Internal vs. External Recruiters

What is the difference between an internal recruiter and an external recruiter?

An internal recruiter works directly for the company they are recruiting for. An internal recruiter for Frito-Lay, for example, works to fill a variety of positions within the Frito-Lay organization, and receives a paycheck from Frito-Lay.

An external recruiter works independently, finding candidates for various companies. Those companies are the clients of the recruiter, and the external recruiter gets paid by a company when one of its open positions is successfully filled by a candidate the recruiter has provided. Some recruiters specialize in a particular niche market, such as medical sales jobs.

You should leave no stone unturned in your quest for a job, and recruiters can be an especially valuable resource. You should have a few external recruiters in your network, and keep them informed of major changes in your job situation—you’ve changed jobs, you’ve moved, you’ve gained a particular certification or degree. (Just remember, they’re not in the business to find you a job. They’re in the business of filling a position for a client company.)

It’s a recruiter’s business to know where the jobs are, and many jobs they fill are never advertised…so if they submit you for a job, your odds of success go up. Although they can’t help you if you’ve already applied for a position, if they feel you are a good fit for a position or company and submit you for consideration, they then have a vested interest in your success—and you’ve gained an informed, experienced advocate in the hiring process.