How to Work With a Sales Recruiter to Get a Better Job

As painful as looking for a new job can sometimesOn the other hand, a recruiter has the freedom (and
be, job seekers often overlook the simplest way tothe responsibility) to call the company after she
make the search easier: work with a recruiter. Asubmits you, push for a first interview, help you
recruiter can ease the pain of the search in severalprepare for the interview since we know the
ways: she has contacts you can only dream of, shecompany and what they're looking for, correct some
knows where the jobs are that you probably won't,mistakes before you make them, and give you
and she will help you prepare for interviews withspecific feedback after the interview. Even though
inside knowledge of the company and an objectiveyou're not "the client," a recruiter is going to be an
eye for you. However, sometimes there areadvocate for a successful placement. If the recruiter
misconceptions about recruiters that cause ahas taken a chance on you, he or she is going to
candidate to question the process. The two mainhave a vested interest in your success. It becomes
questions candidates have are always the same:an advantage for you.
"How much does it cost?" and "Why can't I applyHaving said that, if a recruiter finds out that you've
directly to the company?"already applied directly to the company, he or she
All contingency recruiters work in basically the samewon't deal with you on that. You will have shot
way: Candidates pay nothing. Clients pay if a match isyourself in the foot on that one, because you've
made.taken away the incentive for the recruiter to work
HOW A RECRUITER WORKS:for your chance at that job: if the recruiter doesn't
1. You submit your resume to the recruiter.place you from the beginning, he or she won't
2. The recruiter looks to see if she has a job orderreceive a fee. In other words, you can't apply and
that is a fit for you--or if she knows a company thatthen decide you need help. You won't get it.
could use your skills and experiences in theirIt's almost always going to be to your advantage to
organization. Some of the best jobs are created foruse a recruiter from the very beginning of your job
candidates-- more specifically, great candidates.search.
3. If she sees a good match, she calls you andPeggy McKee is the owner and chief recruiter at PHC
describe the opportunity. If you agree, she submitsConsulting. PHC Consulting has been providing top
your information to the client company.sales talent, sales management, marketing and
4. The company puts you through its hiring process.service / support personnel to some of the most
5. If they hire you, they are billed by the recruiter. Ifprominent high growth companies in the medical and
not, you get the news that they are not movinglaboratory products industry for over 9 years!
forward. And then the recruiter keeps you in theOur client companies provide capital equipment and
database in case there's another appropriatereagents for the clinical laboratories or research
opportunity for you. And since the recruiter haslaboratories, equipment and consumables that aid the
gotten to know you, you will likely be rememberedphysician/clinician in diagnostic, therapeutic and
every time she works with a firm that could useprognostic information, software that provides the
your specific talent. Recruiters frequently makeworkflow improvements that have unending positive
introductions between companies and candidatesimpact on the patient, physician and the laboratory
sometimes before they even realize there is a need.professional and a number of service offerings in the
WHY CAN'T YOU GET THE JOB ON YOUR OWN?medical arena (for example: laboratory service,
So, why shouldn't you apply directly to the company?imaging etc).
Because it's much riskier for you. When you applyOur expertise is in providing: Sales, Sales
directly, your resume goes into a company black hole.Management, Marketing, Technical Service, &
Very few companies mine their database likeSupport Professionals
recruiters do. (If they do, your resume had better beWe provide top talent (usually the top 10% of sales
absolutely incredible for you to surface to the top.)force rankings) and reduce turnover (through
You're stuck waiting for them to call you. If you callexceptional client knowledge and candidate screening)
them, you'll likely get less than a direct answer. Atthis in combination with our reputation for smoothly
best.facilitating the hiring process makes us the search
WHAT A RECRUITER CAN DO FOR YOU:firm of choice in this arena.