Why you need a recruiter!
First off, I know the title to this article sounds a bit self serving on my part. But, after 25 years as a recruiter I am confident that a recruiter who is an expert in your industry is one of the more valuable tools in your career toolbox. There are many reasons, but also some things to look out for.
In evaluating a recruiter, it's important to determine if they are truly an expert in your industry. Ask them questions about their tenure in your marketplace. It's difficult for a recruiter to really grasp an industry in less than 5-10 years. If the recruiter says that they specialize in many industries, that's a red flag. It's difficult for 1 recruiter to be knowledgeable of more than 1 or 2 industries. In my case, all that I focus on is the water treatment industry. It's a full time job for me to keep up with trends and changes happening within this one industry.
With that industry expertise, a recruiting professional can serve as a sounding board for questions you may have about how your company is perceived in the marketplace, as well as how they stack up with your competitors. Compensation information is a key area that a recruiter can help a candidate. I'm surprised how often candidates don't recognize how their pay compares with others in their industry, or for that matter their own company! Your employer will typically want you to feel that your pay is at or above the industry average, even if that's not the case.
Another important service a recruiter can provide is confidentiality. Some candidates are nervous about sending resumes blindly to a competitor's online job posting. In doing so, you put yourself at the mercy of the person/people who receive your resume to keep it in confidence. If you're currently employed, putting your resume in the wrong hands could leak back to your customers, or worse, your employer. Don't be afraid to remind a recruiter to not share your resume without your permission.
A well connected recruiter will often know about many job openings that companies need to keep in confidence. These "quiet" openings are sometimes kept in confidence because the employee currently filling the role my be in line for promotion, or their job may be in jeopardy. These jobs will seldom be posted online.
If a recruiter knows his client well, he'll also know the reputations of hiring managers within those companies, and if those managers take good care of people they manage. There are hiring managers within my industry that I'll not work to fill their openings, regardless of the strength of their company, if I know that they have a negative reputation within their company.
If all is going well in your current job, you may not feel a need to be talking with a recruiter. If you don't currently know a recruiter that you can count on if things change within your company, now might be a great time to develop such a relationship. One of the best sources to use in finding the top recruiter(s) in your industry is to reach out to mentors or peers that you trust and have experience with.
Your career is too important a part of your life to not take advantage of every tool available in achieving your goals, and having a happy and fulfilling career!
Joe Rigter
Chemical Recruiting Inc.
843-849-8080