| 1. "I can just apply directly to the company and skip | | | | are checks in place to avoid this. A recruiter's |
| the recruiter." There are a few reasons why this isn't | | | | reputation is the most important factor in receiving |
| necessarily true. First, retained recruiters often work | | | | searches and as a result of this, bad apple recruiters |
| on positions before they become public. Especially in | | | | do not last long. When choosing a recruiter, focus on |
| the medical device industry, higher level positions are | | | | the quality of medical device companies the firm |
| usually filled before the predecessor knows he or she | | | | works with and how long it has been in business. See |
| is going to move on. Medical device recruiters are | | | | what sorts of resources the recruiter offers, avoid |
| vital connections to have because they know about | | | | recruiters that charge you fees, and try to work |
| the position first and can get you an interview before | | | | with retained recruiters. |
| you are lost among the competition. Secondly, | | | | 4. "Recruiters are just telemarketers. They don't care |
| recruiters are paid to place good candidates so it is in | | | | about me". A recruiter's job is to find an employee |
| their best interest to present you in the best way | | | | for a company, not to find you a job. Without |
| possible. This means anything from one-on-one | | | | understanding this vital point, many candidates walk |
| interview preparation to "candidate presentations" | | | | away feeling disrespected when the recruiter they |
| that present your most admirable qualities to the | | | | worked with did not have the perfect job for them, |
| hiring authority. | | | | but the worst mistake you can do is write off a |
| "The recruiter's relationship with the client means that | | | | recruiter as a telemarketer. Why? If a recruiter took |
| he typically has access to inside information. Listen to | | | | time out of his or her day to call you he or she |
| a recruiter's advice very carefully when it comes to | | | | probably had your resume or basic medical device |
| résumé changes, interview coaching, etc. This | | | | career history and thought you were a worthwhile |
| advice is given to candidates because recruiters | | | | candidate to network with. Treating a recruiter |
| know what will maximize a candidate's chances of | | | | respectfully has a lot more benefits than negatives. |
| getting an offer." ) | | | | When times are tough, the simple networking that |
| 2. "Recruiters don't understand medical device | | | | results from a blind call may save you from |
| technology and are unqualified to represent me" | | | | unemployment. |
| While I understand the candidate's point of view on | | | | 5. "I'll wait until I'm unemployed to network" |
| this one, I will emphasize one main point: not all | | | | Recruiters are paid to find top talent, and long spans |
| recruiters are the same. Quality medical device | | | | of unemployment are more of a red flag than |
| recruiters worked in the industry before they moved | | | | anything else. Do NOT wait. Network with recruiters |
| into the recruiting industry. They understand your | | | | early on. In the medical device industry, client |
| point of view, they have strong connections in | | | | companies love acquiring talent from other top |
| medical device, and they can keep up with the | | | | medical companies, since medical technology thrives |
| industry terminology. My advice, take a look at the | | | | on having product devleopment engineers or medical |
| recruiter's background and see how much direct | | | | device sales people that already know how to work |
| medical device experience he or she has. | | | | within niche industries. On top of that, your best |
| 3. "Recruiters are two-faced lying scammers" I read | | | | salary offers will come while you are still employed. It |
| this a lot, and I will refer back to #2. Not all recruiters | | | | pays to stay on the lookout, so give your recruiter a |
| are the same. I have heard stories of recruiters | | | | call or find one on LinkedIn and start a relationship |
| disrespecting candidates in pursuit of fees, but there | | | | now. |