Common myths about recruiters busted – Pros and Cons

These myths are spread by recruiters trying to convince you to use them versus applying on your own and some coaches convincing you to use them instead of recruiters. I support using both so I have nothing to gain by this discussion. I am a professional coach and have been a successful recruiter for thirty years so I know the subject. I am not taking a position one way or another; just stating facts.

1)      You need to use recruiters because they have the “hidden” jobs that you cannot find on your own.

FALSE, The only recruiters who can claim this are retained recruiters but they make up only about 5%. When a contingency recruiter gets opening usually several recruiters get it and while these recruiters are working on it the employer is also recruiting on his own and probably has it posted so he can avoid the big recruiting fee.

2)      Recruiters work for you. They try to go out and find you a job.

FALSE, Recruiters do not work for the candidate. They will try everything to convince you that they are there for you but the employer pays their fee. If when you register with a recruiter he does not have an employer looking for you the recruiter will not go out and work to find you a job. They will move on to the next candidate who matches the needs of their employer. From time to time there are exceptions. If a candidate’s skills are rare and in extreme demand a smart recruiter will quickly call a few clients to see if they want to interview him. This is the exception to the rule.

3)      Right of referral

Don’t use a recruiter because once a recruiter sends your resume to a company he owns you exclusively as far as that company is concerned. You can’t go in on your own and the company cannot hire you without paying a big fee so they may pass on you in favor of a candidate without a fee attached. No other recruiter can work with you and that company.

ABSOLUTELY FALSE, In almost every state the courts have ruled that a recruiter earns right of referral when he secures an interview. If a company agrees to interview you through a recruiter that recruiter owns the referral. Sending an unsolicited resume or just being first does not give a recruiter ownership.

 

Comments

[Sean]

Good post! Especially in today's economy, more and more companies are shying away from using recruiters because the expense seems unnecessary. Recruiters work for the employer and not for the potential candidate. In addition, recruiters do not offer any assistance on how to improve your sales tools or help you slant the playing field in your favor. Finding successful employment right now is extremely competitive and you need to continuously expand and rely on your network to learn of those wonderful employment opportunities. Although they are out there, it can take a tremendous amount of effort to find them.

[prozac online]

Thanks for the information. We have to be careful when it comes to recruiters because some of them are just using us to gain profit in illegal means.

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Leah Marie