Lisa Mesnard, PHR, Executive Recruiter, The Wellington Group

It is amazing how quickly people will turn their resume over to a recruiter without asking important questions about the recruiter and their process. While it is great that there is so much trust that a recruiter will work for you and is looking out for your best interest, there are a few things you need to know first.

Questions to ask a recuiter

What will happen to my resume after I send it to you (i.e. put into their database)?

What communication will I get from you before my resume is sent to a client (you should be able to say yes or no each and every time before your resume is sent out)?

Do you have direct contact with a person at the company with some sort of hiring authority?

Have you been asked or entered into an agreement with the company to work on this position?

Have you had successful placements with this client in the past?

There are recruiters who will toss out a bunch of resumes just to see if one sticks. Furthermore, most recruiters send resumes to jobs without qualifying the job or entering into an agreement with a client.

Ask some questions to ensure working with a recruiter will increase your chances of getting the position, not just be another way for your resume to end up in a black hole.

Lisa Mesnard

For assistance with your career search or new resume visit the career store or contact The Wellington Group @ info@twgrecruiters.com.