How to Work With a Recruiter as a Job Seeker

For candidates

Work with a recruiter by being clear about what you want, honest about pay and your other interviews, insistent on knowing the company before your resume goes anywhere, and firm that you never pay anything.

A good recruiter can open doors you would not find on a job board. A careless one can waste your time or send your resume where you did not want it. This post covers how the relationship works and how to get the most out of it.

Who does a recruiter actually work for?

The employer. A recruiting firm is hired by a company to fill a role and is paid by that company when it hires someone the firm introduced. The Federal Trade Commission puts it this way: "Honest placement firms do not typically charge a fee to job candidates." The FTC continues: "Instead, the hiring company pays them a fee to find qualified candidates."

That has two consequences for you. First, you should never pay a recruiter anything. Second, a recruiter's job is to fill specific roles, not to find you a job in general. If none of their current searches fits you, they may not call, and that says nothing about your worth.

What should I tell a recruiter on the first call?

The more precise you are, the better the match. Be ready to cover:

• The roles you want, and the ones you do not. Titles, the kind of work, and the size and type of company.
• Pay. The range you are looking for, and what you earn now if you are comfortable sharing it. Rules about salary-history questions vary by state and city, so ask what applies to you. Either way, you can always state the range you want.
• Location and work arrangement. Where you will commute, whether you will relocate, and whether you need remote or hybrid work.
• Timing. When you could start, and any notice you owe your current employer.
• Your other interviews. You do not need to name companies, but say if you are close to an offer elsewhere. A recruiter who knows can move faster or step aside.
• Anything that would rule a role out. Travel, schedule, industry. Saying it early saves everyone a wasted interview.

Honesty here helps you most. A recruiter who finds out about a pay gap or a competing offer at the last minute cannot fix it.

What should I ask a recruiter?

Before you agree to anything, ask:

1. Which company is this role with? A recruiter may hold the name until a first conversation, but should always tell you before your resume goes out.
2. What is the pay range, and what is it based on?
3. Why is the role open?
4. What are the interview steps, and roughly how long has the search been running?
5. Will you send my resume anywhere without asking me first? The answer should be no.
6. When will I hear from you next, and what happens if the employer says no?

A recruiter who answers these directly is one worth keeping in touch with.

Should I work with more than one recruiter?

You can, and many people do. Recruiters often work on different searches, so more than one can widen what you see. The one rule is to keep track.

• Keep a simple list of every company and role you have been put forward for, by whom, and when.
• Never let two recruiters submit you to the same employer for the same role. A duplicate submission can create a dispute over who introduced you, and some employers will set the candidate aside rather than sort it out.
• Tell each recruiter if you have already been put forward somewhere, so they do not repeat it.

How do I stay on a recruiter's radar?

• Reply quickly when a recruiter calls about a specific role, even if the answer is no.
• Give real feedback after each interview: what went well, what worried you, whether you are still interested.
• Update them when anything changes: a new offer, a new skill, a move, a change in what you want.
• Be straight if you lose interest. Withdrawing politely keeps the door open for the next search.

What should a recruiter never ask of me?

Money, first of all. The FTC's guidance is direct: "If someone asks you to pay to get a job, that's a scam." That covers resume writing sold as a condition of being considered, training fees, starter kits, paid certifications, and equipment you must buy.

A real recruiter also does not need your bank details or identity documents early on. Those come from the employer after an offer, through a normal onboarding process. And a real recruiter does not send your resume to employers you have not agreed to.

How does X5 Recruit work with candidates?

Here is how we handle it.

• You never pay. Employers pay us.
• Nothing goes out without your yes. Your resume is never sent to an employer without your permission for that specific company and role.
• We read every resume. If a search fits you, we call you.

X5 Recruit is a recruiting firm based in Tampa, FL, working with companies across the US. Email your resume to recruit@ai.x5core.com, or call (888) 906-8090. Questions by phone or email get a reply within one business day, weekdays, Eastern time.