4 ms·

I've always avoided independent recruiters because they charge a big commission (30% of my salary?) to the employer, and I worry that with smaller startups this

by tdeck 5y ago

I've always avoided independent recruiters because they charge a big commission (30% of my salary?) to the employer, and I worry that with smaller startups this will put meaningful downward pressure on the salary I can negotiate. Also, I did once go through a 3P recruiter by mistake and they insisted on intermediaries every part of the process in a way that felt inefficient (e.g. send recruiter a list of times, they send them to company, company picks one and tells recruiter, who tells me). Also > The really good recruiters will keep the relationship open. They call me now and again to check my status (I'm also a hiring manager prospect), they call to ask me technical questions, and they get me to refer people I know as well. That sounds like it's not for everyone. I'd probably find those check-ins mildly disruptive and the other parts feel like I'm doing someone's job for them. Curious to know if other folks have encountered these issues or have thoughts on them.

petesergeant 5y ago
I’m a recruiter but I’ve also been a hiring manager working with recruiters. Generally recruiter fees and salary fees come out of separate pots for permanent roles, although for contract roles they will come out of your end.
ipaddr 5y ago
How do you deal with separate emails from different recruitors all for the same job? I notice if a new job in my area I get everyone telling me about the same position. Who do you go with? If you deal with multiple recruitors and it turns out they are selling the same position the company may refuse to accept your resume.. Sometimes it's easier to apply directly so they try to hold back who the position is for.
- tdeck 5y ago
  That's often what I'd do, unless I can tell that the recruiter works at the company in question (i.e. they have a company email address).
lordnacho 5y ago
Probably the big thing about the 3p guys is they seem to know who is hiring, and it goes beyond what you can find yourself. So those extra jobs are basically free-rolls for you. Conversations with them always end up with "have you heard of x" where x is yet another firm that either I haven't heard of, or I don't have a contact there. Firms that are known to be currently hiring are worth a lot more than firms that are just a known name. Keep in mind it's only a % of your first year income. If you hang around the company for a few years, that few % is really nothing. Also your production to the company is unlikely to be so finely balanced with your salary, the type of jobs where the 3p guys work tend to be ones where the firm is expecting to make several x whatever they pay you. The firm is looking at: - Your gross salary - Various taxes on top, depending on where you live that could be anywhere from 0 to dozens of %. - Costs of business: rent for your desk. Tools like a Bloomberg Terminal, $24K/year. I'm sure other industries have other necessities. - The cut to the 3p. - The additional revenue they can support with you on the team, which hopefully is at least 2x all the above. Alternatively, revenue might decline if they don't replace someone who's expected to leave. That's money that's already in the bag that might vanish. Remember the 3p guy is also interested at least partly in you getting a higher salary, so they are also looking for people who are willing to pay. A cheapass hiring firm is about as useful to them as an applicant who can't do the job, so if the 3p guy is smart he'll find the firms who are properly looking to hire people. Don't forget firms that are only expanding a little bit have networks to rely on that they don't have to pay for. It's going to be the firms who have exhausted the networks that are happy to pay up for talent. > That sounds like it's not for everyone. I'd probably find those check-ins mildly disruptive and the other parts feel like I'm doing someone's job for them. Certainly true, but check-ins are only a short coffee or other break-like activity. I sometimes arrange a day in London where I catch up with people, and it's a low stakes mildly rewarding thing to do, if your personality suits.

by tdeck 5y ago

petesergeant 5y ago

I’m a recruiter but I’ve also been a hiring manager working with recruiters. Generally recruiter fees and salary fees come out of separate pots for permanent roles, although for contract roles they will come out of your end.

ipaddr 5y ago

How do you deal with separate emails from different recruitors all for the same job? I notice if a new job in my area I get everyone telling me about the same position. Who do you go with? If you deal with multiple recruitors and it turns out they are selling the same position the company may refuse to accept your resume.. Sometimes it's easier to apply directly so they try to hold back who the position is for.

tdeck 5y ago
That's often what I'd do, unless I can tell that the recruiter works at the company in question (i.e. they have a company email address).

lordnacho 5y ago

Probably the big thing about the 3p guys is they seem to know who is hiring, and it goes beyond what you can find yourself. So those extra jobs are basically free-rolls for you. Conversations with them always end up with "have you heard of x" where x is yet another firm that either I haven't heard of, or I don't have a contact there. Firms that are known to be currently hiring are worth a lot more than firms that are just a known name. Keep in mind it's only a % of your first year income. If you hang around the company for a few years, that few % is really nothing. Also your production to the company is unlikely to be so finely balanced with your salary, the type of jobs where the 3p guys work tend to be ones where the firm is expecting to make several x whatever they pay you. The firm is looking at: - Your gross salary - Various taxes on top, depending on where you live that could be anywhere from 0 to dozens of %. - Costs of business: rent for your desk. Tools like a Bloomberg Terminal, $24K/year. I'm sure other industries have other necessities. - The cut to the 3p. - The additional revenue they can support with you on the team, which hopefully is at least 2x all the above. Alternatively, revenue might decline if they don't replace someone who's expected to leave. That's money that's already in the bag that might vanish. Remember the 3p guy is also interested at least partly in you getting a higher salary, so they are also looking for people who are willing to pay. A cheapass hiring firm is about as useful to them as an applicant who can't do the job, so if the 3p guy is smart he'll find the firms who are properly looking to hire people. Don't forget firms that are only expanding a little bit have networks to rely on that they don't have to pay for. It's going to be the firms who have exhausted the networks that are happy to pay up for talent. > That sounds like it's not for everyone. I'd probably find those check-ins mildly disruptive and the other parts feel like I'm doing someone's job for them. Certainly true, but check-ins are only a short coffee or other break-like activity. I sometimes arrange a day in London where I catch up with people, and it's a low stakes mildly rewarding thing to do, if your personality suits.