bring.)
The right way to use a recruiter to help you find a job
It’s not a bad idea to send your resume to a few recruiters. Go ahead and do it if you want to. Regardless of what I mentioned previously.
Why am I saying this? It doesn’t hurt to give it a shot. If you ask, they might even give you some resume advice.
But here’s where things go wrong:
They make contact with a recruiting firm and speak with a recruiter. The recruiter accepts their resume and offers to keep them in mind for future opportunities.
So they sit back and relax, thinking to themselves, “OK! I now have the assistance of a professional. This is going to be simple.”
Two weeks have passed. Nothing has been heard by the individual. They become agitated and upset. Why isn’t the recruiter assisting you? Because of the reasons stated above.
So here’s the deal: chat with a few recruiters, but don’t rely on them. You should presume you won’t hear anything from them and begin your job search on your own. If they are able to assist, it will be an added benefit and a pleasant surprise. But it won’t be a problem if they can’t.
How you can get hired by companies even if a recruiter won’t submit your resume
If a recruiter claims they are unable to submit you for a position, you may still apply on your own. An employer may be more willing to hire you if the recruiter’s fee is not attached. So don’t be too down on yourself.
Seriously, as a recruiter, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discovered a job seeker who seemed qualified but my recruiting manager wouldn’t let me refer them to the employer I had in mind for them. “They’re not bad for the work, but this isn’t the type of person this company pays us to find,” my manager said.
You might still get the job if you apply on your own.
The 4 best ways to find a job without using a recruiter
Here’s what I’d recommend you utilize in your job search, in addition to recruiters…
- Make use of your network. Speak with people you know to see if they are aware of any related job openings. This is one of the finest strategies to get hired because firms are more likely to hire you if you are mentioned by someone they know!
- Apply for positions on LinkedIn. (Use this LinkedIn job search strategy; it is by far my favorite!)
- Job posting sites. Here are the top 12 job search engines.
- Find particular firms on Google and apply through their websites.
