Recruiter Finder’s Fee Question Forum

[Anonymous User]

During the beginning of COVID, I reached out to a firm about a position. The firm said it wasn’t hiring.

Last week, a recruiter reached out about the firm and said there was an opening (I saw that multiple associates from the group lateraled out).

I’m not really interested in using the recruiter since I already reached out to the firm by myself. Could the recruiter try to claim a finder’s fee?

[Definitely Not North]

Unless you have the recruiter your resume seems highly unlikely

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. Just concerned the recruiter will say they introduced the job to me. Isn’t this generally the reason recruiters are sneaky about telling you the names of firms upon first contact?

[TigerIsBack]

Thanks. Just concerned the recruiter will say they introduced the job to me. Isn’t this generally the reason recruiters are sneaky about telling you the names of firms upon first contact?

I think they're sneaky about names because they want to be the ones to submit you. Sure, there's some risk that if they tell you the name of the firm you'll direct apply, but my personal experience working with a good recruiter is that they really do have the ear of certain firms and recruiter applications led to more interviews for me.

I think the bigger risk (and I've done this) is Associate starts working with Recruiter A (who has Associate's resume/transcript) on a targeted search. Recruiter B reaches out to Associate about another firm that's hiring, and Associate asks Recruiter A if they think that would be a good fit and submit them. I think Recruiter A gets the fee because I don't think Recruiter B can make any argument if they never had Associate's materials to be able to submit them, but I imagine that's why they're sometimes hesitant to share firm names.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I don’t think most recruiters I’ve worked with have the ear of these firms. Unfortunately I made the mistake of trying to work with some of these nationwide places that want to mass apply to every opening.