4 ms·

This is a really bad article. There are so many ways recruiters add value. 1) If you apply to places like Goldman Sachs off the street, chances are your resume

by zavulon 16y ago

This is a really bad article. There are so many ways recruiters add value. 1) If you apply to places like Goldman Sachs off the street, chances are your resume is not going to even get a look. Of course, if you know somebody on the inside, that's the best way to get in, but if you don't? Going through a recruiter who has a good relationship with a client is the next best way to get in. 2) A good recruiter will teach you how to write a resume. Yes, some unethical recruiters will tell you to write things you never did, etc.. but a good recruiter will tell you HOW to write it the right way, so HR people don't look it over. Sometimes as a developer, you never know.. I've had friends who got phone calls from HR: "It says here you're a PHP expert, but do you know HTML? HTML is a requirement for this job." My friend didn't put HTML on his resume because he assumed anyone would know PHP implies HTML. But not to HR people, who are generally clueless.. a good recruiter will teach you that. 3) A good recruiter will teach you how to behave at the interview and what to/what not to say. Again, not talking about lying. It's things like asking a lot of questions, displaying enthusiasm, what to answer to "How much money you want?" (hint: the correct answer is "Look, I'm very excited for this job and it looks like it's a great fit.. I'm sure you'll treat me fairly, so I'm open to hear what you have in mind"), etc. 4) If you develop a good relationship with a good recruiter, he will give you invaluable career advice. For example: did you know that most hiring manager don't want to hire someone whose longest assignment is < 1 year? They call these people "job-hoppers" and never want to deal with them. I had no idea about this, before recruiter told me ... There's a lot more, but the point is: there are some bad recruiters, and some good recruiters. Bad recruiters are to be avoided.. but good recruiters will give you a LOT of value. Disclaimer: couple of my friends are recruiters.

takrupp 16y ago
I am a recruiter and this is pretty spot on. I don't know who the author is, but it sounds like using one recruiter or nothing is the only option and that if you choose to work with a recruiter, you must do what they say. In reality: Recruiters open doors and give you a shot at a job. Sometimes the firm can't pay what they need to, sometimes the candidate isn't good enough for the role. Thats why recruiting is challenging. When I approach a hiring process, I am absolutely doing everything I can to make sure the deal has the potential for closing: 1) I do ask for the candidate's compensation expectations. 2) I do ask for the clients compensation expectations for the role. 3) I do frame things for both parties in order to get those expectations to line up. 4) I do share information with both parties on what is happening in the market (sometimes a company will think they need a junior guy with a 80k comp expectation, but if I tell them they are wrong, and that they need some with more experience in the 120k range, they listen). 5) I don't have perfect knowledge of everyone that is hiring in my industry. I'm good, but especially in my niche of Quant Trading, its so secretive, there is just no way I can know everything (unlike realestate brokers that more or less have an industry database they can use to get good info on the market). Ultimately, I will do what it takes to get an offer on the table. If its too low, Ill try to get more, but sometimes that won't happen and then its up to the candidate to make a hard decision. Your other points are all valid for executive recruiters (help with resume, deep domain knowledge, real relationships with hiring managers), but the vast majority of recruiters are in paper-pushing process shops where the person you are dealing with is purely gathering resumes, and not selling you in, learning about the market, etc. I know that it seems like splitting hairs, but the difference is huge. If you are making over 100k, dont both with the big companies, find a niche shop or an executive recruiting firm where the recruiter holds the hiring relationships himself. It makes a huge difference.

by zavulon 16y ago

takrupp 16y ago

I am a recruiter and this is pretty spot on. I don't know who the author is, but it sounds like using one recruiter or nothing is the only option and that if you choose to work with a recruiter, you must do what they say. In reality: Recruiters open doors and give you a shot at a job. Sometimes the firm can't pay what they need to, sometimes the candidate isn't good enough for the role. Thats why recruiting is challenging. When I approach a hiring process, I am absolutely doing everything I can to make sure the deal has the potential for closing: 1) I do ask for the candidate's compensation expectations. 2) I do ask for the clients compensation expectations for the role. 3) I do frame things for both parties in order to get those expectations to line up. 4) I do share information with both parties on what is happening in the market (sometimes a company will think they need a junior guy with a 80k comp expectation, but if I tell them they are wrong, and that they need some with more experience in the 120k range, they listen). 5) I don't have perfect knowledge of everyone that is hiring in my industry. I'm good, but especially in my niche of Quant Trading, its so secretive, there is just no way I can know everything (unlike realestate brokers that more or less have an industry database they can use to get good info on the market). Ultimately, I will do what it takes to get an offer on the table. If its too low, Ill try to get more, but sometimes that won't happen and then its up to the candidate to make a hard decision. Your other points are all valid for executive recruiters (help with resume, deep domain knowledge, real relationships with hiring managers), but the vast majority of recruiters are in paper-pushing process shops where the person you are dealing with is purely gathering resumes, and not selling you in, learning about the market, etc. I know that it seems like splitting hairs, but the difference is huge. If you are making over 100k, dont both with the big companies, find a niche shop or an executive recruiting firm where the recruiter holds the hiring relationships himself. It makes a huge difference.