how do you know you can trust a recruitment consultant?

Organizations often outsource their hiring to recruitment agencies as it saves them both time and resources in the process. Job seekers, on the other hand, remain in doubt about the best way to look for job openings. You could either look for job listings posted directly by companies or those listed via agencies. If you are looking to accelerate your job search and enhance your chances of selection, you can take the help of a recruitment agency. However, differentiating between genuine and fake recruitment consultants is often a struggle. Several fake staffing firms and fake job rackets are reported almost every year, making job applicants cautious and wary.


So, how can you decide whether the recruitment consultant  you shortlisted is genuine and can help you successfully navigate your job search? Here are seven questions to keep in mind when dealing with a head hunter.

 

Does the recruiter offer genuine details?

Make sure that the recruitment consultant provides you with all the details of the agency such as the street address, working email address, active website link, etc., before you share your resume and personal details. Make sure you research about the staffing firm with the help of the information provided and also check the credentials of the consultant on LinkedIn.

Is there a recruitment fee being charged?

You can outright ignore recruitment consultants who ask for security deposit or recruitment fee in advance. Asking for money in advance is a red flag and signals that the recruiter is not genuine.

Is the recruiter well-versed with the job profile?

A genuine recruitment consultant should provide you the specifics of the role and the responsibilities it entails. The best thing to do is to ask them to source and share a detailed ‘Job Description’ directly from the company. It is good to have the specifics of the profile on mail, in case you wish to proceed with the application.

Is the recruiter open to sharing the client details with you?

One of the most important things that can help you decide the genuineness of a recruiter is whether they are ready to provide you the details of the hiring company. A genuine head hunter would understand and cooperate with your need to know about the organization before you apply for a job. Ask for a detailed company profile, and active links to their website and social media handles from the staffing firm.

Does the recruiter show an interest in your job preference?

It is the job of a recruitment agency to make the right candidate-job fit, and for that, they must make an attempt to gauge what the candidate is seeking from their next job. Your career aspirations are relevant to the hiring process as that would make or break the fit for the suggested role.

Does the recruiter share any constructive feedback on your resume/job application?

A genuine recruiter will be aware of the qualifications and experiences that the client organization is looking for in their prospective candidates. They should be able to give you an insight into how to update your resume or present your job application in the desired manner. It is within your right as a prospective candidate to inquire about the chances of your application being selected. Professional recruiters will keep you updated across the different hiring stages, once you have shared your details with them. They will also let you know in case your profile is not selected and explain why you did not make the cut. 

Is the recruiter willing to share salary/compensation details with you?

Recruiters often ask about your current position level and compensation, for obvious reasons. Similarly, you can also ask them about the salary being offered for a particular position. A professional recruiter would always want to gauge your salary expectations before processing your application.

 

In essence, use a combination of your own research as well as instinct to figure whether a consultant is suspiciously keen to offer you a job or is genuinely interested in making the ‘right’ person-job fit. A sincere and professional recruitment consultant will always seek a mutually beneficial association.