Recruiters may work within an organization’s human resources department typically or on an outsourced basis. Most recruiters tend to specialize in permanent, full-time, direct-hire positions or contract positions, but occasionally in both. The recruiters responsibility is to filter candidates as per the requirements of each client/company in which they represent.

Types of Recruiters

Internal recruiters alternatively in-house recruiter or corporate recruiter is member of a company or organization and typically works in the human resources HR department, which in the past was known as the Personnel Office or just Personnel. Contract recruiters tend to move around between multiple companies, working at each one for a short stint as needed for specific hiring purposes. Retained recruiters work for the organizations who are their clients, not for job candidates seeking employment, in some countries, such as the UK, recruiters are not legally permitted to charge candidates.

Employment agency, a third party recruiter sometimes known as a “headhunter” or an employment agency acts as an independent contact between its client companies and the candidates it recruits for a position. These firms or individuals specialize in client relationships and finding candidates, with minimal or no focus on other HR tasks. Legitimate search firms are always paid by their clients the company doing the hiring and never by the candidate or job applicant. Search firms generally commit to off-limits agreements.

What You Bring to the Table

Many falsely believe it is the recruiter who is responsible for their success. Although recruiters are a valuable asset the responsibility of landing the job rests on the individual who is searching for the job or career. Among the things you can do as job seekers to maximize your time with a recruiter are: 

• Have a professionally written resume: Make sure you have a professional email address and ensure your contact information and references are up to date

• Brush up on your job interviewing skills

• Solicit the help of a career coach (career coaches can assist in helping you define/redefine your career goals, most career coaches can also help you with resume preparation and job interviewing tips as well)

• Follow up when required (recruiters usually have hundreds of candidates they are working with so there time is valuable, show them that you are committed to your job search success)

• Make sure you have cleaned up all your social media (Facebook, twitter and other online social networking sites provide a slew of information about you, I recommend keeping all social media content in a manner which reflects who you are as a person to include interests, hobbies, and friends)

 Career Connex is the leading social networking and career site dedicated to connecting Job Seekers and Students with Employers, Educators and other professionals offering job opportunities, mentoring, coaching and networking in their respective careers. For more information visit http://www.careerconnex.com