Page 87 - John Kador - 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview-McGraw-Hill (2002)

INTERVIEW THE INTERVIEWER

Your interview with a recruiter is different in tone and content than
with an employer. In some cases, you will not even know the name of
the company the agency represents until the recruiter is satisfied that
you are qualified. You can ask the recruiter questions that would be in-
appropriate to ask the employer. For example, questions about compen-
sation that you would not initiate with the employer are perfectly
reasonable to ask a recruiter.
So your strategy in asking questions of recruiters and headhunters
is twofold:
• Demonstrate that you are qualified for the job and will likely take
it if it is offered to you.
• Get critical information about the company that you might not be
able to get from the company directly.

Another good thing about recruiters is that they represent dozens or
sometimes even hundreds of companies. Even if one opportunity does
not work out, if you make a good impression on a recruiter, the recruiter
will remember you and keep you in mind for other searches he or she
may have.

25 BEST QUESTIONS
FOR HEADHUNTERS, RECRUITERS,
AND STAFFING AGENCIES

6-1
How did you find me?
Headhunters hate this question, but ask it anyway, because the answer
will tell you which resources (job sites, networking, placement services)
are producing results for you in your search for a more rewarding
opportunity.
6-2
Is this a retainer or contingency assignment?
This will give you a clue about the relationship between the recruiter
and the principal. Generally, agencies on retainer have a closer relation-
ship with the principal, and their endorsement carries a lot more clout.

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