Should I avoid head hunters? 8

[EEfromOU]

Long time lurker first time thread starter so please excuse any transgressions that might follow....

I have been with my current employer for over 6 years and see the signs it is time to move on do to management changes that I do not see as being any good for my department in the future. There are plenty of opportunities to apply to in my area along with other states that could work out well.

My question is before I start throwing my resume out there and sabotage enlisting the help of some recruiters should I consider using one to search for opportunities per my requirements and needs? I ask this because it is my understanding that if I have already applied at a company the recruiter can't or will not approach said company typically.

Also any of your experiences with recruiters is greatly appreciated. No references needed either.

 

[zdas04]

Welcome, we aren't as bad as people say.

Professional Recruiting is a personal service, like a barber, a Realtor, or a dental hygienist. There are really good ones. There are really bad ones. Most are somewhere in the middle. For an engineer with 6 years experience you wouldn't expect to pay them a fee, so they make their living from the hiring company's fee. If you contact a company that the recruiter then contacts on your behalf, the company can say they hired you as a walk in, not as a recruitment result and not pay the recruiter. That is why the recruiter won't generally bother shopping you to companies that you have applied to.

I've heard of several people who found jobs on LinkedIn through its job search function. It seems to be much better focused for professionals than something like Monster.com. I've also heard of people who got connected with awesome recruiters at LinkedIn.

I've worked through a couple of recruiters and I have failed miserably to ever hook up with one of the good or even OK ones. I think finding a good one is much like finding a good Realtor--word of mouth is the best tool.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat

 

[truckandbus]

I think head hunters will be able to gain you access to more jobs, and earlier, than using job boards or company websites, if you are open to changing cities or industries. If you want to stay local or in the same industry I think net-working is a better bet.

Most headhunters eant you to suceed but I find that most oversell the company to you and most oversell you to the company - do your research on whatever company they want to hook you up to.

 

[MikeHalloran]

>>> should I consider using one to search for opportunities per my requirements and needs?<<<

That's not what real recruiters do.
That's what you do.








Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[EEfromOU]

Thank you for the replies.

I do plan on researching the firms thuroughly before even interviewing with them, that is how I landed my current job from just a job fair by asking company & industry specific questions instead of just dropping off a resume.

I guess it will always be a test of how well you can see through the BS the recruiter and possibly the prospective employer might shovel.

Either way it is a decision I won't have to make for a couple months at the earliest depending on changes around here.

 

[Lomarandil]

If you're in Power, don't even worry about it. Update your LinkedIn profile and the headhunters will come to you.

Seriously, the shortage in Power is insane right now... I did a year doing Civil/Structural design for a power firm, and to this day I'm contacted about once a month by someone looking for a power EE.

 

[weldstan]

As per Lomarandil, do the same for the Petrochemical and Oil & Gas Industries and their servicing EPC firms.

 

[LiteYear]

Some very worthwhile comments already. I just want to point out that a recruiter's client is the employer. That's who gives them their money. Thus, in my experience (like zdas04, I've never managed to snag these fabled "good" ones), the relationship is similar to that of being a buyer with a realtor. They'll happily make up stories and leverage psychological manipulation to make the "sale". You are the product.

That said, some organisations work exclusively through recruiters. For maximum exposure, you need to sign up with them all. No harm in doing so, just don't expect them to do anything for you, and make sure you represent yourself to the employer at the earliest opportunity - if you can even do it before the recruiter gets there, all the better.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Over the years I have run into a couple of really bad recruiters (people I will never work with again and warn others against), a slew of average ones, and only one recruiter I thought was really making his money. Oddly enough, that recruiter wasn't able to place me before a non-affiliated company offered me a position, but he was offering some good options. The downside is, once his options started wearing thin, he contacted me less and less... but I can't blame the guy for that.

But that points out that YOU need to market yourself... targeted resume drops, job fairs, LinkedIn, etc. Keep track of every company you contact as you will need to inform any recruiter of a conflict... if you've already submitted to company 'A', the recruiter should not do the same. It looks bad for the recruiter (which makes you look bad in his eyes as you're wasting his time) and even has the potential to lose the position completely as the company thinks you don't have your crap together.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[CheckerHater]

Some years ago, when I was desperately looking for a job, I tried recruiting services. All of them demanded exclusivity (“we are going to call, you must never work with any other company, only us”), none of then called me back, ever.

Few years later, as economy started to recover, on one lucky day I was contacted by 5 recruiting companies within few hours – all about the same job. The word “vultures” comes to mind.

My dentist and accountant performed much better over all that times.

Just a personal experience for whatever it’s worth.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I have never had a recruiter expect (or even ask for) exclusivity. Their job is to provide you with leads... should you take one, they earn a fee from the hiring company. But they know they're competing with other recruiters to get you a job first.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[JMirisola]

Like others have said, sign up with the various recruiters in your area but be prepared for numerous "great opportunities" that don't necessarily fall into your ideal parameters, as well as duplication of positions available.
I think your best bet is to update your LinkedIn profile and use their job search. Don't forget to look at Craigslist as well; there can be a surprising number of positions there. Another place you might look is your local unemployment office website. The ones here in Seattle have job boards and I've seen positions posted there that I haven't seen elsewhere.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog

 

[EEfromOU]

As MacgyverS2000 mentions I have not had any in the past ask for exclusivity when looking into opportunities they have brought to me and I would not agree to it since that seems like a request for trust that I would not be able to reasonably expect in return. Not to say there aren't any trust worth recruiters but business is business to use a cliche.

I fully plan on marketing myself and searching every resource available before making any decisions because I have worked hard to get where I am and see many opportunities as the economy continues to recover along with being in Power - Protection & Controls specifically helps right now.

Thanks again for all of the shared experiences and replies, it helps to hear them.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

As with any business, if you limit my prospects (in this case, via an exclusivity contract), you must also provide me with benefits (such as a guaranteed position within my requirements, financial restitution if you fail, etc.). No recruiter is about to provide the latter, so I see no value in the former.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[1gibson]

Only thing I'd been asked is to not bypass the recruiter for a specific position once it was presented. Seemed fair and reasonable.

 

[msquared48]

I have never been to New Guinea, nor do I plan to go...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[Tunalover]

I've worked with a lot of recruiters and most just want to place a warm body in the position and collect their commission. Some recruiters scan the resume databases of Monster and CareerBuilder and look for keywords that fit a position their trying to fill. If a few keywords are found in your resume, they will call you without first looking at your resume. Consequently they waste their time and yours when they find out (from you) that you're not qualified. Also, most will be your best friend when you look like a decent fit but will refuse to return your calls once they learn their client has no interest. On the low end of the recruiter spectrum, you have people whose sole qualifications are that they can make phone calls, sit in a chair at a desk, and convert oxygen into carbon dioxide. Speaking good English is not a requirement. On the high end, you have people who can recognize talent and find a job that fits you but these people are few and far between.

I recommend networking and searching on your own. You'll save time AND the employers will be more likely to hire you because they don't have to pay a hefty recruiting commission. The most important thing to remember with recruiters is that they don't work for you. They work for their clients. Expect to be treated accordingly.



Tunalover

 

[brandonbw]

I had decent experiences with a specific recruiting company. But the first company I was hired at was just bringing in warm bodies. I have never heard of the amount of turn around that I saw with this method. There was an office pool on who would leave next and when because they couldn't handle the workload. So you probably need to be looking out more when you hear too good to be true things.

I get called all the time, almost like spam this past Summer. And even though I say I am not looking I still get the calls. 1 week I was getting called multiple times a day. Don't know where my resume is popping up that says I am looking.

The recruiter is most likely not an engineer or has any idea past the keywords of what a company is looking for to place you. So make sure your keywords are specific when handing your resume over.

B+W Engineering and Design | Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

 

[drawoh]

I could not resist this...

Great Headhunters

--
JHG

 

[GHartmann]

I would certainly do my research by starting on the major job boards as well as the ones specific to engineering. Take a look at the postings that interest you. Follow the links to similar jobs. You will begin to find some smaller agencies and recruiters that you may want to call. Load a current or updated resume on the major job boards (update about one every 6 months to stay active to recruiters searching the web). You may get some e-mails and/or calls from various recruiters. Develop a relationship with those you find compatible.

The good ones will at least get you an interview.

Good luck.