Employers work with recruiters essentially by handing-off a specific assignment to find new talent. What the employer may not realize is the recruiter may be sub-contracting the search to yet another recruiter. Does this matter? It may well matter! For starters, it is key for the recruiter to have a thorough understanding of the position. Not a high level understanding -a thorough understanding. Each time a recruiter sub-contracts there is a risk that the level of understanding of the position is going to be diluted. In fact, it is almost a guarantee that this will happen. What is the effect? The recruiters are searching for candidates who may or may not be the right fit. And for every candidate that is not the right fit, the employer is losing valuable time in getting the right candidate on board.
When selecting a search firm, employers should ask specifically whether or not the recruiter sub-contracts searches and if they do, what role the lead recruiter has in the process. Searches can go on unnecessarily long simply because the recruiters do not have the right understanding of the role and they are entertaining the candidacy of the wrong candidates, which is a waste of time for everyone. Working with a recruiter who doses the recruiting themselves or within their office may ultimately be a much cheaper and more effective choice.
I have had a love/hate relationship with ruicerters, lately leaning more towards hate. Their industry has gotten extremely cutthroat in recent years forcing many of the cool’ agents to find other lines of work. The days of long-standing relationships with ruicerters who know you and your skill set are sadly gone. Now, I get cold calls from outsourced agents claiming to represent companies they struggle to pronounce, for positions I know they found on Hotjobs. Because there is so much deceit and misrepresentation from ruicerters, I have gotten into the habit of interviewing them first before allowing them to represent me. I ask questions like Do you have an exclusive contract to recruit for this company?’, Who are you working with at this company and how do you know them?’, Have you worked with them before?’. This definitely helps to separate honest ruicerters from the predators and pimps. The main thing to remember is that your professional reputation is at stake and you have be careful who you allow to represent you.
Hi Nana,
Thank you for posting a comment. I have heard the complaints you mention before and clearly candidates should never deal with a recruiter who they feel is not genuine. Probably best to get a recommendation from someone you trust in the future. I know several excellent recruiters who would not fall in to the category of recruiters you describe, so while it might seem hard to believe, there are some good ones out there! I hope you are able to connect with someone good next time!
Lori