Working With Miami Recruiter Firms

All claims of advertising aside, there are really only two differentiating factors to be aware of when looking at Miami executive recruiter firms: those who work on contingency and those who work for a retainer. Although both types of staffing firms essentially accomplish the same thing, identifying, selecting, and placing viable job candidates for their clients, it’s important to understand the basic difference in the way these two types of executive search firms operate.

Contingency vs. Retainer

Miami recruiters working on contingency get paid for their services only when a candidate is successfully placed within their client company, whereas those who work on retainer take their payment in a series of thirds- one-third up front, one-third when candidates interview, and the final third if a candidate is placed. Why is this so important to the job candidate? Understanding how your recruiter is or isn’t motivated will help you know what you can and can’t expect from their services. Since recruiter working on contingency don’t get paid unless you get placed, they are often more likely to send you out for multiple openings at a variety of companies simultaneously. This means more offers and a potentially quicker job placement for you.

Retainers typically work for one company at a time, with which they have a steady relationship. While this means you may not get as much variety in terms of interview opportunities, and will be held back from other interviews until the company decides yay or nay, Miami executive recruiter firms working on retainer have a good relationship and reputation with their client company, which may pay out big dividends in getting you a better starting position within the company than a contingency recruiter could achieve.

Approaching an Executive Recruiter Firm

It may seem hypocritical, but unemployed individuals are considered less desirable, even by recruiting firms. Although the stigma is largely old fashioned, many recruiters, especially in the larger firms, hold on to the idea that the best candidates are those who are not currently looking for a new position. Smaller firms or specialty niche Miami headhunters are typically more willing to deal with call in candidates, but the larger, more traditional firms must be wooed in another way.

Since you are considered most desirable- and therefore have the most negotiating power- if a recruiting firm approaches you, the best way to get your name into their candidate list is through networking. By talking with friends, family, college alumni, or colleagues, you can find out who has been placed, worked with, or found employees from a Miami recruiter, and get them to mention your name to their associates in the recruitment industry. Recruiters find candidate that are only interested in money difficult to work with, so the catch words they want to hear revolve around the desire for more challenging work, opportunities for growth, or advancement potential. Remember, you are a candidate, not a client. Recruiter fees are paid by their client companies, not you, so to make sure you get adequate negotiating power, you’ll want to present yourself from the best possible position.


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