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Great Podcast guys!

Just wanted to add my two pennyworth.

In the UK it is ILLEGAL for recruiters to charge candidates for submission of CVs or introductions. Agencies may charge for services such as CV writing, but they are not allowed to make free service conditional on paid ones. This is part of our intepretation of European Law, so I would assume this goes for Europe too. Those Haldane people wouldn't last over here!

One other myth I wanted to dispell, you kind of implied this in the cast, but I just want to make it explicit - just because you're with one recruiter doesn't mean you can't be with another. Even if you signed something. Mostly what you sign just says you understand that they don't guarantee to get you a job, there's no restrictions - in fact it's enshrined in law now here, that they can't do anything bad to you if you work for someone else, want to leave, or don't want to give them information. 'Course as Mike points out you might find yourself needing them sooner than you think, so don't be too mean, but don't feel beholden either.

Wendii

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Wendii-

Sorry this took me so long - I had forgotten to say thank you for the great post!

Love the Haldane comment. Sweet!

You're right - I can understand why some would get the impression that we were thinking the recruiting world was monogamous. It IS completely kosher to have multiple relationships. Probably no sense in more than 3-5, and perhaps only 1-2 of those really closely... but definitely not just one.

One doesn't need to ask permission, nor brief the recruiter, insofar as they're not telling you how many other folks they're talking to about a job.

Great comments - thanks!

Mark

esanthony's picture

Having just started a new CIO position I have no intentions on making a move anytime soon but your recent podcasts made me realize that I do not have a relationship with a recruiter. At this point in my career I see the need to start developing a relationship or two with some recruiters. Any good sources?

Thanks.

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Eric-

The thing to do is buy John Lucht's book, for which we have a link to Amazon on our blog site. Rites of Passage at $100,000+. In the back, you get a list of every recruiter on the planet... excellent list.

I also know an IT recruiter (at a company, but knows the business and probably has a referral for you) in Tampa if you want to chat with her. she's a good friend and will spend a minute.

Mark

Len's picture

I just wrapped up some dealings with an executive recruiter. Let me report on my "real world" experience, which was decidedly positive.

I applied for a position via a website run by a networking organization that caters to folks in my line of work who are interested in transitioning to second careers. I e-mail a resume to the posted address, not knowing that it was a corporate recruiter. A few days later, I got a call from a lady who identified herself as the secretary for this recuriter; she wanted to schedule a phone interview with the recruiter.

The phone interview was extensive in scope and lengthy. I had to cut it off after an hour, because I had another meeting. Anyway, the recruiter told me that my resume showed that I might fit the position. He described the position, and DESCRIBED the firm, but didn't name it. He delved deeply into my background and experience. Interestingly, he revealed that he worked exclusively for a few firms in my industry only, that he had already been paid to fill this position, but that three other candidates had dropped out because "their wives didn't want to move." We agreed that I would interview at the firm.

Bob (the recruiter) flew in from New York to Washington, DC to meet me on the day prior to my scheduled interview. He told me to wear my "interview suit." My guess is that he wanted to make sure I was presentable before sticking his neck out by sending me to the firm. We spent a couple of hours at a private club where he holds a membership (recruiting must pay handsomely). Bob took a lot of time coaching me. He revealed the name of the firm and spun me up on their history, products, future plans, etc. Clearly, he wanted me to make a good impression (remember, he is under the gun to fill this position!).

On the next day, I visited the office where the position is located (not the corporate headquarters, but the Washington business office). I wouldn't call this visit an interview, per se, at least not in the conventional sense. However, we all know that every encounter is an interview. But, to be clear, the guy who would be my immediate boss spent an hour with me, and seemed mostly bent on convincing me to take the job. He concluded by arranging for me to interview with HIS boss (the VP of Marketing) at an upcoming tradeshow.

I went to the tradeshow and Bob was there. He introduced me to the VP and a Director, then retreated while we talked. This was more like a traditional interview.

While I was driving back to my office, Bob called me and told me that I had the job. Then, he explained that all compensation negotiations would take place through him. This surprised me. In any event, we spent several days going back and forth about salary, bonuses, stock options, severance packages, and so forth. In the end, the package they offered was very generous. But, I didn't take it, because in the process of interviewing, I learned more about the job, and there were a few aspects of it that I didn't really like. I was up front with Bob about those things, and he responded by sweetening the pot off the offer, but I just couldn't do it.

In the end, we parted ways on good terms. In fact, when another candidate appeared, he contacted me to get my impression of the guy (I have known him for years). Bob handled the whole thing professionally. He did seem a little squeezed at times to deliver the goods to the firm, and he did occasionally attempt to apply a little pressure, in the form of trying to convince me what a good deal I was getting. But, I can't blame him.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience.

Thanks,
Len

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Ken-

Nice work! Sounds like you did a good job. It sounds like you had a slightly above average but mostly typical experience with the recruiter.. so, other members, this is a good sample.

Thanks for sharing... this is a great way for everyone to learn.

Mark