Down through the years since I began this Profession, titles have changed. Once I referred to myself as an Employment Counselor (that’s what the Generalist Agency called me), Placement Counselor, Employment Consultant (that’s what a more focused Agency called me) and now Recruiter (I am in control that’s what I prefer). Recruiter’s come in all shapes, gender, cultural backgrounds, etc. One must understand the nature of the Profession to have a good relationship. Many see a Recruiter as someone who spends a little time on the phone and makes a lot of money once a Placement is made. While it is true a good Recruiter can make a lot of money, like most endeavors a great deal of time is spent behind the scenes. Bottom line after the skills are developed (and this does not happen overnight) it’s a people business. Some Recruiter’s work in large firms where there is emphasis to produce or make placements. Regardless of the special area of focus (Specialty) the emphasis is on numbers. X number of marketing phone calls daily, X number of recruiting calls daily. X number of send-outs (on-site interviews) weekly, X number of Placements monthly, etc. During that process you are suppose to develop relationships with people. The depth of the relationship is governed by the quality of the work you perform. Much like an assembly line only it’s in an office environment but the principle is the same. Production goals, cost control, element of quality emphasis, ROI. Unfortunately many either come or are brought into this Profession with expectations of making it big overnight and experience burn out quickly. Turn-over is sometimes high. When the economy goes South and employers are not hiring many of us fall by the way side and turn to another Profession to earn a living. Those who have been in the industry see this as a weaning out process or “Only the strong survive”. I prefer to think that if you are dedicated to the Profession and see it as the best position you have ever had, you will stick out the tough times, become a little creative and stay.

The quality of the relationship between you and a Recruiter is like anything else. It depends on what you put in. I have developed both short-term and long-term relationships in my Profession with Candidates as well as with Clients. Recruiters are very mindful of who pays the fee once a Candidate is placed with a Client in a specific role. Regardless of whether you are a Recruiter working on a Retainer, Engagement Fee or Contingency, the opening drives your business. Over the course of years I have had as many as 20 in a given month and as few as zero. Peaks and Valleys.