Seven questions to ask recruiters when they call
The delight with being recruited sometimes eradicates judgment. If you are a six-figure income executive, chances are you will be recruited on the telephone by recruiters not known to you. The recruiter calls with a terrific job opportunity and the timing is right, the position exactly what you want…and you forget to get the details about with whom you are dealing.
Here’s a check list of important information you should get when a recruiter calls:
- Get all the contact information immediately. Ask for correct spellings, web sites, phone numbers and any other details.
- What is your relationship with the company? This is another way of asking if they actually have the recruiting assignment. You’d be surprised how often recruiters go on fishing expeditions.
- Are you working with the hiring authority directly? You want to know how valid the information is. If it is filtered through HR, the answers are watered down and often, not current.
- Don’t ask if they are on retainer. Do ask if they have an exclusive arrangement for this search.
- Have you worked on behalf of this company before? This gives you a clue about the validity of the information and the probability they have the ear of the hiring authority.
- What should I expect? This is a way to learn the time frame, the recruiter’s style and how you can make the recruiter’s job easier. This also alleviates the stress of wondering when you will hear back. Set that expectation up front.
- Ask what the recruiter believes is the most compelling part of your background for this job. This opens a discussion that reveals the recruiter’s understanding for the position. It also gives you what you need to write a proper cover letter.
Establish a professional relationship at the beginning and much of the anxiety of working with someone you don’t know dissolves. If you are still leery, ask for references. You don’t want to disclose all your personal information to just anyone.
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Rita Ashley is a career and job search coach for executives. In the last two years 98% of my clients achieved their goals within six months. Is it your turn? Contact me directly to discuss a customized solution.
Career advice, Recruiters, Six Figure Jobs
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bad recruiters, being recruited, Career advice, executive jobs, questions to ask recruiters, Recruiters, rita ashley
Themocracy
Rita,
I just used your suggestions for the fist time and have a bunch of follow up questions.
The recruiter did not sound like having lots of experience but was professional enough for me to continue. I learned that recruiters firm got my name from a Zoom service that allows a mass mailing. Recruiter provided a name of the client, which happened to be a well known name in the industry. He had good familiarity with the client’s processes and promised to forward position(s) description(s).
After getting responses to my (your :-) ) questions I realized that I have not idea what to deduce from (and do with) the answers.
1. “We are getting a fee to find them candidates” Through follow up question I found out, thanks to you, that they do NOT have an exclusive.
Ok … what do I infer from this?
2. They work on commission
What do I infer from this?
3. The recruiter deals not with the hiring authority directly but rather through HR.
Ok … what do I infer from this?
4. Recruiter’s company began to work for the client just in the last few months.
What do I infer from this?
5. What do I infer from the fact that he mass mailed me?
6. What do I infer from the fact that recruiter’s firm switched/expanded from serving one industry to serving another?
Thank you very much for your time and expertise.
Gennady, Thanks for this detail. The answers you received are vague and avoid the real questions. “Has the company asked you to find candidates for this specific job?” requires a yes or no answer. If no, the recruiter is fishing. An exclusive is not required, but they do need to have a specific job search assignment from the company.
Mass mailings are not recruiting. The recruiter is resume gathering. The job may even be bogus. Do research on your own to discover if there is an opening.
That the recruiter’s company changed focus only means they don’t have a lot of experience in the new area. If the job they approached you with is spot on for you (and mass mailings rarely generate a good fit), then ask more questions and make certain if you do submit a resume, they have specific instructions and agree in writing, not to let your resume go anywhere with out your your express permission.
Hope this adds to your understanding of how to avoid a bad recruiter experience.
Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach
Thank you, Rita, for your prompt response. While I was waiting for your response, a questionnaire arrived. It related to completely different position.
So I thanked the guy and, as you suggested, let him know that based on the information, there appears to be no fit at this time.
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Best,
G