Working with IT Recruiters
Allan Hoffman
Sooner or later you're going to get a call from a recruiter -- or call one yourself. You're an Oracle pro? A Java genius? More than likely, you're already inundated with calls. All that attention can be daunting. Do you even want to work with a recruiter? What should you expect when working with one? Before you decide you want a recruiter on your side, check out these answers to common questions about working with recruiters.
In general, it's best to work with several recruiters, as each recruiter works with specific companies, and you want access to the broadest range of options. Be sure to keep tabs on where your CV is being submitted. That's important for you, the recruiter and the companies interested in what you've got to offer. If your CV arrives at a company from two different recruiters, that may disqualify you straight off. The reason? The company isn't going to want to get into a battle with the recruiters over who represents you, says Karoline Hough, assistant branch manager at the St. Louis office of IT staffing firm Bradford & Galt.
What if a recruiter asks for an "exclusive"?
If you're a hot candidate with skills in serious demand, a recruiter may ask for an "exclusive." That means the recruiter would represent you for a period of time -- a week, let's say -- with the understanding that you wouldn't be working with other recruiters during that period. "If you want to be a recruiter's top priority, give them an exclusive," says Hough. "In this market, where the demand far outweighs the supply, a two-week exclusive is probably enough."
Look to a recruiter for advice on your career, but remember, it's your career, not the recruiter's, and the ultimate decision about what jobs you seek is yours. Recruiters can help you determine where your skills fit into the marketplace, Hough says, or whether you need additional training. They have their finger on the pulse of the market and on what's hot and what's not, and that's a valuable asset to you. But remember, recruiters earn their money by placing you; don't rush to take a position just because a recruiter knows you'd be a sure thing for the job (and he'd like to see a quick placement).
Do I need a certain amount of experience to work with a recruiter?
IT recruiters typically work with people with several years of experience, but that varies, depending on an individual's expertise and education, the field and the recruiter's own areas of specialisation. As you would expect, the more experience you've got -- and the greater demand for it -- the better off you'll be finding a recruiter. If you're just getting into the industry, you may have a rough time getting a recruiter to talk to you; companies don't want to pay a recruiter to fill an entry-level job when they've got stacks of CVs available to them. Still, just because one recruiter tells you he doesn't want to work with you, that doesn't mean another one won't be interested. Just like finding a job takes time, so does finding the right recruiter.
Just because you get a call from a recruiter, don't assume he or she is the one for you. "There are shady dealers out there," says Jason Berkowitz, chief operating officer at Hunter Recruitment Advisors, a recruitment outsourcing company. "It's important that you find someone who's on your side and who isn't just going to fax your CV all over town." How should you guard against those shady dealers? Ask for references from two or three people the recruiter has placed, and then call those people, quizzing them on their experience with the recruiter.
What qualities should I look for in a recruiter?
"Look for a recruiter who's honest," says Hough. Meet with the recruiter, she advises. You want someone who's a good listener and will respond to your phone calls or emails. Consider whether they know your particular industry segment, too. "Be open," Berkowitz says. "And be honest about what you want."
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