The majority of recruiters don't deserve a dime.
There, I said it.
Recruiter: Are you a pimp? Or a coach?
A few years back, my wife and I decided it might be time to leave Los Angeles.
We just had a kid. Los Angeles didn't feel like the perfect place to raise our precious miracle.
Maybe we should move to the Mid-West.
Or up North.
East Coast.
I was contacted by tons of recruiters.
Big agencies. Small agencies. Start-ups.
Recruiters were falling all over themselves to offer opportunities.
In a very short period of time, I realized there are two kinds of recruiters:
Pimps and coaches.
The Pimp
The pimp doesn't care about you.
They just care about their own bank account.
They pimp you out to any employer with an opening.
Not a perfect fit? We'll make it fit.
Not the right position to achieve your goals? As long as you achieve their goals, who gives a damn?
Pimps don't care about candidates, they only care about themselves. Their goals, their objectives.
They don't give you feedback, they don't prep you, and they're just there to collect money.
Their goal is to get more business from the client.
When an opportunity doesn't work out, they never call you back.
They disappear.
They have other people to pimp out.
The Coach
Coaches have a different mindset.
We're all in this together.
They prep you for interviews.
They share insights.
They don't just see dollar signs, they regard you as a human being.
When things don't work out, they don't just drop you like a hot potato.
They continue the conversation.
Some even become friends.
And coach you to the next level.
Good recruiters are first and foremost empathetic to the human experience
Sure, when you're looking for a new job, you're trying to get more money.
But that's #34 on your priority list.
You want more respect.
Recognition.
Opportunity.
Culture.
A better working environment.
And 28 other factors that make you choose your new employer.
Pimps don't get it. They think #34 should be #1.
Coaches get that taking on a new job is a huge commitment. From you. And your family.
They walk you through every little detail, listen to your concerns.
And, most importantly, when things don't work out, they are there for you.
They give you insights.
Nuggets that will help refine your pitch.
And help them to find the perfect fit for you.
Over the years, I only encountered three coaches.
If you're looking for job, you should get in touch with them.
They will take care of you.
They will help you throughout the process.
Here are my three superstars (in no particular order):
Robert Bishop (Mid-West)
Get in touch with them.
You deserve better than being handled by a pimp.
Uwe Hook is the CEO and Co-Founder of BatesHook, Inc. (www.bateshook.com) and a veteran of the advertising and marketing industry with the goal of building connections between people and brands. Uwe can be reached at uwe@bateshook.com.
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