A recruiter tells you what recruiters can't tell you

Nancy Anderson
Posted by in Accounting, Auditing & Tax



For every person a corporate recruiter brings on board, there are another 10 who she has to disappoint. That glum statistic comes from a corporate recruiter whose alter ego is dedicated to helping you become that one person instead of one of those 10.

Her name is Abby Kohut. On the one hand, she runs a staffing company based in the New York City region. On the other, she runs a Web site called Absolutely Abby that offers advice, support, products and services to help job seekers. "For years, I wanted to help those people I was rejecting, and now I can," she told me in a recent e-mail conversation.

So: As a recruiter, Abby, what can you tell a job-seeker about getting a recruiter to get you a job?

First: While they can help, don't rely exclusively on recruiters. "Headhunters can be useful partners in your job search, but they should only be part of the strategy, not all of it. Typically, headhunters are best for director level and above candidates because companies prefer to hire middle- and lower-level employees on their own, without having to pay a fee." If you do decide to use a recruiter, you can probably find one who specializes in your field, for headhunters work in every industry and profession, she said.

Second: Confidence and passion make the difference. Recruiters work more enthusiastically on behalf of candidates who are themselves enthusiastic about their work -- and their would-be employer. "Regardless of your age, when you're on an interview, it's critical that you demonstrate that you are totally committed to and interested in the job that you are interviewing for. It is your responsibility to convince the recruiter that you are looking forward to making a home at their company for the next three to five years.

"Most of all, convince them that you have the skills that they are looking for, and that you are a mature, dedicated individual who takes responsibility seriously. And while you're at it, demonstrate an overabundance of energy and passion," she said.

And that's just the general advice. Abby also had some specific pointers for the job interview, which I will share in a future post. In the meantime, you might want to check out her website.

But remember, don't rely on the middleman completely. Do your own corporate recruiting by searching for top jobs on FinancialJobBank.com.


By: Sandy Smith


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