Working with a technical recruiter

It's a good idea, just remember that your incentives aren't necessarily aligned with theirs. Often times, going through a recruiter is the only way to get a job at certain companies. Give them your resume as a PDF if you're worried about them changing things. Try and find a good recruiter - the vast majority are mediocre.

I was let go in a reduction in force sweep from Company X after 18 years. I went to a great recruiter and got a position with Company Y (their biggest competitor) within 3 weeks of my end date with a 40% pay raise and much more interesting work. I am a contractor but could go perm and contracting works for me right now. Most recruiters will place both contractors and direct hire. They do negotiate your salary so if that is one of the things you are determined to do they may not work for you. However you give them the range you are looking for and the more money they get for you the bigger their cut so it is in their best interest to get you the most. I used Kforce if you are interested. They are national (I am in Atlanta) and the best recruiter I have worked with. I will never do it any other way. For me it is so easy- they find jobs, run them by you, if you are interested they set up an interview. All negotiations are on them but again, they tell you up front what the company is willing to pay. If it is not enough or not the work you want to do or not in the right part of town you pass on it, no foul, no harm. All this looking and negotiating cost me zip! The hiring company pays so if you are asked to pay run don't walk away. Good luck.

Twenty-year recruiter, here. (Not your field, though.) Yes, there are plenty of bad ones. It's the plague of any industry where there's a low barrier to entry. You approach this in much the same way you seek out other professionals for their advice. If there are colleagues you're particularly close to (and who will keep their mouths shut) ask for the names of recruiters they hear from whom they respect. A recruiter you speak to for the first time will likely want to move quickly to getting you introduced to a new job. Do not be offended. That's how we make money. Simply say that you know you won't always be right for everything the recruiter suggests and that the better you know each other, the easier the relationship will be. Do your own due diligence: 1. How long has the recruiter been working a) as a recruiter, and b) in your field? It's entirely possible that you could meet a whiz-bang short-timer. As with all professions, though, the more experience the better. 2. Ask for references of a) candidates the recruiter has placed, and b) candidates the recruiter has worked with over time, yet not placed for one reason or another. Pay particular attention to what you hear from group b. 3. Does the recruiter belong to state or national professional organizations? Does the recruiter have a credential, like the CPC (Certified Personnel Consultant)? Not always a correlation with quality, of course, but useful variable to consider. Insist that your resume not be presented to an employer without discussing the opportunity with you, first. Avoids a lot of heartburn. In exchange, promise to make decisions promptly and not succumb to the paralysis of analysis. Sooner or later, if the answer isn't "yes, I'm interested", it's "no, I'm not". It can be a real challenge to find and work with a true professional in our field. When you do, you'll know it and genuinely benefit from it. Good luck!