I've said elsewhere that I've had better response rates from direct applications (15-20%) than from third-party recruiters (~0%). My LinkedIn says I'm looking f

I've said elsewhere that I've had better response rates from direct applications (15-20%) than from third-party recruiters (~0%). My LinkedIn says I'm looking for work and I've gotten very little attention there. I'm sure relying on recruiters works for some people but it doesn't look like the way forward for me. Desperate doesn't have to mean bad, it just means they have a hiring need and you're on hand to fill it. Unfortunately this is really the only option if you're otherwise going to have a tough time competing head-to-head with your peers.