Candidates FAQs

Q: WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE RECRUITER?
A: The recruiter's job entails overcoming obstacles in order to satisfy both the candidate and the prospective employer. Expect to receive the following from the recruiter:

• A request for permission to send out your resume.
• Complete directions, timing, address and phone number of the agency with which you'll be interviewing
• A thorough briefing on the background of the agency, the accounts you may work on, the people you are likely to meet, and any other insights about the client and its corporate culture
• Updates on any developments that may help you secure the position

Q: WHEN WILL I BE CONTACTED ABOUT JOBS?
A: We’ll contact you when your background fits one of the jobs we are filling. We’ll share with you as much as we know about the opportunity, discuss the fit, and if appropriate, request your permission to submit your resume.

Q: WHAT IF TWO RECRUITERS CALL ABOUT THE SAME JOB?
A: Assuming that each recruiter has explained the company and job, work with the recruiter who contacted you first. We discourage working with recruiters who will not tell you the company they are representing or who forward your resume to a company without your knowledge.

Q: WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE TELEPHONE INTERVIEW?
A: Hiring companies use an initial telephone interview to screen a number of candidates. Although these interviews are usually very brief, it’s important to be prepared. Keep your updated resume handy and keep your answers short and to the point. If you are unsure of what the interviewer is looking for, request clarification by asking "What specifically would you like me to comment on?" Or if you are unsure whether you have given an appropriate answer, ask "Have I provided enough information?" If you come across confident and capable in the telephone interview, you are likely get a face-to-face interview.

Q: HOW CAN I WORK WITH THE RECRUITER DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS?
A: It is critical that the recruiter remains in the loop at all times.  Keep communications open at all times. Be sure to tell your recruiter when the client calls you directly for any reason or if an interview has been scheduled or postponed. After each interview, call the recruiter to share what happened. If an offer is made, you’ll want to discuss it with your recruiter in detail. Let the recruiter know if you have other interviews and if you are getting close to another offer. This will help your recruiter represent you and secure the best offer for you.

Q: MY COMPANY MADE ME A COUNTER OFFER. HOW DO I DEAL WITH THAT?
A: The counter offer could look pretty tempting and you may even consider staying in your current position. Statistically speaking, 72% of employees who accept a counter offer end up leaving that job within one year. Consider the following before making your decision:

• Ask yourself why you had to resign before your boss offered you more?
• If you get more money, where did it come from? Is it just your next raise given to you early?
• It is possible your company will start looking for someone to take your place at a lower salary?
• Your boss now knows you're restless and your company loyalty may be in question.
• If economic times get rough, layoffs may start with you.

Q: WHAT INFORMATION WILL F&C REQUEST FROM ME?
A: To help match you to the most appropriate position, your recruiter will ask for the following:

• Current chronological resume
• Current salary and salary expectations (We decline to work with candidates who refuse to share, or distort, salary information.)
• Geographic considerations
• Creative samples (a link to your online portfolio or a PDF) if a writer or art director.

Resume Tips

• If you have owned your own company, list your title as "Principal" rather the "President/CEO" to avoid sending an overpriced message.
• If you’ve earned a Ph.D., omit it from the end of your name and include it on the education section instead to avoid an overqualified message
• Be sure all information is clear, understandable and easy to read

Q: HOW CAN I DEVELOP A LONG-TERM WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH F&C?
A: Like any successful relationship, recruiter-candidate relationship is based on mutual trust, respect and communication. Here are some simple guidelines to ensure success for both:

• Determine your long-range goals before exploring opportunities.
• Be open and honest about your expectations for the position and salary.
• Follow through on all of your commitments promptly.
• Provide accurate and complete data on your resume.
• Alert us if you already have been in contact with the agency in question.
• Be enthusiastic and keep a positive attitude.
• Provide us with an in-depth analysis of your interviews. Be sure to include all the "pros and cons."
• We greatly appreciate referrals of quality candidates.

Employers FAQs

Q: WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON SUBMITTING RESUMES TO CLIENT COMPANIES?
A: We recruit candidates specifically for the position you are filling. When we send you a resume, we’ve already briefed the candidate on your company, the job opportunity, and the salary parameters. We never submit resumes without the candidate’s permission.

Q: CAN WE TRUST IN THE QUALITY OF YOUR CANDIDATES?
A: We interview our candidates thoroughly to assess their experience, background and qualifications. If we sense an issue, we verify the candidate’s information with trusted resources. Our reputation is a reflection of the people we send you. We want to build a relationship with your company; therefore, we only present stellar candidates.

Q: DOES YOUR FIRM WORK WITH ANY ADVERTISING AGENCY OR CLIENT COMPANY?
A: We are selective with whom we work. We will discontinue working with a client company if a candidate reports a negative situation at the company or if the company earns a bad reputation in the handling of their employees.

Q: I'VE HEARD THAT SOME RECRUITERS PLACE PEOPLE IN A COMPANY THEN ACTIVELY RECRUIT OTHERS FROM THAT SAME COMPANY. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?
A: Our client companies hire us and pay our fees. We consider it unethical for us to place someone at a company and then try to recruit another person from that same company. The only exception to this rule is if one of your employees contacts us directly. If there is NO doubt that this person is determined to leave your company, we will consider working with the candidate.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF WE ARE SENT THE SAME RESUME FROM TWO RECRUITERS?
A: This rarely happens unless one party involved is not following the rules. Ask each recruiter if he/she personally recruited the candidate and provided your company name to the candidate. If the recruiters both affirm, we suggest you drop the candidate from your consideration as this shows a lack of character. If you choose to continue pursuing the candidate, give credit to the recruiter who first provided the resume.

Q: A RECRUITER GAVE ME A RESUME SIX MONTHS AGO. I DIDN'T HIRE THE PERSON. NOW I AM READY TO HIRE THE CANDIDATE. DO I OWE A FEE TO THE RECRUITER?
A: YES.  A recruiter earns a referral fee for up to one year from the date a candidate recommendation was submitted.

Q: HOW MANY RECRUITERS ARE ENOUGH?
A: We recommend working with no more than two recruiters—more than that and you’ll find your recruiters begin to cross efforts and contact the same candidates. This is a waste of time for all parties involved. Giving your recruiter an exclusive search or putting them on a retainer assures you will receive their full attention and the most efficient search process.