As a recruiter, I truly love what I do. I believe recruiters should never be telemarketers, but consultants, strategic advisors, and trusted
 partners to both their clients and candidates. Recruiters have so much exposure to the companies and individuals within their area of business that they can develop the expertise to be very resourceful for the parties they work with. Below are a few of the things a good recruiter should be able to share with you if you decide to work with them.

#1 Salary Ranges: For most recruiters, salary is a topic that comes up within the first call. A good recruiter is going to ask the candidate what they expect for pay to make sure they are not priced out of the positon. Additionally, mostly anyone who wants to talk about a new position (especially passive candidates) want to know if it’s even a position which is worth pursuing. A good recruiter will be up front and direct with you about how much you will be making if you decide to take the new job.

#2 Inside Scoop on the Industry: Salary isn’t the only thing recruiters have knowledge of. They actually should have useful insight into the various companies within their targeted market. For instance, they might witness a mass migration of candidates from one firm to another, and in talking to the right people, they’ll uncover what’s happening at both companies. They may also witness a trend of people not lasting at a particular company for more than a year and will eventually get some sort of insight on that as well.

#3 Barriers to Entry: You might think that you are the perfect candidate for the job at the company you’ve been dying to get in, but your recruiter knows exactly what you really need. It’s true they are (usually) given a job spec with a list of requirements, however, they are also aware of what is expected by the company beyond the job description, what requirements the company will flex on, and what they’ll refuse to negotiate. Recruiters also know sometimes as soon as the first call if you’ll be a cultural fit for the company.

#4 Career Progression: A recruiter’s job isn’t to map out your career for you, but a recruiter also should know your prospects for career progression, even if you don’t. If the recruiter is focused to a specific industry or skill set, they know that it generally takes 2-3 years more experience and a master’s degree to take that next leap up as well as what kind of transitions you can make to a different role in your industry at a particular point in your career. Again, they talk to many professionals like you about their job history and career goals, so they come to understand what you do and what you can potentially do.

#5 Your Value: A good recruiter knows you are a professional with something to offer. They know that just because you don’t fit at this particular position they’re working on, you may have a future with them on another team if they are corporate or at another client if they are agency. They may not even know where they could put you, but they value you enough to keep in touch for when something does become available. Most importantly, a good recruiter knows that working with a valuable professional requires a establishing an authentic, respectful relationship.