Are recruiters totally worthless?

New / Eng
Mirrage

New Eng

Mirrage
Jan 22, 2020 8 Comments

I'm always being approached by recruiters for positions and some of them are intriguing, but after a quick Google search, I can usually find the position in question and directly apply to them.

I've applied to two jobs under a recruiter in the past year, been offered both positions and the salary they offered was under my target comp that I gave them (not to mention, benefits sucked). When I declined, they tried to tell me I could get more, even though right before that, they told me that's the highest the company was willing to do. They always act buddy-buddy with you and act supportive of you as a person having to do what's best for your family and then when you decline the offer, the fangs come out.

Anyone ever had a good experience with a recruiter?

If I can already get interviews by submitting a resume directly, what's the benefit in using one?

TC $100k / 5 YoE

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TOP 8 Comments
  • I think in house recruiters are great. I don’t enjoy working with third party head hunters
    Jan 22, 2020 1
  • Amazon
    HdYQ81

    Go to company page Amazon

    HdYQ81
    Recruiters are like every other profession in the world. There are good ones and there are bad ones. Plain and simple
    Jan 22, 2020 0
  • Criteo / Eng
    ++i

    Go to company page Criteo Eng

    ++i
    I got my past internships and full time offer starting after I graduate through recruiters. I've also gotten on site interviews by replying to recruiter LinkedIn messages without even having to apply. I think in-house recruiters are very useful, not sure about third parties though.
    Jan 22, 2020 0
  • Nope, they are very valuable, obviously.
    Jan 22, 2020 0
  • Amazon
    SunnWinter

    Go to company page Amazon

    SunnWinter
    They get more important if you are searching for executive type roles. For most rank and file roles, it is mainly a numbers game, not just for them but for us too.
    Jan 23, 2020 1
    • New / Eng
      Mirrage

      New Eng

      Mirrage
      OP
      This is what I was thinking. I could definitely see them being useful for senior management/executive roles where they might not be posting to the general public... But 3rd party headhunters seem pretty useless to anyone else outside of really senior or junior roles.

      I really don't see how working with a recruiter would be beneficial to someone with several years of experience. The company has to pay them for bringing you to them, so there's no way you could ever negotiate at the top of their salary range, because they have to budget for the recruiter's cut on top of it.
      Jan 23, 2020