What kinds of features do these recruiting programs have? Essentially, most of them serve as organizing tools for recruiters. Many help make sense of resumes and cover letters, allowing recruiters to search for certain keywords or find an applicant's personal information on a moment's notice. They may offer scheduling features that makes it easier for recruiters to keep meetings and interviews in order. Another common feature is an option to save and manage lists and searches that are frequently used. Recruiting software can also be an excellent way to keep track of specific recruiting statistics, and to manage data in a general sense.

If you're wondering whether recruiting software could prove helpful in your current search for a new employee, the answer is simple: Perhaps - but not nearly as much as the services of a great professional recruiter. Most retained search firms use this type of software, but it would be of minimal utility to someone without years of experience in the recruitment process. In essence, this software functions best as one of many tools that can be used by a skilled recruiter to keep everything in order - but not as  a substitute recruiter! Remember, nothing can ever take the place of education, business savvy and the nuances of human experience. Search for the best retained search firms in your area today.

How can retained search firms help you during the recruitment process? They'll begin by building on their existing knowledge of your particular industry by taking the time to understand your company and its specific employment needs. The best retained search executives will pay attention to how your company operates, what the position in question entails, and where the company plans to go in the future. This will help them determine who the ideal candidate is, in terms of education, experience, personality and values. Next, they'll review the contacts they already have in their network. Professional recruiters make it their business to stay connected to a number of different individuals in the industry, and may submit your position for their consideration even if they're not currently on the job market. Retained search firms are able to contact people who may currently work for a competitor with a great deal of tact and discretion.

But the work of  a retained search expert doesn't stop there! They will also review resumes, conduct background checks, and even hold interviews and personal meetings with people. In the end, they present you with a shortlist of suitable candidates for you to choose from, making them a true "one-stop shop" when it comes to great employment prospects. And in a faltering economy, the right employee can make all the difference between success and failure.

• Job boards are declining in popularity. More employers are finding that job boards are simply not "exclusive" enough, offering too few screening tactics and resulting in an overload of unsuitable applicants for positions. As joblessness continues to rise, job seekers often resort to applying for positions to which they are not suited - and employers are the ones who pay the price.
• Social recruiting is on the rise. Social networking websites, including MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn and even Twitter are helping employers and retained search firms alike approach the recruiting process in new and exciting ways. These sites and others like them allow information to be exchanged almost instantaneously, and they give employers a better idea of an applicant's overall personality and background.
• "Too few qualified candidates" is seen by many as the biggest recruiting challenge to come over the next five years. More than anything else, this problem illustrates the need for talented, passionate, well-connected recruiters who can help employers find only the best and the brightest for their important positions. Trying to find a fantastic applicant can feel like searching for the needle in that proverbial haystack - don't make the mistake of trying to go it alone! There are a number of excellent retained search firms out there to help guide you toward the new hire of your dreams.

Recruiting is a complicated process that can be confusing for many, but it doesn't have to be that way. Hire a professional recruiter and find out what a difference it can make for your company.

Tip #1: Look at Several Agencies

First, you need to consult multiple retained search firms. A good number is three. Why three? You are free to do more than three but that’s a good minimum number to shoot for because you will be able to effectively rank the companies instead of only looking at one or two. Three gives you a broader idea of what to expect from the industry as well so you don’t end up having unrealistic expectations.

Tip #2: Find Specialty Firms

For many job seekers, focusing on a particular industry is a good way to narrow down your choices. While some retained search firms are jacks of all trades, others will specialize in technical recruiting or healthcare recruiting, for example. If you are trying to get into those fields then working with one of these companies might be advantageous for you. Avoid working with executive search consultants that have a specialty if you don’t fit the needs of that specialty. Even though some employers from outside the field may work with them, you won’t find anywhere as many job possibilities that way.

Tip #3: Ask Questions

Don’t just assume that you can find everything you need to know about retained search firms from reading their websites. Instead, you should be prepared to ask questions. Most of these companies do have customer service contacts that you can read by phone or by email. They will be happy to provide you with answers before you sign up. In fact, sending questions gives you a good idea of how responsive they are going to be to your needs after you sign up as well.

As far as what questions to ask, those will vary based on your search criteria. However, you might want to ask what services they provide, which types of clients they work with, and how frequently they will be able to send you job notifications. Remember to ask about specialties, such as sales recruiting.

Tip #4: Request References

Because you are making an important decision – it is your career and financial future on the line, after all – you need to make sure you are making the right one. Don’t hesitate to ask to see references from past clients and other job seekers who have found employment. And once you have the references you should use them. Too many people take for granted that the reference is legitimate when it would be very easy just to pull together some names. Talk to the references about their experiences both positive and negative. Then use everything you have learned about the recruiting agency to make the final decision about which retained search firms you are going to hire.

Reason #1: Improve Your Resume or CV

We all know the resume or CV is a critical factor in our success in finding a position. However, most of us never realize just how bad our documents are. You could be missing out on interviews not because of your qualifications but because of problems with your presentation of those qualifications.

One of the first things most head hunters are going to do is take a look at what you have been using to find a job and make some suggestions for improvement. They can help you transform your existing resume into something that will be much more appealing to potential employers and that’s going to help you get your foot in the corporate door.

Reason #2: Expand Your Exposure

Because most of the recruiting services available today utilize the Internet, they can work with hiring clients from all over the globe. That means if your dream is to find a position in Japan or to move to the other side of the United States or just to find the perfect job in your neighborhood, you will be able to do that through retained search firms. With an expanded search area, you are more likely to find a position that fits your needs and one that meshes with your qualifications.

Reason #3: Save Time

Another reason to go through executive search firms is they can save you a lot of time and effort. If you have to look through every available source of potential jobs and apply for them all yourself, you could basically be spending the equivalent of 40 hours or more a week just on this activity. And you might not have much to show for your efforts, unfortunately. When you are working with these firms, however, they will send you notifications when jobs become available which might meet your skill set. That will save you lots of time which you can channel into alternative forms of job searches, interview practices, volunteer work to beef up your resume or other important activities.

Reason #4: Find Best Matches

Not only will most of these retained search firms help you locate available positions but they can also match you with positions that meet your needs. When you are looking at most ads, not enough information is given about salary and benefits to help you determine if the job would meet your basic requirements. Because the retained search company has more information to work with, they can help connect you to employers who pay what you’re asking and who provide the types of benefit packages you are looking for. Plus, they can pass that extra information onto you so you can decide whether or not you’d be interested in working for the company doing the executive search.

While you might consider posting your available positions on your company’s web site, you probably won’t be able to attract the same amount of people to apply for your job as you would if you had broader exposure. With executive recruiters, for example, the Internet is widely used to find executives who are available to entertain new job offers and who would match your required skill set. These are executives not just from within your city or geographic area but from all around the country. In some cases, they come from all over the world. Chances are your web site won’t get the same level of response.

Working with a Pre-Existing Network

If you are going to be doing an executive search, you probably need a professional to fill the position as quickly as possible. In those cases, working with retained search firms is the best idea imaginable. That’s because a recruiting agency is going to be marketing themselves to potential job candidates for your positions at all time. By the time you approach them, they will already have a network of potential executives who might meet your specific needs. By being able to access this network, you will be able to fill your position much more quickly than you would otherwise.

Appealing to Already Employed

Additionally, retained search firms have another advantage over other methods of finding new employees for your company. If you have posted a ad or if you have posted a listing to your web site, chances are the only applicants you will hear from are those who are actively searching for work. However, we all know that most of the best and most desirable candidates are already going to be using their skills for a competitor.

When you go through recruiting agencies, they often have currently employed individuals in their network. These people may be interested in making a change if the offer is right. Using one of these firms may be the only way to get their attention.

Grabbing up New Graduates

Some of the brightest talent for new companies is going to come from college graduates. Many of the best recruiting efforts are targeting these promising individuals while they are still finishing their degree. Often, the agencies will participate in recruitment actions on campus or at job fairs. Others will work closely with the employment placement offices in many universities. The result is that you may gain access to an entire generation of educated and talented workers thanks to your partnership with one of these retained search firms.

If your business is primarily involved in sales or if you simply need to beef up your current sales staff with some fresh blood, turning to these retained search firms is one of the best choices you can make. The professionals in these firms can laser in on specific characteristics on the resumes or profiles of different potential candidates that might make them ideal or completely wrong for your needs. Plus, they can weed out the inexperienced and those with poor people skills. They will save you hours of interviews with people who should never have considered sales as a profession while making sure you have face time with the people who are going to drive up your revenue.

Insurance Recruiters

Are you in the insurance business? While bringing agents and brokers into your company may seem easy because they often approach you, not everyone who sees insurance as a future career is going to be a good match for the field. Some people just don’t have what it takes to be a sales person and an entrepreneur. They may also not be interested in learning about the business. As you know, a great deal of training and knowledge is required to make it in the insurance game. By taking the advice of retained search firms, you will be able to narrow down your choices and find the right representatives for the company.

Technical Recruiting

One of the fastest growing areas of executive search recruiting happens to be in the technical area, including computer support staff. Whether technology is your main product or you simply need that technology to do your work effectively, knowing you have been able to attract the best candidates possible is going to give you peace of mind for the future and is going to make your clients feel good about working with you, too.

Healthcare Recruiting

One of the most competitive industries right now is the healthcare industry. There are simply not enough trained professionals to meet the growing needs of an aging population. For that reason, you will want the assistance of retained search firms to help you quickly find the best trained workers before the competition can snatch them up from underneath you. Many of these recruiting companies have used the Internet so they can find job prospects from all around the country which means you’ll have a much wider net to catch the most desirable employees.

Benefit #1: Saves You Time

If your staff is inundated with resumes and CVs, you will have a difficult time maintaining decent productivity within your company. However, this is precisely what most companies do when they start a search for new talent. All of that wasted time is actually costing your company money and that’s something you can’t afford to lose, even in good economic times.

When you choose to hire a recruitment agency, you put all of that mess into their hands. The inquiries from potential employees are forwarded to them so you never have to see them unless you want to. That means your staff can stay focused on their appointed tasks.

Benefit #2: Qualified Candidates

You have most likely been disappointed by the majority of resumes you receive each time you post a job opening. In most cases, desperate job seekers looking for any chance to win a spot will apply even if they don’t have the skills required. In some cases, a few may slip through and end up landing an interview. That could end up wasting your time even further.

With top executive recruiters at your disposal, however, you have a staff of professionals who understand how to match the appropriate candidate to the job requirements. They can weed out the time wasters and help limit your choices to only people who are going to meet your needs the best.

Benefit #3: Good Return on Your Investment

Although taking the do-it-yourself approach may seem more cost effective than bringing in retained search firms for your recruiting efforts, the reality is that using the skills of professionals is going to provide a better return on your investment. You would not try to fix your computer network on your own; you would bring in IT specialists so everything would be done efficiently and correctly. You would not write your own web content; you would hire copywriters who know how to make each word count. Why then would you try to hire staff without the assistance of a group of professionals? More companies are recognizing the benefits and are turning over more of these needs to the retained search professionals.

Benefit #4: Higher Retention Rates

Since the results received from retained search firms are going to be people who are a better match for the position you’re trying to fill, your retention rates are going to be higher than the average when you do your own hiring. Retention is definitely important, as you know. Even if only minimal training is required for the position, the expenses of bringing in a new person can run into the thousands. That’s money you will lose when the employee leaves too early.