The Smart Way To Deal With Recruiters

As the competition for talent in our industry heats up, third party recruiters will take a more important role in staffing across the industry. If you haven’t been contacted by one yet, you will (especially if you’re following our advice and making yourself more valuable), and we want you to make sure you’re prepared to make the most of it.

Third party recruiters are professionals who help companies fill openings with qualified candidates by utilizing their networks and headhunting skills.

The first thing to understand is that regardless of how friendly they are towards you, recruiters are not your friends. They are salespeople whose job is to sell you. You are the product, not the customer.

The customer is the company paying the recruiter to fill an open role. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying recruiters are bad people or that you shouldn’t trust them and maybe even become friends with them, but you do have to remember that you are the product.

Nothing wrong with this, it’s just the reality of the business. During my last job search, I met several wonderful recruiters. Some of whom were very helpful in my search, and I like them immensely, but always keep in mind that ultimately the recruiter’s job is to please their client, not to please you. After all, the client is the one paying the bills!