I get many calls from people (potential candidates) asking about PHC Consulting’s services. The two main questions are always the same: “How much does it cost?” and “Why can’t I apply directly to the company?”

Although I am a niche recruiter (all medical sales-related jobs: laboratory sales, pharmaceutical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, biotechnology sales, surgical equipment sales, hospital equipment sales, medical supply sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, cellular products sales, molecular products sales, histology sales, etc.), all contingency recruiters work basically the same: Candidates pay nothing. Clients pay if a match is made.

Here’s the process:

1. You submit your resume to PHC consulting - resumes@phcconsulting.com.

2. We look to see if we have a job order that is a fit for you. Or if we know of a company that could use your skills and experiences in their organization. Some of the best jobs are created for candidates - great candidates.

3. If so, we call you and describe the opportunity. If you agree, we submit your information to the client company.

4. They put you through their hiring process.

5. If they hire you, we bill them. If not, we give you the news that they are not moving forward. And then we keep you in our database (in case we have another appropriate opportunity for you). And since we have gotten to know you, we will remember you everytime we work with a firm that could use your specific talent. We make introductions between companies and candidates before they even realize there is a need.

So why not apply directly to the company? It’s much riskier for you. When you apply directly, your resume goes into a black hole. Very few companies mine their database. (If they do, your resume had better be incredible for you to surface to the top.) You’re stuck waiting for them to call you. If you call them, you’ll likely get less than a direct answer. At best.

On the other hand, a recruiter can call the company after they submit you, push for a first interview, help you prepare for the interview (we know the company and what they’re looking for), correct some mistakes before you make them, and give you specific feedback after the interview. Even though you’re not “the client,” a recruiter is going to be an advocate for a successful placement. If the recruiter has taken a chance on you, he or she is going to have a vested interest in your success. It becomes an advantage for you.

Having said that, if a recruiter finds out that you’ve already applied directly to the company, he or she won’t deal with you on that. You will have shot yourself in the foot on that one, because you’ve taken away the incentive for the recuiter to work for your chance at that job (if the recuiter doesn’t place you from the beginning, he or she won’t receive a fee). In other words, you can’t apply and then decide you need help.

It’s almost always going to be to your advantage to use a recruiter from the beginnning in your job search.