What Exactly Is a Recruiter?

If you have been working for awhile, at some point, you have likely opened your LinkedIn mail or answered your phone to a recruiter. These individuals are often working on behalf of another company, trying to find talent to fill a position. They will gauge interest to see if you would consider interviewing for a vacancy they are trying to fill.  

If you have ever considered using a recruiter to find your next job, there are some things to consider. First, it’s important to note that there are two types of recruiters….

An “in-house recruiter” works for a particular Company to hire talent for that Company. They will scan applications, conduct initial screening interviews, and advance qualified candidates to the Hiring Manager. These recruiters are generally not the ones that people think of when they want to use a recruiter with their job search. And these are generally not the ones calling you to consider a vacancy. 

The other type of recruiter is a third-party or “agency recruiter” that is hired by individual companies to fill specific positions. They may be working to fill roles for a myriad of different companies. This second type of recruiter is typically the one who will call you or reach out via LinkedIn, and this type will also be our focus in this article.

Should I Use a Recruiter?

Even if you are happy in your current role, it is always a good idea to entertain a conversation when a recruiter contacts you. After all, with the tumultuous economy, you never know when you might be interested in considering another opportunity. Always keep the line of communication open, if you aren’t pursuing a job switch, because there might be a day you would consider interviewing with another company - even if that isn’t today.

However, if you are asking the question “should I use a recruiter?,” chances are that you are already considering interviewing with another company. So there are definitely some things to consider during your job search. According to Indeed, there are 11 benefits to using a recruiter, including: 

• A recruiter may know about an opportunity that hasn’t been posted online. It’s possible that a company has hired a recruiter to be the sole source of candidates, so they might be able to help you find more potential opportunities than you can find on your own. 

• It could save you time to work with a recruiter, as they will know about jobs that meet your skill set and qualifications (as opposed to you pouring through hundreds of job applications). 

• A recruiter can help guide and coach you through the process, as well as provide advice on whether you would be a good fit for an opportunity. 

• Your application may get extra visibility if a recruiter passes it along to the hiring manager. We all know that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can be tricky, and if you don’t have the keywords, the ATS may automatically reject you. A recruiter can help you get through these gatekeeper systems. 

• Your job search could have an extra layer of confidentiality when working with a recruiter. This is important if you don’t want your current employer to know you are looking for another job.

• A recruiter can provide feedback on your cover letter and resume, and they may even be able to get feedback on your interview from the company. So it is good to get their perspective during  your career search.

Using A Recruiter Seems Great…What’s the Catch?

While the benefits of using a recruiter are great, it won’t necessarily guarantee you a new role. It’s important to counter-balance all the pros with some of the realities of using a recruiter. The Muse has detailed several of the key considerations when using a recruiter: 

• You need to remember that the recruiter is working for the company (not you). The recruiter is paid when they fill a vacancy…and they are paid by the company. So, they put the company’s interests ahead of yours, making sure that they put forth the candidates they see as the best fit. This is definitely good news for the company, but it means you might not have the opportunity to interview for a position that interests you.  

• Because the recruiter is only paid when they fill the position, they may encourage you to take a position that isn’t your dream job or encourage you to accept a low-ball offer. They typically want you to receive the highest offer they can, as they get paid a percentage of your offer. However, if there are 2 options: 1) they get paid nothing, or 2) get paid lower than they prefer, they may choose the latter option. So make sure the recruiter has your best interest in mind when accepting an offer.  

• The recruiter can’t always share confidential information about open positions, and they may tell you that you aren’t qualified because of this confidential information. Again, the recruiter is working for the company and has to meet their requirements. So don’t get discouraged if you don’t land your ideal job when working with a recruiter.

• A recruiter may not fully understand the requirements of a job or the more technical aspects of your background and skill set. While they are typically really good at understanding company and industry lingo, more technical aspects might be lacking. So make sure that you ask the right questions to ensure the job is right for you.

And most importantly, when using a recruiter, note that you must still be actively involved in the job search. Many people think that once they connect with a recruiter they no longer have to network or apply for jobs. Remember, the recruiter is working for the company (not you), so make sure you are still pursuing a job on your own. A recruiter should supplement, not replace, your personal job search.

The Wilbanks Consulting Group is well-versed in how to make your resume and other career tools look enticing to a recruiter. The career experts at WCG can also explain how utilizing a recruiter is simply one asset of your entire Job Search Strategy.

What’s Next?

If you are ready to take the next step in your career search, but you don’t quite know what to do, reach out to the experts at The Wilbanks Consulting Group. You can schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your individual needs and desires. We are happy to help you decide if a recruiter can help your job search, as well as how to contact a recruiter. 

And perhaps most important? At The Wilbanks Consulting Group, we are working for you (not the company). We are happy to partner with you today!