Continued - Working With Recruiters

2. Know the Recruiter and Past Qualifications

The way a hiring company recruits its own in-house talent is going to be indicative regarding the strength of their business acumen. As an applicant or job seeker, you should know exactly whom you are working with and which industry they came from.

When it comes to qualifications, many recruiters like to put certifications after their name such as "Career Coach."

Unless a certificate of expertise was given by a well-known, accredited university, treat that qualification as more of a negative rather than a positive.

Always approach it the correct way, but it's okay to ask questions when engaging any headhunter:

I always question as to who is giving out these degrees and how many years (if any) it takes to obtain these certificates.

You want to know what company the person came from (prior to being a recruiter), what their position was at that company, what university they attended and what area of recruiting do they call their specialty.

Until you know the information, you should not go on blind interviews based on vague recommendations such as, "the company is the best." Or, if you are an employer, take any kind of guidance as to whom to hire.

3. Make Sure That Your Recruiter Shares the Same Goals As You

Whether you are an employer looking to hire somebody through a staffing agency or you are a job seeker looking to register with a search firm, talk to the recruiter(s) working on your account and ask them their vision regarding your career or your company's latest placement.

It is imperative that you trust your recruiters' business acumen and respect their opinion when it comes to determining what applicants are best suited for your company and what jobs are best suited for you, the applicant.

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