Published on the 11/10/2011 | Written by iStart
Business forums, professional networking sites and the internet in general is awash with stories detailing just how difficult dealing with an IT recruiter can be. But is all this online odium justified? Are they really the new ‘used-car salesman’? Or are recruiters just the fall guys for frustrated job-seekers in a down-turned economy?…
A quick look at job forums, IT chat rooms and the blogosphere sees IT recruiters being criticised for everything from ethics, to communication skills, to common sense. Just what is people’s beef with this industry? Are recruiters really as terrible as is being made out? Or is all this hyperbole just a case of disappointed candidates shooting the messenger? When it comes to employment, IT recruiters are the ‘middlemen’ that control access to the people making the real decisions. Sure, most of us would just rather cut to the chase and talk to the person actually making the decisions than to go through a recruiter – anything else can make you feel like you’re running around in circles. But is that all there is to it? We found just what people are saying about the industry and got some answers. 1. “I don’t feel like the recruiter has my best interests at heart. Is he working for me or the employer? Should I consider him my ‘agent’?” “We do have to be careful how we spend our time,” says John Wyatt of Recruit IT. “This is a skill. A good consultant will know where to spend their time and how much time they spend on each client requirement and candidate liaison…. If you are communicating with a consultant, the time engaged by both parties should reflect the likelihood of the placement percentage. If you aren’t being given the air time you consider warranted then either the consultant is not for you or there is little likelihood of that agency placing you.” Read the full article as seen in the Q4 2011 iStart – Technology in Business Magazine by clicking on the image below: … It’s time for AI to go from low impact to big bang… It’s time to think horizontally, says Mitchell Pham.. Data driven and digital… Two execs share navigational tips for high inflation… It’s all about leadership…7 things to hate about IT recruiters
Short answer, no, you shouldn’t consider your recruiter your agent. While a good recruiter will work to make you feel as if your interests are neither more nor less important than the clients they represent, remember, it’s the client they represent. Nevertheless, recruiters are paid for by the client, usually upon a placement result, so it’s in their best interest to keep you happy regardless. If your consultant is giving you the run around, ask for a straight answer about what’s going on.
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