Should you use a recruiter? Here are the real world pros and cons.
Pros
1. They have access to some outstanding jobs.
- Technical sales
- Pharmaceutical sales
- Project management
- Manufacturing management
2. They will prepare you for the job hunting process.
- Interview skills
- Presentation skills
- Resume
3. The hiring process will be streamlined.
In one hiring conference, you will meet with several companies. This is not only convenient, it saves you money on travel and other interview expenses.
4. The best headhunters can help you determine which career path is best for you.
They also help increase your confidence level during what could be a very stressful time in your life.
5. Recruiters are strong advocates of the skill set that military officers bring to Corporate America.
Cons
1. If you are looking for a "new economy job," you may have trouble finding it with military headhunters.
Several of the headhunting agencies we spoke to mentioned that they didn't place junior military officers (JMOs) in "startups," because JMOs didn't have the right experience. This was refuted by a former Army captain, who is now an account manager at Evoke.com. He said that former JMOs often have "more experience and energy than startups can handle. ... You actually have to tone it down out there to fit in."
2. While the saying is true that "every job is what you make it," most of the jobs offered with military recruiters were standard management positions.
If you are looking to become a creative director, these guys cannot help you.
3. Working exclusively with JMO headhunters can lead to a distorted view on the marketplace.
After a while, you might actually come to believe that your only value is to large corporations. The career advice that they give you will probably be the sort of advice that benefits them more than it benefits you.
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