More on Selecting a Recruiter....

As I mentioned previously, finding someone with prior successful recruiting experience is a good place to start when trying to find a recruiter to work with.

I regularly get into discussions with candidates about locating the right recruiter(s) for their needs. What else goes into the equation?

Probably number one is simply the trust or connection. Finding someone you like, whose style you appreciate and whose approach and integrity you trust. A very bright woman, who has also been a hiring manager, told me yesterday that she had a recruiter recently who kept insisting that he was going to submit her for a position that she repeatedly told him not to. She put his firm on a list to never work with again.

Another factor is the recruiter's 'space' or specialization. A recruiter's space can have a number of dimensions - the level of their positions - C-level, executive, manager, staff, etc. Geography - local region, southeast, US, or international. Some work mostly contract assignments, some mostly perm. Function is another - Information Technology, Finance, Engineering, etc. Many may specialize in sub-displines within those areas, such as IT Security, or Programming within Information Technology. Some are industry focused - pharmaceuticals, healthcare providers, apparel and textiles, etc.

Firms may cover a variety of areas, but individual recruiters can only cover a limited space with any effectiveness. Most who have been around a while will identify a fairly specific space that they work. Individual recruiters who spread themselves too broadly limit their effectiveness, and often end up working on assignments for marginal positions, employers and fees.

This is not to say that recruiters cannot shift their focus. Industry and economic trends or other factors can sometimes dictate a shift, and a smart recruiter needs to evolve to thrive. Some recruiters have worked the same space for 20 years or more, others have stayed in a space on a downward spiral for too long, with disastrous financial results.