3 Things that Can Go Wrong If You Apply Directly to an Employer

The post Potential Dangers of Applying Direct (and Bypassing Recruiters) lays out 3 problems that can arise if you apply directly to a company and not through an experienced recruiter working on the search. In summary:

1. Losing the personal introduction. Employers are flooded with applications. If they are using a recruiter, it means they vetted that professional and trust her to sift through applicants and bring them the strongest ones. So if you apply directly to the employer, you may fall in a black hole, and you will certainly miss the personal introduction by the recruiter to the hiring manager.
2. Missing out on interview insights. If you know someone at the company, you are getting a personal intro already, so why use a recruiter? Recruiters know how many interviews are involved, with whom, and what will be asked. Recruiters can also check in and get you unstuck in the process, whereas your friend at the company won’t be bothering anyone on your behalf.
3. Missing out on salary parameters. Negotiating salaries are always difficult – it’s hard to balance showing interest and asking for more money. As with all negotiations, understanding a party’s history and ranges are key, and recruiters have this information.

When you see a job posting, know that if you apply directly, it’s unlikely an external recruiter can submit you (the company will claim it already knows you), and you will miss the guidance a good recruiter can provide.