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When looking for a new job, working with recruiting agents can be rewarding or frustrating. Sometimes both. A few simple truths can help you have effective and rewarding instead of frustrating and fruitless.
First, have clear expectations, based on a clear understanding of the roles.

Recruiters do not work for you.

You pay them nothing. They work for the company that is hiring. Companies pay the recruiters to find them people with very specific profiles. If you fit the profile that their client is seeking, they will consider you as a product, they may be able to sell. If you do not fit any of their current client needs, they will likely not waste your time or their own but will keep your resume in the database for future needs.

Recruiters do not have time to think.

Recruiters get hundreds or even thousands of resumes every week. They do not have time to read through each one and think about what this candidate might be able to do. You have to do the thinking for them. In your cover email, state very clearly and concisely what type(s) of job you are looking for and what industry. Tell they your key sales points. Let them know your minimum salary expectation. Ideally, they should be able to go to their open job database to check if they have a suitable opening without even opening your attached resume.

It is your responsibility to know where your resume has been.

You may hear about the same job from several agencies. It looks very bad for both you and the recruiter if your resume is presented to the same company from more than one source. Keep track of every application including both your direct applications to companies via their websites or insiders and applications through agencies. If a recruiting agent contacts you about a position, be open and honest about whether your resume has already been sent and whether or not you give them permission to present you.

What you should expect in return

If you agree that the recruiter can present you to a company as a candidate, they now owe you the professional courtesy of following up. Recruiters will often provide interview tips and advice as they want you to succeed. They also want you to get an offer at the highest possible salary, as their fee will be based on that. They can be very helpful in the negotiation stage. If you have a competing job offer, you should get a second opinion. Remember that the agent only gets paid if you accept their job, so in this situation, you will want to talk to a neutral third party about the pros and cons of each offer to make sure you make the best choice for your future.

With a clear understanding the roles of the client, the agent, and the candidate, along with open and honest communication you should be able to avoid the many frustrations and enjoy the benefits an expanded view of the job market with a network of recruiting professionals.

キャリアコンサルタント　Terri