During my job search, I set some goals with specific milestones and
deadlines. I said that after a month, if I didn’t see a definite lead
on the horizon, I would start to tap into recruiters and headhunters to
help with my job pursuit. I was fortunate enough to have a networking
session with an old colleague who provided me with a list of recruiters
he had used when he lost his job. I was excited to have this gift to get off
to a quick start. Although I had heard about headhunters, I’d never truly
understood what I was about to experience. My former colleague’s gift led
to my worst day in the entire job-seeking process.
I had mixed reactions when I sent out the original request to connect
with the list of recruiters. Some never responded. I later found out that
most recruiters are very specialized and target certain fields. This was good
information to know. Others set up meetings that they blew off with no
warning or communication. Others were downright rude via email and
even in conversations, by making it very clear that they didn’t want to
work with me. I have to be careful with such a broad statement, because
there were many that were helpful, polite, compassionate, and giving—
but not all of them. However, even the polite ones cut straight to the
chase. I found out quickly that I wasn’t networking anymore.
After being frustrated for a call or two, I soon realized that recruiters
and headhunters have a very specific job to do. If they were wasting time
on a call with me because they felt I wasn’t qualified for their particular
niche or job, then they weren’t making money. Once I genuinely understood
how the relationships would be established, I began to appreciate
both of our challenges and tried to step up my game by anticipating their
very specific questions, challenging myself for the next similar call by
doing more homework or better defining exactly what I was looking for.
I am very thankful for this frustrating piece of the process. When a recruiter
calls they typically ask three questions: salary range, location preferences,
and exact position in the exact field you’re looking for. I began to
take it as a compliment that I made their list to call. Knowing that they
get a slice of the salary of the person they hire from the hiring company,
and that they have a reputation to maintain in getting perfect hires for the
companies that contract them, it became more understandable how some
of the conversations went. As a job seeker, you’re not required to deal
with headhunters. Although I didn’t run into it, I have heard from my
career center friends, that there are situations when a recruiter is looking
for the unemployed person to pay them to assist in the job search. I will
caution you and say there are very few times you need to spend money on
a recruiter or headhunter to get hired. However, if you choose to go with
a legitimate recruiter, it is a choice you can make—just know the swarm
of bees you’re walking into… although bees are productive!
Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):
- Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
- Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
- Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
- The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
- From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
- The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood
See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com
MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby