Page 86 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

QUESTIONS FOR HEADHU N TERS, RECRUITERS, AND AGENCIES

name of the company the agency represents until the recruiter is sat-
isfied that you are qualified. You can ask the recruiter questions that
would be inappropriate to ask the employer. For example, questions
about compensation that you would not initiate with the employer
are perfectly reasonable to ask a recruiter.

So your strategy in asking questions of recruiters and headhunt-
ers is twofold:

• Demonstrate that you are qualified for the job and will likely take
it if it is offered to you

• Get critical information about the company that you might not be
able to get from the company directly

Another good thing about recruiters is that they represent dozens
or sometimes even hundreds of companies. Even if one opportunity
does not work out, if you make a good impression on a recruiter, the
recruiter will remember you and keep you in mind for other searches
he or she may have.

TWENTY BEST QUESTIONS FOR HEADHUNTERS,
RECRUITERS, AND STAFFING AGENCIES

6-1
How did you find me?
Headhunters hate this question, but ask it anyway, because the
answer will tell you which resources (job sites, networking, place-
ment services) are producing results for you in your search for a
more rewarding opportunity.

6-2
Is this a retainer or contingency assignment?
This will give you a clue about the relationship between the recruiter
and the principal. Generally, agencies on retainer have closer rela-
tionships with the principals, and their endorsements carry a lot
more clout.

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