The Rate Pirate Recruiter

The consulting and contracting space is the Wild Wild West with laptops and crackberries. It's 30 vendors working with one client on a position that possibly 10 people in a local market are remotely qualified to do. It's "preferred vendors" getting a head start in calling the few, the proud, the keyword-matched. So as a consultant, how does one weed through the herd and find the recruiter who "gets" their resume?

In this economy, with so many staffing firms working on the same positions, consultants have the liberty to reject overtures from recruiters who seem shifty. It's rarely, if ever, a prudent idea to work with a recruiter who isn't looking to build a relationship with you. If the recruiter who contacted you is simply looking to use you for one job, there is no harm in passing on their inquiry and seeking out a more thorough recruiter to help you land the position.

Also, I'd be wary of any recruiter who is clueless as to why you're qualified for the position and only called you because you "matched a few keywords." In the age of job boards and ATS platforms, many recruiters who call you will not have actually read your resume. A recruiter who doesn't read resumes is like a point guard who doesn't work on ballhandling. When we're talking about the most basic requirements of your role and your unwillingness to perform them, it's an easy call: avoid at all cost.

Finally, recruiters will often treat consultants like petty, pathetic half-wits because the job market has been tight. Do not ever allow a recruiter to place you in an uncomfortable spot when it comes to salary. You know what you're worth. Don't lose sight of that. If a recruiter offers you a rate that is significantly lower than your market value, feel free to take a pass. Remember, there is a more ethical recruiter who is also working on that same position who isn't trying to commit a "margin jack."

I know it's hard when you're frustrated about your search prospects, but don't lose faith in yourself and your accomplishments. They're contacting you for a reason. You match a job description because you're capable of performing the requirements set forth by the client. So don't let an unethical rate pirate recruiter discourage you under any circumstances. There are plenty of honest, sincere, ethical recruiters who are chomping at the bit to do the right thing.