An interview with a retained recruiter.

In a recent networking meeting we invited a retained recruiter to speak to the group on how to effectively work with a recruiter. Here is a summary of my notes.

 View a recruiter as an additional resource. Not someone that will find you a job.
 75% of the people recruiters place are already employed.
 Career changes will not be successful working through a recruiter.
 If you are not a direct match for a job having a referral is critical.
 Companies put as much weight on the cultural fit as skill set when evaluating candidates.
 Do not be shy about asking for a referral to another recruiter if they do not do searches in your area of expertise.
 Have a target list of companies you are interested in and share this with the recruiter. If they like your background and have a relationship with the company they can help open a door.
 If you do not have a profile on LinkedIn get one. Recruiters are using this tool more and more to find potential candidates.

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