Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

Chapter 59. Recruiters Are Not in Business to Help You

When the job market gets tight, many people start operating under some false and counterproductive assumptions. Let's make one thing clear right now: Executive search firms, recruiters, and employment agencies are not in business to help you land a job. They are not your advocates, they are not your friends, and they are not your agents.

Note

Executive search firms, recruiters, and employment agencies are not in business to help you land a job. They are not your advocates, they are not your friends, and they are not your agents.

Think about it: Your local newspaper is not your advocate or friend, either. And just like a newspaper, recruiters, employment agencies, and executive search firms are merely channels through which you may (or may not) secure an opportunity for an interview. Recruiters and search firms can be quite helpful in your job search, as long as you know how to manage the process. But never forget that they work not for you, but for the organizations that pay them to find qualified candidates.

When you're looking for work in a period of increasing unemployment numbers and decreasing job opportunities, you certainly can't afford to waste any time or money playing games with recruiters and search firms. So, let me offer you a clear picture of how these services operate.

Employment Agencies That Charge You a Fee

Agencies that charge you a fee should be avoided at all costs. These organizations, which generally handle ...