Evolution of the Job Search

Recruiting, in the world we know today, has evolved and changed as a result of technology and all of its repercussions. Many of the changes have enhanced the world of recruiting while some changes have created complications. Many believe that the first indications of change came with the introduction of Craigslist only to be escalated with the introduction of Monster.com. In end, Craigslist was too over diversified to become a real threat. And today, LinkedIn and the web, in general, have had a profound impact on the employment industry. There are many reasons for the change. For one thing, the business world moved much slower twenty years ago. It limited the amount of competition. Networking was critical in the acquisition of a good job in the past. It was all about the contacts you knew and who they knew and how they could help you get your “foot in the door”. Qualified applicants were few and far between. Job recruiters opened the doors and created the networking necessary for quality employment opportunities. Fax machines were the main component for transferal of resumes, references, and cover letters. The United States postal service was a key player as well.

Needless to say, the Internet has changed this dynamic drastically. The recruiting industry, as a result has changed too. But securing a qualified recruiter still has its perks. Their expertise in their areas opens doors for many qualified job candidates that might have otherwise been closed. Many job candidates think that they will benefit from friends that they know or have worked with. Friends and co-workers can often be a good source but there are negatives attached to that dynamic. Friends or co-waters may feel that their personal career paths are threatened by bringing in someone they know. Friends may say one thing to your face and then another thing about your professionalism to others. Friends are not at liberty to negotiate compensation packages and friends may be reticent to persist at getting their hiring managers to look at a resume.

How about submissions that go directly through a company website? Human resource managers get millions of resumes. It becomes a challenge to even get your resume looked at. A good recruiter calls on a regular basis and inquires about specific feedback on a continuously. They have established a business relationship that will often bring your resume to the top of the heap.

So in summation, a recruiter definitely has its advantages. It gives you a contact to talk to and a vehicle into the industry in which you work. Companies hire them to find people; you go to them to help you find the right opportunity. Make sure you talk to your recruiter before you decide to work with him. The web has made life and the pursuit of monetary gain a lot trickier for headhunters. However, the recruiting business is still a great industry and there is still increasing demand for executive search services.

Source: Sundheim, Ken. “The Internet’s Profound Impact on the Recruiting Industry.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 02 Apr. 2013. Web. 07 May 2013.