There are three basic recruiting types. Knowing which one will help you the most is extremely important. Go to the wrong one and you’ll get that nagging feeling that he is not on your side.
Mass marketers work with companies that need a lot of people. They process candidates in a systematic way and send out resumes by the dozen. They are great if you want a job where there are 10 or 100 people doing the same thing you are, like at a help desk or clerical job. I was talking to one mass marketer who said, “We always check references. We hope no one remembers our candidates because that means the candidate didn’t cause any trouble.” If you want a job without a lot of questions asked, look for a mass marketer.
Professional pickers find individuals for spots where 1 to 3 people are needed. The pace is slower. Personality and skills become a huge factor. Programmers, accountants, managers and other jobs are often in this group. These guys will match your specific skills and background to the job. You have to be willing to answer a lot of questions and go through several interviews. The better you do in the interviews, the better you will be paid. But you have to find the right professional picker. You have to find one that specializes in guys just like you. Send them your resume.
Boutique elite recruiters are looking for top jobs. They are headhunters. They hunt their quarry one person at a time. The find presidents, CFO’s, CIO’s, plant managers and very high level engineers. They find you. Put your name and reputation out on LinkedIn and publish a few articles in online forums if you want to attract their attention. If a headhunter calls you, remember that they generally talk to 50-100 qualified people for every opening they fill. So, expect to be contacted by several of them before one finds you a job.
Think about the type of job you want. You need to make sure your recruiter is at the right level. Ask your recruiter how many people they have placed in the job you want in the past year. Ask them why you should let them represent you.
Control your job search. Evaluate the people who offer to help you. More on that soon.
————————-
Something To Do Today
Take control of your job search. Let any recruiter who offers to help be a helper. You keep searching yourself and control your search by requiring feedback.