(Click here for Part 1)
Once I started submitting resumes to job postings I found interesting, recruiters started contacting me in droves. I never used a recruiter to find a job before. I always applied directly with a company or had someone refer me. But I always had fulltime jobs and never tried contracting. For contracting, it seems all of the jobs go through a recruiting agency.
As in all things, I found there are good recruiters and bad recruiters.
Bad recruiters
I was extremely clear and upfront about only wanting a fully remote job. Despite this, I had so many recruiters try to submit me for hybrid or on-site jobs. I just immediately stopped talking to these recruiters.
This is no fault of their own, but I could not understand 80% of the recruiters that contacted me. Their accents were just too thick. If I can't understand you, I can't work with you.
Then there were the recruiters who assured me the position was fully remote, but midway through the process, would tell me things have changed and the position was now hybrid or on-site after so-and-so date. I immediately stopped working with these recruiters too.
Having never really worked with a recruiter before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had visions of someone working with me to find a good fit. But the reality I found is that the recruiter just wants to submit you for their positions and hope their client hires you so they get their cut. Full stop. If that first position didn't work out, I never heard from the recruiter again 95% of the time. They didn't try to understand what I was looking for or try to find me another position. I was kind of baffled, you have a live one here guys! The other 5% would follow up by sending me a list of their open positions, whether they matched what I was looking for or not (they usually did not).
Good recruiters
Out of the dozens of recruiters that contacted me, there were only 2 that stood out. They took the time to understand what I was looking for. They followed up with me every week or two when they found positions that they thought were a good fit for me.
Unfortunately, the position I ultimately took wasn't through either of them. I suppose that's why most recruiters don't try. Took much time for too little return. I wish I could have rewarded at least one of them for the time they took, but all I can say is these two recruiters will be the first two I will contact the next time I'm in the job market.
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