A. Remember who pays them. Professional level search is employer fee paid. Third party recruiters are hired by an employer to help fill a position. They get requirements from employers, then find candidates to match these reqs. They are much less effective at the reverse (finding a position to march a candidate). If a recruiter doesn't have a req that matches your qualifications, there's not much s/he can do for you at this time. They do not work for the job seeker. It is not recruiter's job to find you a job. The employer is paying the fee, and the recruiter represents the employer.

A recruiter cannot affect a career change. The job that the recruiter finds for you is likely to be similar to your last job. Their clients are looking for someone to do a particular job, and the ideal candidate should begin productive work after the minimal training. For example, in the legal marketplace, while it is perfectly possible to make a change from litigator to transactional attorney, no client will pay a recruiter for you to do that.

A professional recruiter is very responsible to the job candidate s/he is presenting to a client. If the candidate is not properly prepared and coached, everyone loses. A good recruiter can smooth the interview and hiring process, assist in negotiations, and prevent problems from becoming deal breakers.

Dealing with an unprofessional recruiter can be very unpleasant and even harmful for the candidate.