Job hunters must understand how staffing services work in order to improve their chances of successfully getting a job.
Job hunters seeking staffing solutions geared towards senior or executive positions often consider using an executive recruiter. There are two main types of executive recruiters: Retained and Contingency. Contingency executive recruiters earn a commission only after a client company hires the job candidate that they referred. Retained recruiters, meanwhile, earn a retainer fee in advance from companies in order to conduct job searches for candidates. They may earn payments even if their search does not result in a successful hire. Both types of staffing services firms can earn around 30% of first-year compensation for the job candidates they place. They never charge the candidates themselves. Contingency recruiting is typically used for executive job positions that pay less than $100,000, for positions which have numerous qualified candidates, and for filling multiple job vacancies with similar types of candidates. Contingency recruiting is used by hiring organizations who desire greater involvement in the staffing processes. Retained staffing services companies are used when executive positions that pay more than $100,000 need to be filled, when highly unique or highly specialized candidates are required, and when a company needs a third party to select and interview candidates on its behalf, among other reasons.
When working with executive recruiters, jobseekers must understand that recruiters focus on finding perfect fits for specific jobs as opposed to chasing a broad range of job candidates. Job applicants can improve their chances of getting a return call from executive recruiters if they use staffing services agencies that specialize in their industry or job function. Executive job hunters should ask their friends, co-workers, and relatives for recruiter references. Additionally, they may improve their chances of being discovered by recruiters if they join professional societies, attend industry conferences and job fairs, and inform contacts in their network that they are open to working with staffing services professionals.
Job hunters should not limit themselves to contacting staffing services agencies in their immediate geographical area, especially if they are willing to relocate. Also, many executive recruiters who seem to be regional-based may have national clients. While many executives only make contact with executive recruiters when they face a career crisis, it can be beneficial to initiate contact with staffing services professionals long before their work is actually required. This way, executives can develop a relationship with an executive recruiter who has an understanding of their work experience, salary expectations, skills, and goals.
Job hunters must be aware that recruiters typically work on multiple assignments and, as a result, are unable to personally reply to all the calls and letters they receive. Job hunters should not take a lack of response personally. Executive staffing services companies receive new job vacancies on a regular basis and, as such, will continue to consider the resumes they receive each time a relevant job falls into their lap. Job candidates should be persistent and use several staffing companies in the event that one company fails to find them the work they desire. Candidates who fail to elicit responses from staffing agencies should send in new, updated resumes on a regular basis.



