The do's and don'ts when working with a recruiter

If you read my most recent blog post, you have come to realize that working with recruiters can be a little more complicated than it might first appear. Here are some do's and don'ts when working with a recruiter:

DO

1. Put your best foot forward. This recruiter is screening you to see if you are the best fit for their client. They are interviewing you.

2. Call for interview prep if needed. This recruiter wants you to do well so they can make a placement and get paid. They will have the buzz words that the employer is wanting.

3. Be punctual and professional. While the recruiter might have hidden motives, they are the gatekeeper to your possible future employer.

4. Ask how they got your name. If they can't be specific keep your guard up.

5. Work with multiple recruiters if you are in an active job search. Multiple recruiters will represent multiple clients. Keep track of your recruiters and the interviews you go on. More than once I've had recruiters fight over who should get credit for the hire. The recruiter that gets you the interview is the recruiter that should get credit.

6. If you feel that the interviewer has objections or apprehensions, bring these up to the recruiter so he or she can work through them.

7. Follow up and be enthusiastic. If this recruiter likes you and sees your true value, he or she will be excited to place you with other opportunities that come along.

8. Express apprehensions with your recruiter. If you see red flags, tell the recruiter so he might investigate and better qualify what's really going on. If you're not interested, tell the recruiter so you don't waste anyone's time.

9. Define the roles, responsibility and pay with your recruiter before moving forward.

Don'ts

1. Do not tell the recruiter the specific names of other companies you are interviewing with. This will only mean competition for you. If your recruiter learns of another hiring company, he or she will likely contact that company and try to find candidates for the open position.

2. Don't reveal all your cards. After the interview, you might present one or two generic questions that the hiring manager asked you but not all of them.

3. Don't rely on the recruiter to communicate with your hiring manager. Be sure to get the card of each person you interview with so you can facilitate your own communication without relying on the recruiter for everything.

4. Don't give just anyone your resume. It has important, personal information about you. The more people that know you're looking, the greater chance your current job will be jeopardized. Make sure that you indicate several times that it is NOT okay to contact your current employer for a background check!

5. Do not give references to your recruiter. Give them directly to the hiring manager. You could be handing your recruiter a list of potential candidates to call through.

6. Do not try to facilitate the payment arrangements between your hiring manager and your recruiter. This has happened and it's a red flag that your recruiter is unprofessional and likely a jerk. It happens!

7. Don't call a million times a day. If you're waiting to hear some feedback, once or twice during the week is acceptable.

8. Do not go behind the recruiter's back to the hiring company. Once the recruiter tells you the name of the company, it is not okay for you to pursue it on your own or tell another recruiter about the opportunity. However, if you tell the recruiter that you're interested and that you want an interview, it's fair game. If another recruiter contacts you with the same opportunity you might tell them that you're working on that with another recruiter but you'll keep him updated. If the original recruiter hasn't lined up an interview after repeated requests, tell the second recruiter you'd like to pursue the opportunity. Not only will this make the recruiter mad and possibly get you blacklisted from all recruiters, it puts the hiring manager in a tough spot when determining who to credit. Sometimes, a hiring manager will decide to go with another candidate rather than deal with the hassle of fighting the recruiter.