What Is a Reverse Recruiter?

Unfamiliar with the term reverse recruiter?

That’s okay! This article will explain what is a reverse recruiter and how they can help you in your quest for finding a job.

A reverse recruiter is someone who assists a job seeker in performing a job search, applying to jobs, and landing interviews.

Unlike traditional recruiters who work for companies to fill positions, reverse recruiters work directly for job seekers to secure interviews.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Can I just pay someone to find me a job?” a reverse recruiter is the answer.

What Does a Traditional Recruiter Do?

To clearly understand the work of a reverse recruiter, let’s talk about what a traditional recruiter does.

A traditional recruiter is a professional, often with experience in human resources, whose tasks involve filling open positions for businesses and organizations.

That is to say, recruiters work directly for the companies, not the job seekers.

Since recruiters are compensated by companies, not job seekers, it’s fairly reasonable that they won’t go out of their way to help any job seeker that approaches them.

A reverse recruiter does the exact opposite. Reverse recruiters are compensated by the job seeker to manage their job search and thus have only the best interest of the job seeker in mind.

What Does a Reverse Recruiter Do?

Now that we have looked into what a traditional recruiter does, it will be much easier to understand the job description of a reverse recruiter.

In a nutshell, it’s a reverse recruiter’s job to manage their client’s job search.

This means that a reverse recruiter is expected to search for qualified jobs, apply to those jobs on their client’s behalf, and do extensive networking to secure interviews.

Reverse recruiters are never compensated by the hiring company. Instead, they are paid directly by the job seeker to manage their job search.

Similar to how Hollywood stars have agents to land them gigs, reverse recruiters act as agents for their clients, landing them interviews.

The day-to-day tasks of a reverse recruiter include:

Search for jobs on various job search sites (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.)
Fill out job applications
Customize resumes to match job applications
Network on LinkedIn with target companies, decision-makers, and headhunters/recruiters
Respond to communication on LinkedIn and email on behalf of the client
Assist with follow-up communication from interviews and discovery calls
Communicate with clients to discuss progress and offer support
Collaborate with the reverse recruiting team as necessary

With a clear understanding of what a reverse recruiter does and their day-to-day tasks, let’s delve into the qualifications that are essential for a successful reverse recruiter.

What Qualifications Should a Reverse Recruiter Have?

Most reverse recruiters come from traditional recruiting and HR backgrounds, giving them insight into what hiring managers are looking for.

A reverse recruiter should be proficient in job searching, networking, resume editing, and more.

The general requirements to become a reverse recruiter are:

3+ years of traditional recruiting experience
Experience communicating with professionals and executives of various industries and career levels
Working knowledge of various job search sites (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, etc.)
LinkedIn power user and ability to locate, contact, and network with key decision-makers
Creativity to make slight adjustments to clients’ job searches to be successful
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent attention to detail
Effective time management skills

A reverse recruiter must possess both technical and soft skills to excel in their role. A reverse recruiter must be able to build strong relationships with clients and potential employers to provide the best possible service.

What is Reverse Recruiting?

Now that we have a clear understanding of what a reverse recruiter does, let’s explore the service they provide: reverse recruiting.

Reverse recruiting is a service that manages a job seeker’s job search for them. This service supports job seekers in finding available jobs that match their criteria, applying to those jobs, networking with key decision-makers, and providing interview preparation and salary negotiation advice.

The purpose of reverse recruiting is to save job seekers the time and energy required for a successful job search while adding professional expertise to the search. With a reverse recruiter taking on the tasks for the job seeker, they can focus on other priorities, knowing that their job search is in good hands. It’s often joked that reverse recruiting can take care of everything in the job search, except for showing up for the interviews!

Should I Hire A Reverse Recruiter?

Mike Podesto of Find My Profession pioneered reverse recruiting services in 2015. Since then, Find My Profession has been fine-tuning the reverse recruitment process offering the most effective version of this service available.

Anyone can hire a reverse recruiter to manage their job search. The only exception is for higher education teaching jobs. Unfortunately, Find My Profession does not work with higher ed teachers looking for new teaching positions.

Additional reverse recruiters have emerged in the market, such as Browning Associates and The Barrett Group. These services focus more on coaching rather than a hands-on approach, but they still provide valuable assistance.

If you’re considering hiring a reverse recruiter, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

Have you tried job searching on your own with few results?
Are you too busy working full-time to manage your own job search?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, it might be time to hire a reverse recruiter.

After all, your profession is not job searching. So why should you be expected to be a pro at that? Instead, you can focus on what you’re great at, and let a professional reverse recruiter do what they are great at; finding you jobs!

How Much Does a Reverse Recruiter Cost?

The cost of a reverse recruiter may vary significantly depending on the provider, services offered, and payment structure. The prices can be $2,500 per month or more. However, it’s crucial to consider the potential benefits before making any decisions. Reverse recruiters’ clients can save over 150 hours of job searching time, which is a significant amount of time that can be used for other essential activities.

Find My Profession provides reverse recruiting packages with prices ranging from $2,499 to $3,999 for each renewable 4-week period. Reverse recruiters typically work with a limited number of clients at a time, ensuring that each client gets the necessary attention and support. With approximately 8+ hours per week dedicated to managing your job search, a reverse recruiter can be an excellent partner in your search.

Browning Associates and The Barrett Group offer long-term reverse recruiter packages starting at $9,000 and $12,500, respectively. Since their packages are custom-quoted, you’ll need to contact each service to determine the exact cost.

By hiring a reverse recruiter, you can save time and avoid the frustration of applying to jobs and receiving automated rejections. Instead, you can leverage the expertise and connections of a reverse recruiter to streamline your job search process and improve your chances of landing your desired job. Although the initial cost may seem high, the long-term benefits can far outweigh the investment.