How Recruiters
Work
Know the kind of recruiter you are working with to increase your probability of success. Recruiters work one of two basic ways:
1. Internal recruiters
These recruiters are employees of the employer, paid a salary regardless of how many jobs they fill (or don’t fill). They may be called “in-house” or “corporate recruiters,” or, more recently, “talent acquisition” staff members. They usually work in the “Personnel” or “Human Resources” part of the employer’s organization.
☑️ The internal recruiter likely knows more about the job, the people and the organization than an external recruiter does because they work inside the organization, hopefully for longer than a few weeks.
2. External recruiters
These recruiters are outside consultants. They work for themselves or for a recruiting firm/agency. They are usually paid by the employer only when they provide the candidate who is hired for the job. They may be called “head hunters” or “agency recruiters” based on how they work.
Most external recruiters are “contingency” recruiters who are paid for their work, contingent on whether or not someone they refer for the job is hired by the employer. They are not paid to refer candidates, but they are rewarded if someone they refer is hired. If the person hired was referred by another recruiter, they are not paid.
☑️ These external recruiters are likely more motivated to help you succeed because they will financially benefit if you are hired.
Some external recruiters are “retained” recruiters typically focusing on very senior jobs or jobs requiring very unique and hard-to-find skills and experience. These recruiters are paid to focus on finding qualified candidates for the job and are paid regardless of who is hired.
Warning: Avoid having more than one external recruiter refer you for the same job! If you are referred by more than one recruiter, the employer will face a dispute about who to pay if you are hired. To avoid that dispute, employers may ignore you.
