Should You Work With a Recruiter?

Putting in long hours doesn't guarantee a successful job search, but a smart strategy can improve your chances of landing interviews with the right companies. Working with third-party recruitment agencies expands your network while letting you focus your efforts on the jobs most suited for you. Recruitment agencies vary in placement rate and quality, so partner with reputable companies that have a history of satisfying employers and job seekers.

1. Recruiters Profit From Good Placements

Recruitment agencies work for companies, not job seekers, and they make a profit by filling job openings. Recruiters on retainer work exclusively with businesses to find good hires, while recruiters who work on contingency only get paid when they fill job openings before competing agencies. In both arrangements, a recruiter's goal is to build a strong track record of placing qualified candidates who are a good fit for the company.

As a result, recruiters are often unresponsive when your qualifications don't fit current openings or they have a high volume of candidates with better credentials. However, this can help you avoid wasting time on positions you have a slim chance of getting.

2. Recruiters Have Need-to-Know Information

Recruitment agencies often have details about a company or position that aren't listed in the job posting, making them invaluable sources of information. If you're a strong, marketable candidate, recruiters are more likely to help you refine your pitch and tell you what to expect when interviewing with each company. Many agencies also recruit for unadvertised positions, giving you access to jobs that are difficult to apply for on your own.

3. Recruiters Want Top Talent

While recruitment agencies can ease your path to a great job, getting their attention requires patience and brand management. In Jobvite's 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey, 28 percent of recruiters said their top priority was attracting higher-quality candidates, and 24 percent stated they cared most about growing a strong talent pipeline. Recruiters use career websites, social media and business networks to scout for active and passive job seekers, and many hold interviews to weed out the weakest candidates. Much like employers, recruiters look for professionals with impressive credentials, an authoritative brand and a likeable personality, so it's important to sell yourself online, on paper and in person.

4. Recruiters Can Spot Hidden Gems

Expert recruitment agencies realize the best candidates often come from outside the target industry, and they specialize in finding professionals with transferable skills and experience. Professional headhunters can help you land better positions if you're changing careers or have a nonlinear work history. More importantly, surviving the vetting process means you become part of a recruiter's talent pipeline, making your job search shorter in the future.

5. Recruiters Lead Negotiations

Recruiters may negotiate a salary at the lower end of your target range to close the deal, and employers may withdraw a job offer if you try to negotiate a higher salary than the agency originally specified. Be honest about your previous salary and the minimum amount you expect going forward, so agents only consider you for jobs that meet your salary requirements.

Recruitment agencies can help you find good opportunities without sending out dozens of resumes. Give recruiters a complete picture of your skills and background to make your brand easy to pitch to potential employers.

Photo courtesy of SOMMAI at FreeDigitalPhotos.net