Checklist for Evaluating Recruiters
From Negotiate Your Job Offer by Mary Simon, Published By John Wiley & Sons

If an executive recruiter contacts you, you should learn more about the firm and the executive search process. Review the following checklist to acquaint yourself with some of the issues surrounding your relationship with a recruiter.

• Ask the recruiter to clearly identify which firm he or she is affiliated with; request address, telephone, and fax information that you can verify. Don't hesitate to ask the recruiter to send you his or her card and some background about the search firm.
  
  
• Check industry source books such as Kennedy's Directory of Executive Recruiters to see how the search firm characterizes itself and its areas of specialty.
  
  
• If you are targeting a specific geographic area, check out the local chamber of commerce membership directory for search firms that are members.
  
  
• Ascertain what professional associations the recruiter belongs to, whether they are tied to the recruitment industry and whether the recruiter has areas of specialization.
  
  
• Verify that the client the recruiter claims to be representing pays the search fee – not you, the candidate. Note: This will not be an issue for a professional search firm; the "Watch Out" is for employment agencies or career services centers that may charge the candidate.
  
  
• Ask the recruiter to explain the process for conducting this search. Pay particular attention to areas such as thorough knowledge of the client and the opportunity, sensitivity to your time and privacy constraints, and overall professionalism versus high-pressure tactics.

If you agree to be presented for this particular opportunity, verify that the recruiter will:

• Protect your confidentiality.
  
  
• Not submit your credentials for any other opportunities that may arise without first obtaining your permission.