Why talk to a recruiter?

The question really is ...”why NOT talk to a recruiter?” Recruiters are like every other professional - some are good and some are bad; some you like and some you don’t. Even if  you are not currently looking for a new position, it would be wise to find a recruiter you respect and initiate a dialog. A day will come when you need the services of a recruiter and you will wish you had one that you knew and with which you felt comfortable. While you are not job-hunting, the recruiter can be trolling the waters of the job market identifying possible opportunities for you. He or she can keep you informed of your market value and the industry trends. When the day arrives that you have decided to seek new employment, the recruiter will have a list of possibilities with which to get started.

When it is time to start a job search a recruiter is not only going to have existing contacts, but is also going to be much more efficient at finding opportunities. Most have received extensive training and experience with the latest techniques at uncovering hidden opportunities and getting to the people who make the decisions. And if you select one with a vertical market specialization, he or she will have an awareness of industry activity. Here are the benefits of working with a recruiter:

• Identify companies that might have an interest in your skills
• Understand the inner workings of these companies to be in a position to advise its candidates the true health of the prospective employer
• Send you appropriate job openings so you can keep you finger on the pulse of the job market and understand what’s in demand, what the going rate is, and which skills you need to acquire
• Jobs in which you are not interested can be past along to friends and colleagues
• Some jobs pay finder’s fees that can be put towards a vacation, your children’s college fund, or even be donated to your favorite charity in your name.

You have a doctor that looks after your health, and a mechanic that looks after your car. You should have a recruiter looking after your career. Unless you enjoy reading classified ad’s, subscribe to business research services, and like making cold calls to companies you know little about, the recruiter will do a far more effective job at acquiring the greatest number and highest quality opportunities. The name of the game is to have the best selection of opportunities before you when you finally decide to make a job change, and that’s where a recruiter is most useful.