Why won't you recommend someone to a recruiter...

Being the Search Execution Director with Hygun Group, Inc.  I can’t tell you how often I hear the words, "I don't know anyone", when I ask for a recommendation.  Is that really true?  Everyone knows people.  I am stunned on a daily basis by the lack of interest in recommending a friend, colleague or former coworker for an opportunity; especially in the Engineering field, where logic reigns supreme.  Why?  If this is a good opportunity and it makes sense for someone (which is the only way they would take it), what harm did you do?  You helped a person advance their career, make things better in some way for them and their family.  You just did something good, something great for someone else, something I bet you would appreciate them doing for you.  If my opportunity is not going to be better in some way, then they will obviously stay where they are.  But, we are also told "I don't know if they are looking".  It doesn’t matter.  We aren’t trying to find someone that is looking.  We want the recommendation of someone that this opportunity would be good for.  When someone hears that a fellow Engineer went to work for another firm or advanced their career, it is probable that you had no idea that they might be interested in a new our opportunity.  You are probably a bit surprised on a daily basis when you hear someone left one firm for another.  So, from now on, please take a moment & think about your fellow colleagues.  Maybe you would be doing a good thing for someone be recommending them to us when we call. 

What are you making? ~ Why you shouldn't answer that question during an interview....

As a candidate begins their search for a new job opportunity, do they ever wonder what the biggest benefit of using an Executive Recruiter is once they are introduced to a new company?  One benefit in having an executive recruiter market your skills is during the negotiation of the offer package. Your recruiters’ job is to find a fair win/win that makes sense for the candidate and the client.  Often times a potential employer will ask during the interview “What are you making?” or “What are you looking for in a salary?”  Your recruiter will advise you on how to answer or not to answer at all.  Why shouldn’t you answer that question?  Honestly, because you can only hurt yourself.  You have no sense for what the opportunity is worth in the marketplace, what different salaries do to the internal office structure or the mindset of the person asking.  You may have been way underpaid in your current job and unfortunately, the hiring manager might think a 10% bump is fair (just like the old days).  By answering the question without any ‘coaching’ from your executive recruiter, may have just cost you thousands of dollars in salary or additional benefits.  Allowing your recruiter to work on your behalf means you get the right salary/benefits package and no target on your back and the potential employer gets a new employee that feels appreciated.  Contact Hygun Group, Inc. for additional information on the services that we provide.