Would you consider signing and exclusivity agreement with a recruiter to represent you?

While it may seem like a good idea… it’s important to keep in mind that recruiters ultimately work for THEIR CLIENTS (aka the hiring manager/company) and NOT you – the candidate. What are the scenarios in which a single point of contact or representative might work out?

Internal Recruiters

Once you are actively interviewing for a role, if you’re working with an internal or corporate recruiter it is IMPERATIVE that you keep them in the loop of any other conversations you might be having. Most internal recruiters are happy to share internally, and generally want to land you for the company and not just their specific requisition. Recruiters also tend to leave detailed notes in the ATS to trying to game the system by having lots of side chats with different recruiters actually harms more than it helps. Be transparent with your recruiter if you’re interested (and qualified!) for roles outside of the one you’re being considered for.

Agency Recruiters

Similarly to internal recruiters, agency recruiters will likely have some tagging or “ownership” rules regarding your candidacy – meaning they can represent you across any of the opportunities their agency has access to. They will often share with their colleagues try to to connect you to roles managed by other recruiters. Having a single point of contact within the agency is a good idea – working with MULTIPLE agencies is also a good idea!

Right To Represent

This is where it gets tricky. Some companies (particularly larger firms) maybe have multiple agencies working on the same hiring need. Now personally, I think this is a TERRIBLE idea – but no one asked me so here we are. SO – this is one of the rare instances I might agree to let a specific recruiter from a certain agency represent me exclusively – with the caveat that it is for THIS ROLE and ORGANIZATION.

As usual, your personal mileage can vary greatly depending on the firm, client base, and kinds of roles you’re talking about. The most important thing is to understand the pros and cons of such an agreement. Anything that unnecessarily hinders you from talking with other companies or potential opportunities would be a non-starter for me.

Have you – as a job seeker – ever committed to “exclusivity” with a recruiter? How did it work out?

For more on this topic, check out the accompanying AMA Friday video HERE