First, know what a recruiter can and cannot do for you. Recruiters aren鈥檛 career coaches, and the premier firms like focus only on C-suite, managing director, and board-level candidates. But there are firms that cater to midlevel professionals. Seek an introduction to these recruiters from someone you know, preferably someone who is a well-known industry contact or who has been a client of that recruiting firm.
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Recruiter Jason Bryant (right) speaks with job seeker Brian Shumate of Fairfax, Va., at the Career Job Fair in Arlington, Va., Aug. 4, 2011. In addition to recruiters for specific companies, recruiting firms can help job seekers find the right position.