Have you considered working with a recruiter to help you find your next opportunity? If you’ve never thought about this before, the process can feel daunting. How do you choose the right staffing agency to help you advance your career goals? Before you decide, consider some of these tips to find a recruiter who can assist your job search.

• Know the basics. The idea behind recruiting is simple. An agency will work with clients on opening positions. They will source candidates who are a fit for the job. The client is the party that will pay the recruiting fee, not the employee. Know that when you’re contacted by a recruiter, you are their product not their customer. But they will represent you to the best of their ability. They only make money if you’re placed on the job.
• Understand job postings. So how does the recruiter find people for their open positions? Do they post them on an online job board? Do they use LinkedIn? Do they send emails to qualified candidates in their database to alert them of a job? Do they have an online application process? Can you review open jobs and submit your resume directly? Talk to the recruiter about their processes to better understand how you will be selected.
• Learn their rate of placement. Before you decide to work with a recruiter or an agency, you want to know details about their success. How many applicants do they place each month? How long does it take between the application process and placement? While there are tons of mitigating factors that will affect individuals, the success rate is a good start. Find out how they measure success in their industry.
• Uncover their process. Along with their job postings, it is important to understand the rest of the process once you apply. Do they do skills testing? How do they vet a candidate prior to submitting a resume? Are you able to maintain your own applicant portal or do you need to update your recruiter regularly? How and when do they check references?
• Know your responsibility. Of course, it is also important that you know your requirements to ensure that your recruiter will work for you. Many applicants believe that their work is done as soon as they’ve submitted their resume. But recruiter want to work with proactive and motivated people. Ask them how they would like you to follow up or how to proceed if you find your own lead.

Are you looking for a leader in the staffing industry to help you find your open position? We have recruiting offices located in Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and Orange County, so call us now!