16 Pros and Cons of Using a Recruiter to Discover a Job

Some job searches are easy. You quickly find promising opportunities online, submit your application, fly through the hiring process, and are soon starting your latest job.

More often than not, though, finding the appropriate job could be a real challenge. The thrill of creating a profession change or starting a brand new job will be overshadowed by the frustration of not getting interviews or job offers. 

Working with a recruiter can streamline the technique of helping you discover and land a fantastic job. They’ll assist you with finding job opportunities that match your experience and skills, provide help to polish your resume, and, perhaps most significantly, means you should not have to job search alone. 

What Are Job Recruiters?

Young business woman in a job interview
Image Credit: toxawww via Depositphotos.com.

A recruiter’s job is to fill vacancies inside an organization. They’ll either work as an in-house recruiter for one company or for an agency, where they work with multiple businesses. If you’ve got specialized skills or qualifications or work in a competitive industry, you could have recruiters reach out to you.

As a job seeker considering working with a recruiter, it would be best to search for an agency recruiter to work with. Typically, they won’t cost you a thing. The hiring company typically pays these recruiters, they usually represent the client’s interest.

To seek out a recruiter, network together with your contacts to seek out one who works with hiring managers within the industries that interest you. When possible, discover industry-specific recruiters. You’ll also wish to search for an experienced communicator who isn’t afraid to offer honest feedback about your resume or Zoom presence.

There are numerous ways in which partnering with a recruiter can profit you.

1. Pro: Recruiters Know Who’s Hiring

shaking hands at panel job interviewshaking hands at panel job interview
Image Credit: AndrewLozovyi via Depositphotos.

You’ve probably heard that finding a job is all about who you already know. In case your recruiter is a component of a search firm, they will share your resume with other prospective employers which might be hiring. Should you’re a fantastic, highly sought-after candidate, one recruiter can send your resume to many purchasers, which may really profit your job search!

2. Recruiters Help Candidates Access the Hidden Job Market

woman giving portfolio to managerwoman giving portfolio to manager
Image Credit: Dmyrto_Z via Depositphotos.

A recruiter could also be helpful in your job search because not all job openings are advertised on job boards or job search sites. Using a recruiter can dramatically expand your network, providing more access to the non-advertised positions which might be a part of the hidden job market. I didn’t imagine that the hidden job market was real until I used to be on the opposite side, working for an employment agency where we frequently beneficial people to fill these positions directly.

3. Recruiters Know More Concerning the Firms That Are Hiring

two women working on projecttwo women working on project
Image Credit: fizkes via Depositphotos.

Recruiters are experienced and possess deep insight into the businesses they’re recruiting for. They know more concerning the organization (or no less than they need to) and may use this information to raised prepare how you might be presented. They know what works and what doesn’t and may offer suggestions to enhance your possibilities of success, like what specific skills each company desires to see in your resume. 

4. Recruiters Give Feedback 

coworkers highlighting and reviewing document togethercoworkers highlighting and reviewing document together
Image Credit: Myvisuals via Depositphotos.

Although recruiters don’t write or rewrite resumes, they will offer you feedback in your resume and canopy letter, which you should use to revise your job search materials. Writing a robust resume takes time, effort, and know-how, so their advice is actually invaluable.

5. Recruiters Provide Interview Guidance

woman at panel interview in officewoman at panel interview in office
Image Credit: pressmaster via Depositphotos.

Preparing for a job interview will be moderately intimidating. The perfect option to prepare for one is to practice. When working with a recruiter, they will guide you thru the job interview process. 

Because they’ve likely helped others interview for similar roles throughout the company before, recruiters will know what questions are asked throughout the interview. They can even know whether or not there are interview assignments or projects included within the hiring process so that you would be able to be higher prepared. 

6. Recruiters Can Help to Create Future Opportunities

happy businessman on the phone celebratinghappy businessman on the phone celebrating
Image Credit: AndrewLozovyi via Depositphotos.

Say a recruiter takes time to present your experience to a hiring manager, but you aren’t offered the job. On this case, they might add your profile to the firm’s talent pool to offer you higher access to future opportunities. That’s why it’s necessary to actively stay in contact together with your recruiter during your job search. 

7. Recruiters Have Access to Temporary Contracts or Trial Roles

man with headphones working in officeman with headphones working in office
Image Credit: pressmaster via Depositphotos.

Your recruiter may offer temporary job options. Should you’re open to this arrangement, it could be a fantastic way so that you can check out the corporate before committing to them. And if nothing else, it’s a paycheck whilst you proceed to look for an additional job.

Not all recruiters or hiring firms extend this selection to prospective candidates, though, so ask your recruiter about it if this interest you.

8. Recruiters Offer Free Services

two women job interviewtwo women job interview
Image Credit: fizkes via Depositphotos.

As already mentioned, you most likely won’t be asked to pay a recruiter for his or her services. Since the hiring company will almost definitely pay a contingency or retainer search fee, their services are free to you.

9. Con: A Company Pays the Recruiter

Business people reaching an agreement, shaking handsBusiness people reaching an agreement, shaking hands
Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia via Depositphotos.com.

Should you resolve to rent a recruiter or an agency in your seek for a brand new job, concentrate on the potential downsides and limitations. Probably the most obvious downside of working with a recruiter is that a hiring client typically pays them. Due to this fact, their interests rest with the hiring company and never with you, the possible candidate.

10. Your Recruiter Has a Quota 

woman at job interview being whispered aboutwoman at job interview being whispered about
Image Credit: VitalikRadko via Depositphotos.com.

Most recruiters have a quota, so that they are probably under pressure to fulfill the contract expectations. If the recruiter is paid on contingency (also called performance), this pressure might lead to them sending you on interviews that aren’t really suitable for you.

In contrast, the alternative might occur if the recruiter feels that the client deserves only “perfect” candidates. Should you’re missing any of the client’s preferred attributes, the recruiter may not ask the client to interview you in any respect.

11. You May Not Click with Your Recruiter

angry worker shrugging at laptop confusedangry worker shrugging at laptop confused
Image Credit: voronaman via Depositphotos.

On that very same note, your recruiter might want as many resumes as possible for the initial presentation of candidates. Nevertheless, your profile, background, or personality may not resonate with the recruiter.

This could be a problem for you. A recruiter may request your resume and fail to submit it to the hiring manager because they don’t think you meet the necessities. 

12. You Are Not Their Only Client

hallway of people waiting for job interviewhallway of people waiting for job interview
Image Credit: adriaticphoto via Depositphotos.

You usually are not the one person the recruiter is working with, so it’s possible you’ll not get the eye or clarity you hoped for. Should you are involved in a competitive field or role, they may additionally be assisting your direct competition for open vacancies.

13. What Happens Next?

stressed woman taking a break on her deskstressed woman taking a break on her desk
Image Credit: IgorVetushko via Depositphotos.

After sending the recruiter your resume, what happens next could also be unclear. You won’t all the time know when the recruiter submitted your application or in the event that they didn’t submit it in any respect. 

If the recruiter doesn’t mention a timeline, it’s okay to follow up with them. Generally, you’ll wish to connect once per week, but depending on how busy your recruiter is, they might not be available.

When possible, ask for a replica of the job description and the hiring company, but understand they might not be allowed to share the client’s identity.

14. They May Not Provide Feedback

stressed man planning his work at his deskstressed man planning his work at his desk
Image Credit: HayDmitriy via Depositphotos.

Ask the recruiter for feedback but know that they’re not obligated to share anything with you. In some cases, the recruiter may not have received any feedback about your candidacy from the corporate, so that they can’t give you any further insight, even in the event that they desired to. 

15. Salary Negotiations Can Be a Problem

hiring manger giving contract to new employeehiring manger giving contract to new employee
Image Credit: SeventyFour via Depositphotos.

Salary negotiations can be problematic when a recruiter is involved. Your recruiter could also be so wanting to make the position that they recommend lower than market compensation. It’s possible you’ll be paid lower than you deserve when you want the job, so do you research and know what salary is for the role before you conform to anything.

16. Never Depend on the Recruiter to Find Your Latest Job

backview of woman being interviewedbackview of woman being interviewed
Image Credit: fizkes via Depositphotos.

This is comparatively obvious, but finding a brand new job is usually exertions. It’s not your recruiter’s job to seek out you a job. Even when you’re working with multiple recruiter, don’t expect that they may.

That’s why it is best to diversify your job search strategy. To extend your odds of finding a fantastic latest job, don’t stop networking or applying on your individual. 

Briefly, realize the recruiter’s limitations and stay proactive throughout the job search process. That is your profession, in spite of everything.

Should I Work with a Recruiter? 

woman thinking at her computer outsidewoman thinking at her computer outside
Image Credit: racorn via Depositphotos.com.

Your decision to rent a recruiter is likely to be yes (when you’ve found an experienced recruiter to drive the method) or no (if the recruiter’s performance with other candidates is unknown). But it surely’s really as much as you. 

If job searching on your individual hasn’t landed you a brand new position, adding a recruiter to your job search strategy can definitely help – especially if it’s free!

Find out how to Discover a Recruiter

Businesswoman interviewing candidate in officeBusinesswoman interviewing candidate in office
Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia via Depositphotos.com.

So, you made the choice to offer working with a recruiter a shot. Now how do you discover the appropriate one – or anyone, for that matter? Listed here are 9 ways to seek out a recruiter, plus tips about how you can let recruiters find you!

Get Free Resume Help

college advisor giving student supportcollege advisor giving student support
Image Credit: monkeybusiness via Depositphotos.com.

Working with a recruiter is just one among the numerous ways to get free support together with your job search. With online resources and resume builders to social service and employment centers, there are numerous alternative ways to get free resume help.


Amanda Kay, the founding father of My Life, I Guess, provides invaluable profession advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it’s navigating job searches, learning latest skills, overcoming unemployment, or coping with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for profession guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda’s expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications corresponding to MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.