Are career recruiters a rip off?

Question

Why do they always ask if you are working with other recruiters? Does it harm you if you say you are workign with many?

They always ask if your friends need any help, that its like they are sales people.

Are they a good resource to turn to for the next job?

Answer 1

I've used them, some good, and some bad. I've had recruiters that cared about making the placement AND whether or not I was the right fit and going to be happy, and then I've had some that tried to convince me to take just about any job that they could squeeze my qualifications into.

There is nothing wrong with using them, or with working with more than one. You should keep things on the up and up though, and let them know who you're working with and what jobs you're being potentially placed in. Some companies use more than one staffing firm at a time and it would look a little strange to have 3 resumes from separate recruiters sitting on the HR guy's desk. (This is why they ask you).

The reason they ask for referrals is that it gives them another potential candidate to place in another job. A recruiter's commission is usually based on a percentage of the salary they negotiated for you. If you are hired at $60,000 a year, the company who hired you pays the recruiting firm 3%, for example, ON TOP of what they pay you.

Overall, I think they're worth it even though it can get a little cut throat. They at least do the nasty negotiating for you!

Answer 2

I think so. I think companies are savvy enough to understand what IT skills someone has, these days. In the late 90's it was easy to BS your way into IT departments so companies started using recruiters.

Answer 3

I had great success with them in the past- when I worked in NYC in insurance. They want referrals because they work on commission, and you are correct, they are salesmen, and YOU (the client) are the product.