As some of you know, I've been trying to get myself out of this steam bath of a city (New Orleans) for quite a while. I have savings; I could make the jump. But I can't jump without a job.

Naturally I've been sending out resumes. But of course each job I apply for online takes time, since I have to tweak my resume and cover letter to include the key words from the ad so their software (or their simple-minded HR people) can pick them up. And while I have a good idea about where I'd like to live, I could still be missing jobs in some places that would be real deals.

Would it make any sense to register with a recruiter that could handle me, match me up with jobs in the areas I'm interested in? Now I'm not a $100K a year CEO; I'm an office manager with a load of IT training and experience. If there are any recruiters I could use, how will I know a good one from a bad one? Do they handle academic jobs at all? Anybody ever use one?

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-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

Recruiters are ok, but do not let them be in the driver's seat. Do not sign an "exclusive" deal with one. Do not allow them to push you into a job you don't really want. They really don't care if you like the job or not - their only aim is to make the commission when you take the job. Period. If a recruiter refuses to work with you because of this stance, too bad - there are lots more out there.

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1984 300TD

I've had a bad experience with head hunters. The ones I have had much to do with will find positions that are the easiest to fill. If it happens to be you, fine. If your skill set and experience is at all out of the ordinary, probably not, unless you go to a specialty shop.

I never would have believed it before, but of all the things I tried in job-hunting, Career Builder was by far the most helpful. I got more interviews and more job offers through them than through anything else I tried.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

It depends on your industry. For IT in NYC you almost need to go through a head hunter. I used to have a few on speed dial as IT is boom and bust especially in the financial industry.

Otherwise I would use Careerbuilder, Hot Jobs, Monster and DICE.

Here is a thought, go to http://www.usajobs.gov/ and check out what federal jobs are being offered where you want to go. It will take a few months to get hired, but it is worth it for the job security...

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

I have used monster.com successfully on a couple occasions.

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Jim

My brother in law was a very successful head hunter in that arena at one time. I will check with him on what to look for in a reputable one. I will PM you on what I find.

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles

I have lately encountered a few headhunters that are little better than spammers. I posted for a position in NC, my cover letter makes it clear I am only interested in that general area. Yet I've had about ten recruiters sending me email about positions in DE, MN, TX, etc. Some of them don't even address me by name and are filled with so much hype that it reads almost like spam.

That said, I have gotten all of my jobs through recruiters or personal reference from someone I knew inside the company. Seems like most HR don't have the time to sort through the mountains of responses they get to an ad.

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Greg Schwall

1983 300SD - 465,000 miles

What's your age? Age discrimination becomes more stringent as the employment market is being flooded by newcomers.

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Yeah, I know about that. I'm 54. However:

1) I look quite a bit younger than that;
2) They're not supposed to ask your age anyway (right?); and
3) I didn't get my degree until '94, and my working life has broken down into segments doing different things (IT, then office management). It's not like I'm pointing to a 1975 bachelor's degree and 30 years' experience in something, which would be a giveaway. I can let them assume I'm much younger than I am.

Generally, too, these online places seem only to deal with private-sector jobs, never ones at universities, which (along with the federal and state jobs) might be my best bet.
.

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-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

There are good recruiters and there are bad recruiters, pretty much like any other business. A good recruiter stays in business through referrals from satisfied clients, and that is exactly how you need to identify one. Responding to ads from recruiters is not likely to get you a good one.

Ideally your recruiter should be working for the employer who is seeking qualified candidates, and that employer pays his fee. In my field that's how it works - any recruiter who wants you to hire (i.e. pay) him is probably not going to be of much help. He's reading the same ads you are, and you can do pretty much anything he can.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

I'v met some good ones and quite a few bad ones. The good ones actually care about getting a good match the bad ones only care about getting paid. You can usually tell the difference from their interviews. I've used several over the years and never ended up taking a job they tried to set me up with. All my career moves and been helped along by acquaintances (not close friends). I would suggest taking some time to visit the new city and attend some conferences or meetings of professional associations related to your career. Press the flesh and meet people. I think that is a more sure way of getting a good position that through a recruiter.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired

I didn't want to discourage. I just made this painful observation, recently and personally.
I am in a similar category here, 49+. I had to realize that I am considered "good solid stock" but not "pomotional material", which really ticked me off, since I am still out performing most 30-35 year olds, in most any section of the field.

That's the way corporations run the show. So I am kicking back and enjoy the ride, take shots here and there at independent business opportunities.

... never a Dollar short ...

However, if you're serious of relocating, I'd check with the chamber of commerce in the desired areas and ask for listings of companies and take an approach this way.

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