Recruiter Relationship Rules

Not all recruiters are equal. Internal recruiters work for the company. External recruiters work for agencies on commission. Both are valuable, but you interact differently.

With internal recruiters, be direct about interest. With external, be clear about salary range and non-negotiables upfront — they cannot match you to roles without knowing your numbers.

Always respond, even with "not right now" — ghosting burns bridges. Be honest about your timeline. Never inflate your current salary. Recruiters have long memories — a positive interaction today often lands the right opportunity years from now.