Jason Monastra

My life and thoughts out on the web

Recruiting is unique position, it is the broker of the one true product in the world that has the ability to say NO, or YES depending on numerous variables.  Funny thing is, recruiters help control the gateway for many professionals career paths, one of the most important decisions that people will make over the course of their lives.  Yet people select, fire, and replace recruiters like a used tissue only to replace and repeat the same things all over again with their next tragedy.  How do we make the right decision?

First, enter for the long haul.  Recruiters are not in a position to place everyone that get in contact with, so that is to be understood.  The largest tool for a successful job search is YOU, not your recruiter.  Professional search takes time, and 80% of the time you will find the role that fits best for you.  A recruiter should be seen as an advisor, a supplier of critical information and a valued asset - whether that person places you in a position or not, there are inumerable other assets that a good recruiter brings to a relationship.

Find someone that understands YOU, what YOU want, need, and desire.  Most recruiter stories I hear are about people that could care less about their candidates, have little interest in the development of the person’s career and pay more attention to their clients needs than those of the people they represent.  Clients are very important but candidates are just as critical.  Neither is good without the other and a recruiting professional understands that.  It is their job to see what is going on in the market and bring you the appropriate opportunities for review.  How can they do that if they do not know anything about you?

What do other people have to say?  People speak, especially when it is bad and with the advent of online content and networks, it is easy to pin point the type of recruiter you are speaking to.  Testimonials are crtiical, get references, learn about their clients and get a feel for the firm they work for.  How long have they been there, what role do they play, industries do they serve, etc.?  All are characteristics that you will want to review when making an evaluation.

Most important….MEET the person.  If at all possible, sit down and meet the person who will be working with you.  Now this is not always possible with recruiters handling larger geographic regions, but if you are in the same city - there is no reason you cannot do a meet and greet for 10 minutes.  Face to face interaction allows for crucial rapport building while offering a sense of trust between the candidate and recruiter.

Though not a comprehensive list, this should provide what you need to get started in the right direction.  Remember, work with the recruiter, learn from them and have them learn from you.  Never burn a bridge by ignoring their calls or replacing them since they did not place you this time around……you never know who they know.