The Recruiter Who Was Left Out in the Cold

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For a variety of reasons, recruiters continue to be an integral part of most any job search. That may be due in part to the fact that recruiters bring a lot to the table – especially in today’s digital age – and are well worth the job seekers investment of time in what they have to offer.

Despite the many benefits recruiters make available to the job seeker (and employers), some companies have begun to take much of what had been done by recruiters in house. Obviously cost is a major driving force.

But what does that mean to the job seeker?

If you’re listed with a recruiter whose clients are now conducting their own searches, there is more than a good chance that you’re going to miss out on something. That presents interesting and additional challenges for you.

How does one get around being left out in the cold? There are alternatives to waiting for a recruiter to call you. If you are familiar with a company where you would like to work, you can search LinkedIn to determine if any of your contacts work there and, working through them, take that opportunity to, at the very least, land an informational interview.

If you Google your target companies, many of them will post open positions on their websites where you could check once or twice a week for any relevant positings. You could also apply for a position that you don’t want but for which you may qualify. In other words, a foot in the door.

It’s also a good idea to keep reminding your former co-workers, vendors, other colleagues and friends that you’re still looking. Maybe a quick note or posting every 6-8 weeks will keep their eyes open without you becoming a pest.

If you’re close to an in-house HR person, reach out to them and ask – now that they company is no longer working with recruiters – how are they promoting open positions? Their answers will provide a mountain of knowledge as to how to proceed.

More tips.