by Fred Jung

Created on: August 13, 2010

It is hard being unemployed and sometimes a jobseeker can use the help of a headhunter. Though these days, they prefer to be called recruiters. A recruiter is the middleman or woman who brings talent to an employer who needs talent for full-time or temporary positions. Some work for the employer directly and look to fill positions. Many others are independent who try to sell the talents of individuals to potential employers who are looking to fill positions.

There are many pros and cons for using a recruiter.

A recruiter has a network of contacts they use to help you find a job. They have a better chance of finding positions and getting you the interview. They have better resources than the average jobseeker and it helps the jobseeker’s morale knowing they have someone who is looking for work for you.

For freelance or temporary jobs, a recruiter is great in that they pay you on a weekly basis and take the taxes from your pay. Many freelancers who find work on their own have to deal with doing their own taxes and they don’t get paid by the client weekly. Recruiters take care of business. Also if you work on long-term projects, some offer some benefits if you work a certain amount of time.

Another pro is that you can register with several recruiter agencies without any problems. You are not obligated to any of them. Having many recruiters always increases your chances of someone finding work for you.

But with recruiters, there are many cons you should be aware of. Under no circumstance should a job seeker pay a recruiter. The recruiter gets paid by the employer who hires the  job seeker. There are recruiters that are scammers. They are dishonest people who take advantage of desperate job seekers. They usually charge you a fee to use their services and then they don't deliver. Like I said, do not pay a recruiter a fee to help you look for work. There are legitimate ones that do charge a fee, but for high level positions like CEOs and the like. Not for the average job seeker.

Another one is that they do not care for you at all. They aren’t doing this to help you find a job. They couldn’t care less. They are trying to fit a square peg in a square hole. In other words, they are looking to fill positions for their clients with the most-qualified talent so the can make money. If they feel you are not qualified enough for a position, they will not waste their time on you. That is why you should register with several recruiters and not feel guilty about it. Play them at their game. Use them the same way they use you.

One I know too well is that some will pay you an hourly rate that is too low for you especially in times of recession. There had been many that paid me a very good rate, but I had been low-balled as well by many too. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and take it while others times you can just refuse and look for better opportunities or bargain for an increase. Also if you work on long-term projects, they do offer some benefits. The benefits though are lousy. I had a job with a recruiter who would give me paid holidays after I work a certain amount of hours. Problem was that by the time I reached the required hours, it was late November and the hours get reset on January 1. So I missed Thanksgiving by a few days and only got paid for Christmas and I worked 40 hours a week.

Working with recruiters is a mixed bag, but I still recommend working with them. The pros outweigh the cons if you're smart enough to play them at their game. You will find work with them or on your own. They are just another resource in your job search.

Learn more about this author, Fred Jung.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.