Being a recruiting professional since I was 25 (that encompasses temporary staffing, executive search, corporate recruiting, contract recruiting, and being a director of recruiting in the engineering, healthcare, and technology industries), I get asked the question if they should use a recruiter when searching for an employment opportunity. There are several different types of recruiters:
A) Temporary Staffing – these recruiters help companies in a peak load situation with employees who will work full time for a short period or part time. They usually earn a small base salary, benefits, and a heavy commission.
B) Contract Recruiting – these recruiters contract to work for a company for a designated period of time. For that time, the assist the company that contracted them to help them with their permanent openings. They usually earn a higher hourly rate for the length of their contract.
C) Corporate Recruiting – these recruiters are on the company payroll and usually draw a large base salary, benefits, and maybe a bonus.
D) Executive Search Recruiting – high risk, but high reward. They usually earn a small base, modest benefits, but a huge commission.
The true answer about using a recruiter is maybe, but there are some facts that you should know before you go down that road:
1) Executive Search and Permanent Placement recruiters work for companies that pay a fee for their services, which includes sourcing, screening, and interviewing top notch candidates for specific company positions. Most recruiters do not work for candidates, trying to find them a job.
2) If they are successful placing you with a company, the company typically pays between 15% – 35% on your first year’s compensation for the recruiter’s services. That means if you earn $100,000 annually, the fee is between $15,000 – $35,000. Most recruiting firms average between 20% and 25%.
3) For the most part, companies prefer to find their own candidates, saving an enormous amount of money. That is why you see so many job posting on corporate web sites. But there are also many companies that rely on the outside recruiter to find them their perfect candidate and they are willing to pay for it. Most of these openings are not publicized.
4) Recruiters can be helpful. But if they don’t have anything for you, be sure to ask this specific follow-up question: do you know anybody who does? Why? Because recruiters hand out together and they almost always know somebody. Recruiters make the best networkers in the world because they view everyone as a possible placement one day.
If you are fortunate enough to find a recruiter with integrity who is conscientious, be sure to record their contact information in your phone because they will probably be the best professional relationship that you establish.
Recruiters have their ears fine-tuned to the economy and to specific companies. Most of the time they are in the know when it comes to where companies are going to locate, re-locate, or expand.
Arlen R. Crawford
arlenarcresumes@gmail.com
www.arcresumes.com
678-296-0909
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
