To recruit or not to recruit? Becoming a NYC Advertising/Media/Marketing Recruiter?

Hello!

I am brand new to RecruitingBlogs and I'm hoping that you, as a community, can help me make a decision about the next step in my career.

I have been working in marketing and for advertising agencies for the past 6 years in and around NYC. I recently met with a recruiter who was interested in me as a candidate for one of her job orders. About half way through the meeting, however, our conversation changed. Initially we were talking about the ad agency job, but as it turns out her recruiting firm is actually looking for an "industry person" to help them build their Advertising/Media/Creative recruiting division. She mentioned the recruiting position only after I expressed an interest so I don't think she brought me in with the hopes of making me a recruiter.

I'm seriously considering the job as I have been thinking of making a change for some time, and I love the idea of helping people find positions that are right for them (the NYC ad scene is pretty hard core, but it's a great business if you can find the right agency). Also I'm excited about the opportunity to gain some sales experience while still staying close to the advertising industry. From a compensation stand point, the job would have a strong base (non-draw) and the commission percentages are good. Also it's a pretty new division to the firm so I have a feeling there is a lot of untapped opportunity with little internal competition.

My question for the community is, what do you think? If you were me (in today's economy already with an average paying job) would you change careers to become a recruiter? Do you all like what you do? Is the industry faring okay these days?

Also if any of you are in NYC advertising/media recruiting, how's it looking? Are there job orders to be had? Candidates to be found?

Thank you in advance for you help!

Comment by Sandra McCartt on December 10, 2010 at 12:45pm: Pharma sales is wild right now. There have been mergers and buyouts that have put a ton of pharma sales people on the street. Established niche pharma recruiters like Pat Licata will always do well due to 30 years of relationships in the verticle. Also there is a big difference between the pharma reps and a lot of the scientific sales reps. A lot of the pharma reps are classified as marketers (been a big misclassification lawsuit about that just recently) because they don't close deals. The reps in scientifc sales like diagnostics, reagents, and devices are dedicated sales reps. A lot of the companie who hire them won't hire pharma reps.

Yes, a lot of the big pharma are backing off using recruiters right now because of they can advertise and get a lot of candidates who have been laid off. If you want to know about pharma sales contact Pat Licata.

One thing i always ask someone who is thinking about getting into recruiting on the agency side. "How do you handle rejection?" If you can handle rejection, don't mind that half the world thinks recruiters are slightly lower on the food chain than folks who sell Ginsu knives and cancer insurance then by all means give it whirl. At the worst you will make a lot of contacts within your field and can outplace yourself if you don't like it.

You know more about what you do than any of us so what is the market in your area for people like yourself that this agency wants you to represent. If there are a lot of unemployed people with your background it would seem to me that it would be difficult to get a fee for placing them but you would know the good ones from the not so good ones.

Pam is right on , the market is picking up and it's a great time to get into it if you have the staying power to make it on the salary you will be paid. Also understanad that even though you will get a salary there will be an expectation that you will pay for yourself or that salary will not be justified for long.

Good luck, happy to speak with you but i am in Texas so dumb as a rock about your market. Pam would be best shot or Steve Levy who is in NY and a vet recruiter and always happy to help.

Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on December 13, 2010 at 2:03pm

Comment by C. B. Stallings 1 second ago

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If I were you and you have not called at least 10 recruiting firms in NY. Then do not ever start to try. Do something else. You are not motivated to start what will take you along time tobecome successful

Comment by Lauren on December 13, 2010 at 4:45pm: Hi All,

I just wanted to reach out and say thanks again for the responses (crazy busy weekend, hence the delay in writing back).

I do sincerely appreciate each and every comment though. You've helped me understand the pros and cons of the field so if I do decide to go in this direction I will be going in with my eyes wide open (no rose colored glasses here!)

Pam, nice to hear that the Boston market is opening up, I have a feeling there will be a lot happening in the new year down here too (fingers crossed anyway). I will definitely reach out to you if I have anymore questions.

Thanks again!

Lauren

Comment by C. B. Stalling!! on December 14, 2010 at 1:26am: So what are you going to do>?

Comment by Lauren on December 14, 2010 at 11:43am: Ha that is the question of the day isn't it. What am I going to do...

Well I have a couple more meetings before it's decision time, but I'm leaning toward giving it a try. Worst case scenario it doesn't work and I then I can always go back to working for an ad agency (the goal in my head would be to give it 3 years though, if I'm going to do it I'm going to do it right... work really hard and give it a chance). The best case scenario could be that I really like it/am good at it which financially would be more rewarding than what I'm doing now.

Life is boring if you don't take risks... :)

Also I got a fortune cookie recently that said "Go for it, you never know what happen next.", A poignant little message that made me laugh. I put it right my fridge as reminder not to settle...