Unfortunately the recruitment industry is suffering from a lot of bad press of late and if you read some of the comments on forums such as Whirlpool, you can understand why the majority or executives and candidates alike do not like dealing with recruitment firms. However, there are good ones out there - and if you find one ensure that you build a long term relationship with them and make them an integral part of your network. Even you are not currently hiring or looking for  job.

If you just asked yourself why do I need to build a relationship with a recruiter when I’m not looking for a job, this post is written just for you.

Having a good recruiter in your network has the following benefits

1. It keeps you abreast of the current trends of the job market.
2. Recruiters can give you advice on what employers are looking for in terms of skills & experience for that next career move.
3. They should be able to benchmark your current earnings with what the current market rate is for someone of your skillset.
4. Gives you access to good jobs that can elevate your career.
5. Employers gain a competitive advantage because if you have a strong relationship with the recruiter, you should gain access to your markets high calibre candidates first.
6. Employers gain market intelligence on candidate salary levels and remuneration structures
7. They buy coffee, lunch and dinner a lot!