Unfortunately many more candidates today are actively pursuing jobs because their positions were eliminated, so assisting candidates to manage their job search is critical. However, we can always use your help and that typically means passing on lots of information about your current search status to the recruiter in your first conversation.

When I’m speaking with any candidate, but particularly those that have active searches the information I want to know, in order, is:

• Where has your resume been presented (you should know the company name, managers name and if it is a FTE or contract position)
• Status of interviews telephone, face to face and if your still under consideration
• What agencies you’re working with on your search

By providing this information it will allow a recruiter, in a matter of minutes, to be able to discern their ability to assist you in your search simply by determining your current market coverage.

Since contingency recruiters only gets paid if they place you a critical part of their job is how to wisely spend their time, and if they can quickly determine their ability to help you the more time that everyone can save in the long run.

Assuming that you’re a candidate that they can help the recruiter should then be able to provide you details about market, your place in it and their plan of action to assist you. Of course moving forward with a recruiter puts both parties in a reciprocal position were they are responsible to keep the other aware of the evolution of any situations (for better or worse) as well as to accurately represent interest levels from all parties involved. Of course, failure to do so is cause for either part to terminate the working relationship.

Check out our corporate website for all our job postings at www.martineaurecruiting.com