When you leave college, there are thousands of people out there with the same degree you have; when you get a job, there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. — Anna Quindlen
People hire me for No BS job search coaching because I make finding work much easier. I don’t write resumes, although I do critique resumes. I leave it to people who are experts at that. I am someone who has helped tens of thousands of people find work.
I have free information available at JobSearch.Community. Also, scroll down to receive my Wednesday email with job search advice. Becoming an Insider at any level gives you access to all my video courses, books, and guides to job search, the ability to ask me questions and, if you choose an option above the lowest tier, you can receive job search coaching from me, too.
I have several new pieces of content on the site. Become an Insider and get access to it all including my newest book, The Over 50 Professional’s Guide to Job Search Success: Proven Techniques to Overcome Age Bias, and Thrive in Today’s Job Market.” It’s my 15th or 16th. It’s available on Amazon, too as part of my Job Search Essentials series.
I expect to release the first book in a new series very soon. I’ll keep you posted when it comes out.
Yesterday was a tough day. It was both my wife’s birthday and the day Hurricane Helene stormed through Asheville, NC. I shared an article in the feed that I’ll share here, too.
A year ago, on September 27, 2024, I was up early. After a few days of rain, the (very) early morning was clear. My wife was home from a retreat in Arizona to spend her birthday with me. Picking her up at the airport the day before, there were stalled trucks on the highway, with sections of the road flooded.
At around 11 AM, the storm started and became progressively worse. Later that day, the power went down, which can happen in Asheville if trees fall and take powerlines down. We watched water rushing around our home. My wife said, “Look at that! “ It was a rapidly rushing stream of water at the fence line where there had never been water before.
We have an electric stove, so we couldn’t cook, and the new propane BBQ was supposed to have arrived that day, but the delivery was canceled. Dinner was anything in the refrigerator. After all, it would spoil if the power were out for any length of time.
The next day, we ventured out to see the aftermath of the storm. Power was still out. No Internet. I had a full tank of gas, so we could drive to see if any stores were open locally. Nope. We drove further west and met some people who told us a supermarket in a town 15 miles away was open but was only taking cash. I looked in my wallet. $50. I had filled the car but hadn’t thought about cash. Mistake.
Parking at the store was a horror show that was an appetizer for the horror inside—The lines at the register went to the back of the store and wrapped around. Imagine you’re in a box store and the line at Costco goes to the back and wraps around to another aisle. You have $50 and you have to buy cans because at least your can opener is manual.
The town was without power for several weeks. We were without water of any sort coming through pipes for 54 days. We would bring multiple 3-gallon jugs to filling spots and haul them home to be able to have potable and non-potable water.
We survived hell. I know one man of many who died during the storm. He and his dog made it to the roof of their home while it was swept up and driven downstream on a 30-foot wall of water. That’s a three-story building of water. People helped one another. It’s a year later and recovery is still going on locally. For many, they had it rougher than my wife and I.
I share this because many of you, many of the people you love, many of the people you help in your work or you have worked with in the past, need help.
Services are available to help in some ways but they need you, too.
Open your networks up.
Point them to someone you know who they don’t know who can help them.
If you receive a message from someone, respond. Don’t ghost people. The people you know need your help, just as my town needed it a year ago.
You are blessed to have work now. You may need another’s help in the future.
If you would like to connect with me and get access to my LinkedIn network, ask to connect with me and say Asheville in your message asking to connect. And if you do, and you try to sell something to me, I’ll block you immediately, so don’t waste your time.
Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Why a Top-Tier Recruiter is Your Secret Weapon in Today’s Job Market
Let’s cut to the chase: good recruiters are absolutely worth the fee hiring companies pay to find talent. If you’re serious about your career, you need to work with one. But don’t just grab a beginner. The difference between an amateur and a pro is the difference between a frustrating dead end and landing the job that changes your trajectory.
You need a competent, experienced professional who can truly grasp your skills, your career goals, and your unique value proposition. They’re the ones who will give you the unvarnished truth about where you stand in the current job market—even if it’s a tough pill to swallow. That honesty is gold.
The Modern Recruiter’s Edge: Access, Network, and Filtration
What does a top-tier recruiter offer you today?
1. Unparalleled Access: They are the gatekeepers. A good recruiter has established, high-level relationships with organizations you could never get into on your own. They give you direct entry to firms and roles far more efficiently than your solo efforts ever could.
2. Their Network is the Net Worth: After many years in this game, I can tell you it’s still about who you know, and who they know who you don’t know. They’re not just connected; they’re tapped into the pulse of an industry or field. When I did search, I could call people or get a same-day response to an email far more easily than the average job hunter. That rich network existed because I was paid by the employer to fill a role. This creates an ongoing, trusted relationship that put me in a unique position to advocate for someone.
3. The Ultimate Time-Saver (for Everyone): As a professional recruiter, my job was to precisely match my institutional client’s needs, culture, and requirements with the right people. For them, I was a high-powered filtration system that saves them countless hours, which translated directly into saving money. For you, the job hunter, it meant no more wasting time interviewing for roles where you were never a real fit.
The “Bad Date” Rule: Understanding the Recruiter’s Balance
It’s vital to understand the dynamic: recruiters work for an employer first, then for you. They are the client who pays the bills. My ultimate required duty was to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the institutional client.
If I put a square peg in a round hole—if I match you to a role where you’re likely to fail—it’s like a bad date or a rushed marriage. It ends quickly in an awkward divorce. That’s bad for everyone. When I set out to make a solid, long-term fit, my clients came back for more, and the successful person eventually referred their own talented friends to me. It was good business.
How to Vett Your Secret Weapon
You need a recruiter with a high level of experience and a genuine mastery of your field or niche. Here’s how you find the right one:
Ask for Referrals (The Old-School Way): Start with your network. Ask people: “Who helped you find the job you’re in now? What was that recruiter like? Did they seem like a bad salesperson pushing a convenient role, or did they genuinely listen to your needs and goals?” You want the one who shows integrity and asks you what your needs are.
Scan the Digital Landscape: Look at LinkedIn, specialized job boards, and industry news. Who is consistently prominent in your sector? Reach out and spend a little time talking to them.
Evaluate the Conversation: Pay attention to the process. Did they ask you good, probing questions? Did they sound knowledgeable about your specific corner of the market? This simple conversation is your first interview with them.
Sometimes, they may not have time for that conversation. Be patient. The fact they are busy is a great sign.
Your Job Search is a Collaborative Effort
I’m not saying you leave everything up to your recruiter. No one person or agency can do it all. Recruiters—agencies, headhunters, or, even me, fill about 22% of all positions in the United States. That’s a huge chunk, but it leaves 78% to other methods.
You must be proactively marketing yourself while simultaneously working with a top-tier recruiter. By combining your efforts with a professional’s access and network, you position yourself in the market in ways that going solo simply can’t achieve.
Don’t go solo when you can have a seasoned partner in your corner.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2025
Last week, I shared a limited amount of content. I am back to normal this week, including:
Be a Connector https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m4W
Finding the Clue: What Recruiters Look for When Choosing New Grads https://wp.me/p4aIk1-od1
How to Get More Interviews: Become a Stalker https://wp.me/p4aIk1-od8
What Recruiters Know That You Don’t: The Truth https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ocK
Misconceptions College Grads Have About Job Hunting https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hBR
Increasing the Salary Offer https://youtu.be/nyJ6_Juog5w
Belief in Yourself https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hbu
Not Sure How You Did on the Interview? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m53
What Successful People Do https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gwI
Losing Your Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m0K
Why Does Networking Help You Get Hired? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m1N
Don’t Act Desperate! https://youtu.be/TNpMn-u7iF8
Pressure https://wp.me/p4aIk1-heI
Getting Out of No Man’s Land: 4 Steps to Making Changes https://wp.me/p4aIk1-4HC
Accepting Less https://wp.me/p4aIk1-7f
Hustle! https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2JR
How Do Recruiters Handle Salary Negotiation? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-5XF
The Recruiter Asked “Where Have You Been on Interviews?” https://youtu.be/YT65j7r4zfo
No BS Career Advice: September 21 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-odO
Resume Mistakes: Submitting a Fancy Formatted Resume to the ATS https://wp.me/p4aIk1-odn
6 Types of Interviewers You’ll Face—and How to Win Each One https://wp.me/p4aIk1-odd
Getting an Interview: The Assembly Line Approach https://wp.me/p4aIk1-djI
No Pressure? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gPS
The C Suite Trap: Great Job or Career Killer https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oeb
You Are Going to Be Checked Out BEFORE They Interview You https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oej
Don’t Forget . . . https://wp.me/p4aIk1-4mi
Is Your Company Trying To Hide You From View? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-el7
One Quality You Should Learn from Successful Recruiters https://youtu.be/WslkXcMeOFA
Things Work Out Best https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gMg
Why Are Multi-Person Panel Interviews Better Than One on One? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-aR5
3 Easy to Fix Things to on LinkedIn to Help Get Better Results https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oex
Making Your Resume Shine https://wp.me/p4aIk1-odU
10 Career Mistakes Boomers Made That Gen X Should Avoid: Part One https://wp.me/p4aIk1-cGa
The Truth About Your Equity Offer May Be VERY Disheartening https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gMg
Schedule a free discovery call with me at www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule to discuss my coaching you. My calendar has gotten full. I work with more senior-level talent than with individual contributors.
Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio in Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to or watch podcasts. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I release new episodes.
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#BeGreat
Jeff Altman
The Game Hunter
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👇 Drop a comment: Have you worked with any recruiters or search firms that have been helpful? How were they helpful?
