An independent recruiter is someone who is hired by an employer to find a candidate for a specific job and who does not work in-house for an employer. After almost seven years working for a split placement network consisting of independent recruiting firms, I’ve learned a lot about independent recruiters.
One of the most frequent complaints I hear or read about recruiters is that they do not return candidates’ telephone calls. If you are a candidate, keep reading because my post today focuses on five reasons why independent recruiters don’t return candidates’ calls.
- The independent recruiter does not work for you.
When an employer has a difficult job to fill, the employer may choose to hire an independent recruiter to find the most qualified candidate. In return, the employer pays the recruiter a fee. In the United States, the fee typically ranges from 20% to 30% of the candidate’s first year of salary. Therefore, independent recruiters will focus on responding to employers who have hired them and only to candidates who are qualified for the jobs they are striving to fill.
- The independent recruiter does not specialize in your niche.
Most independent recruiters specialize in placing candidates in a specific industry or job function involving a specific set of skills. You may not hear back from a recruiter to whom you sent your resume because the recruiter doesn’t work with people with your skill set or in your industry. A better approach to working with a recruiter might be to research the recruiters who specialize in placing candidates in your niche and then approach them.
- The independent recruiter’s job is filling an open position for an employer.
It is not an independent recruiter’s job to find you a job or help you change careers. This goes back to the first point I made. Independent recruiters do not work for candidates. They work for employers. If you decide to change careers, for example, an independent recruiter will not be able to help you find a job. Employers are most interested in passive candidates (people currently working) and who are in the top 5% of people qualified for the open position. If you are changing careers, you need to find other ways to find a job.
- The independent recruiter doesn’t have the time to respond to “thanks, but no thanks” situations.
Yes, I know it is not polite to be non-responsive but the reality is independent recruiters have limited resources and time. It is important for you to not take it personally if a recruiter does not send you a response by email or telephone. Think of it like you did when you were dating. If someone is interested in dating you, you will be contacted. If not, it is best for you to move on.
- Your resume is posted on job boards.
Again, remember my first point. Independent recruiters work for employers. In fact, many employers will advise recruiters they hire that they will not pay the recruiter for a candidate the recruiter submits to the employer who the employer can find on a job board. Why would a recruiter want to spend time presenting your resume to employers when they won’t get paid? The answer is they won’t. Determine your strategy in seeking a job. If working with a recruiter is a fit for your job search, then removing your resume from job boards will increase the likelihood of a recruiter wanting to work with you.
I hope that my post has increased your understanding of why independent recruiters may not return candidates’ calls. My post was inspired by one written by Lisa Rangel entitled 11 Reasons Why Recruiters Don’t Call You Back & 5 Things You Can Do About It. If you are seeking a new job, I encourage you to read Lisa’s post, too.
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