First, it is important to understand that meeting with a recruiter does not automatically guarantee a job.

A recruiter’s role is above all to support you and give you the best possible chances, drawing on the mandates entrusted to them by their clients as well as their network of employers.

Recruiters are there to:

Listen and understand your professional needs as much as your personal ones;
Showcase your profile to their clients when it matches what they are looking for;
Act as a genuine bridge between you and the employer, to ensure your goals and the company’s are aligned;
Give you visibility with companies that are actively hiring, sometimes before the positions are even posted;
Share advice to fine-tune your resume, prepare for interviews, or highlight your strengths;
Support you throughout the process and help you make the right career choices.

In this field, you often hear: “I met with a recruiter but never heard back,” “I had a bad experience,” and so on. And it is true that this can happen: a follow-up can sometimes slip through the cracks, especially when a recruiter is managing several clients and a high volume of applications. Every recruiter works in their own way, according to the values of the company they represent, which can directly shape the experience candidates have.

That said, it is essential to understand that the relationship with a recruiter rests above all on mutual collaboration. The recruiter of course has a duty to follow up with you, but it is just as appreciated when a candidate takes the initiative too. Unlike a direct relationship with an employer, communication with a recruiter is meant to be open and built on trust: you can speak more freely about your search and your situation. A simple email or LinkedIn message is often enough to show your commitment, your interest, and your professionalism.

It is essential to keep your recruiter informed of your applications and to stay transparent. Many candidates mistakenly believe that applying directly to a posting while also going through a recruiter increases their chances of getting an interview. In reality, the opposite is true: as soon as an application is submitted directly to the company, the recruiter can no longer represent you. Their role is to present profiles the employer has not already identified.

Another point worth clarifying is commission. Some candidates wrongly believe that the recruiter takes a percentage directly out of their salary, like a “cut” that reduces their pay. In reality, that is not the case at all. The client pays for an external human resources service, just as they would for any other professional service. Recruitment fees are therefore covered by the employer who engages the firm, and have no impact on the salary offered to the candidate.

In most cases, the recruiter is paid by the company they work for as an employee. Depending on the internal structure, they may also receive a bonus, sometimes tied to certain placements or to performance. These arrangements are set by the employer, however, and can vary from one organization to another, since every company establishes its own approach.

In conclusion

Working with a recruiter is much more than a single contact in a hiring process: it means building a collaborative relationship based on trust, transparency, and genuine listening. This partnership can open doors, give you access to opportunities that are sometimes exclusive, and provide valuable guidance in making the right career choices. In other words, it is a step that contributes to your professional success, today and in the future.