Considering a Strategic Career Move? We Can Make It Happen!
We never promise more than we can deliver, but we always deliver more than we promise.
"I've literally never had to look for a job - until now. I didn't know where to begin. You took an otherwise intimidating experience and showed me that it didn't need to be. Your professionalism and follow through are to be commended. You've opened my eyes to career options I didn't know existed."
Barbara Koon,
Operations Manager
Food Merchandising Service
Since most recruiters earn their fees from (and therefore owe their allegiance to) the employers they recruit for, how can you get them to work to your benefit? First, some basics. The term "recruiter" is often applied to employment agencies, contingency recruiters and executive search consultants. They are not the same. Employment agencies typically seek to fill jobs that range from entry-level to middle management. Today, fees are almost always paid by the employers, but in some rare cases "applicant fee paid" agencies still exist.
When the employer pays the fee, it is only paid when the agency places an applicant on the job. It is a contingency fee. Often employers interview applicants from several different agencies at the same time, since they are under no obligation to hire any applicants and will incur no fee until they do so. This fee arrangement can also create a "conflict of interest" for the recruiter that can actually harm job-seekers, which will be explained further in a later section of this report.
Executive search consultants are another breed altogether. They typically work on a retained basis for their clients and are guaranteed to receive a fee whether a hire is made or not. These "headhunters" usually recruit exclusively for senior management or executive-level positions. They often specialize in a particular industry or function. What they all have in common is they don't work for the job-seeker.
Knowing exactly who you're dealing with and how to deal effectively with recruiters can help increase your odds of finding the right one and the right job, too.