| When people look for jobs, they are frequently of | | | | who their clients are. |
| the idea that selecting a legal recruiter is like selecting | | | | When sending out résumés to |
| a staffing agency. This is patently untrue. In the | | | | recruiting agencies, there is a choice that you will |
| world of professional recruiters, the recruiters select | | | | have to make. The choice is between sending a |
| you, you do not select them. Understanding this basic | | | | résumé out to a contingency based |
| concept will help you get the most out of your job | | | | firm or a retained firm. During book times, recruiters |
| search. | | | | can afford to be more selecting. As a general rule, if |
| When people use a professional recruiter to find a | | | | the salary which you are currently making or looking |
| job, the process is the exact opposite of that which | | | | for is more than $100,000, send your |
| companies employ. A corporation or law firm will use | | | | résumé to retained recruiters first. If |
| one or maybe two professional recruiting agencies to | | | | your requested or current salary is less than |
| fill their job openings. Individuals, when they are | | | | $100,000, send your résumé to |
| searching for jobs, should make sure a huge number | | | | contingency recruiters. |
| of recruiters have their résumés. A | | | | The difference between these two groups is that |
| good number to hit is 500 recruiting firms. | | | | higher paying positions go to retained recruiters |
| Unfortunately, these firms frequently know very little | | | | because companies who are filling top positions will |
| about the people who have sent in | | | | usually pay a recruiting firm a retainer fee. This allows |
| résumés. | | | | the firm to focus on a particular position and allows |
| Before contacting any recruiters, it is important to | | | | for a better fit of job applicants. |
| know what type of job you're after. In addition, you | | | | Location is another thing to keep in mind although this |
| should know what direction you want your career to | | | | can be a little misleading. Firms aren't aware of jobs |
| take in both the short and long term. | | | | only in their immediate geographical area. They may |
| Unless you are planning on paying a recruiter out of | | | | be aware of jobs on the other side of the country. |
| your own pocket making the firm more like your | | | | Recruiting generally transcends geographic boundaries. |
| agent or you're an extremely sought after person | | | | The last thing to keep in mind is the firm's specialty. |
| for one reason or another, recruiting firms cannot | | | | Any job hunter should select recruiting firms based |
| afford to focus all of their attention on finding you a | | | | on the fields in which they specialize. It doesn't make |
| job. In addition, you need to contact a large number | | | | sense to send a résumé to a |
| of recruiters since it is impossible to know what | | | | recruiting firm that does not cover your area of |
| positions they've been charged with filling or even | | | | expertise. |