If your resume says you are management/executive, as soon as you post your resume on the internet you will start receiving aggressive contact attempts from a unique group of companies who market themselves as Career Managers, Executive employment consultants and full service career consultants. They all have exactly the same pitch. They will tell you that they are contacting you because they are very selective when they accept new clients and you are the type of high level achiever they work with. They offer access to an exclusive database of pre-screened employers and exclusive openings. You will be told that they are retained by their employers. This is interesting because there is not one reputable retained search firm that also charges candidates a fee. These firms go on to promise a new resume and “customized” career coaching. They will do all this for you and will only charge $6,000 to $10,000.
My tone hints at my feelings about this business but I won’t open myself to litigation by telling you exactly what I think and know about these firms. I recommend that before you even meet with a representative of these firms simply Google the company name and read all the comments posted by their actual clients. Some of these firms are Haldane, R.L. Stevens, ITS/JMAC and Allen and Assoc.
If you have had experience with these firms your comments are welcome.
