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Timing is everything.  There are moments where it is easy to list the upside of recruiters.  On the other hand, there are times when we have less nice things to say.  For example, that call that interrupts our "coding groove" can make any call unpleasant.  It is only made worse when we find the person on the other end has a random job to tell us about.

A View Into The World

I have come across developers that see no positives in working with headhunters.  However, a significant upside of recruiters is that they do the work we prefer to avoid.  They fill a role like tax accountants.  There are just some areas we prefer not to think about, even though they are crucial areas of our lives.  It is in the nature and definition of a recruiter to stay abreast of the job market and what is hot.  We may spend a lot of time keeping current with technology, but that does not equate to knowing what skills are in demand.  A discussion with a recruiter can open your eyes to a world of possibilities beyond your current situation.

A Career Advocate

I use this word a lot.  However, it is one that fits so well and is key to our success.  That word is "accountability."  One upside of recruiters is that they form a manner of accountability for our career.  It is easy to get lost in the requirements of our work and ignore our career roadmap.  We simply get too involved in the day-to-day and forget to spend some time at the strategic level.  A call from a recruiter can be a nudge that gets us to look up from our work and take steps to improve our career.

Inside Trading

Recruiters work with all manner of companies and positions.  A substantial upside of recruiters is that they can point us to internal postings and other options not available to the general public.  They are the epitome of "it is not what you know, but who you know."

Episode Challenge: When was the last time your spent time building a relationship with a recruiter?

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