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The Role of an Agency Recruiter

Written by Bernie

Bernie Frazier, SPHR is the Founder and President of CAREERCompass, LLC, a speaking and career coaching firm in St. Louis, MO. She also spent almost 25 years recruiting talent to six organizations across four industries and led the talent acquisition function for four of those organizations, including one global team.

When it comes to recruiting, I’ve learned that many people don’t really understand the role of a recruiter – particularly a recruiter who works for a recruiting agency – often called a headhunter. I know because I’ve had discussions with countless people over the years to clarify this when they would express what they wanted a recruiter to do for them.

Since I seem to be in the midst of another surge of these types of requests lately, I thought I’d take a minute to provide some very simple and quick clarity regarding what a recruiter, specifically an agency recruiter, does and does not do.

DOES:

  • Partners with clients, companies or organizations, to identify, recruit, and present qualified talent to the employer for hiring consideration
  • Screens talent and helps to prepare the talent for an introduction to the employer
  • Posts their jobs on their website so the QUALIFIED public can see their openings and submit their information for consideration
  • Maintains a database of talent for which they will tap into when they have openings
  • Works for the employer!

DOES NOT:

  • Work for the candidate, therefore does not look for jobs, coach, or counsel candidates
  • Often, will not engage with candidates if the candidate doesn’t fit a profile for the types of roles for which the agency recruiter sources

Some candidates, particularly those who are struggling with their job search, will try to seek out recruiters who will do the search work for them. Unfortunately, they usually end up frustrated because this is not what a typical agency recruiter does. They put their time, energy, and resources toward the entity that pays them – the employer.

Now, there may be a very small number of agencies who actually provide job searching services for candidates, but the overwhelming majority of recruiting agencies work for the employer, not the candidate.

If you want to get an agency to help you, the best way to do this is to have a strong background in one of the functional areas for which they recruit. For instance, if you have a strong background in accounting, seek out agencies that focus on placing accounting talent into positions. You are much more likely to get a response and effort, because your background now fits their profile.

Lastly, most agencies prefer to focus on placements where the minimum salary is $100,000. Why? The higher the salary, the more they make. So, if you are looking for jobs which pay less than this, your chances of gaining recruiting agency support decreases.

For some reading this, it will be a bummer. However, my hope is it will save you time and frustration.

Until next time….