Are Job Search Firms the Answer to Your Job Hunt?

Honestly speaking, I am not a big fan of job search firms. I've never submitted my resume to any recruiter and probably never will. I just don't see companies hiring the services of a recruiter during times where almost all of them are cutting costs.

In addition consider that there are a lot of qualified people looking for jobs, the need for recruitment firms is just not there.

I spend a lot of time talking with job seekers in forums and other online venues, and I found out that many of those who sought the services of job search firms are still unemployed.

Some of my friends in the recruitment industry are having trouble finding a job. If they are having trouble finding themselves a job, how can they find you a job?

OK. I figured I'm talking a lot against job search firms here. In all fairness, they do have success stories to tell. In fact one success story is with a colleague of mine who was working for a fortune 200 company when he was recruited to work for a fortune 500 company.

He is an engineer who has a very good track record and 15 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. The recruiter caught him at a time where he was contemplating leaving the job because he was feeling dissatisfied. Talk about timing.

The job search firm specializes in recruiting people for Fortune 1000 companies. The recruiter was very helpful and provided a lot of useful information that assisted my friend in having a successful interview. Including what traits the employer was specifically looking for in a candidate.

Now you may be wondering if I am really against job search firms or if I am promoting them. The answer is neither. They can be helpful, yes, but leaving your fate completely in the hands of others is never good idea. You can't just wait for the phone to ring just because you gave your resume to a recruiter.

In my example, my friend wasn't even looking for a job. It was just good timing on the part of the recruiter. The point is there is a difference between being sought after and hoping for somebody to find you a job.

As many say, don't keep all your eggs in one basket. Diversification of approach and proactivity are keys. As a job seeker, you should diversify and use as many methods that will help you land a job. If you want to use job search firms, by all means do so, but don't rely solely on them to find and get that job for you.

And make sure to choose a reliable firm; one that has a good track record and a roster of success stories. You can ask them about their turn around time, how long before they find you a job? And probably ask who their clients are. This helpful information shows the reliability of the job search firms that you are utilizing.

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