When job seekers think "recruiter," they often imagine a single type of person. But there are actually two very different types of recruiters—and your approach should differ for each.
Internal (Corporate) Recruiters
Who they are: Employees of the company where you want to work. They recruit exclusively for their employer.
How they're compensated: Salary + possible bonus for fills. No commission per hire.
Their priority: Finding the best long-term fit for their company. They care about culture fit and retention.
Pros of Working with Internal Recruiters
- Direct access to hiring managers
- Deep knowledge of company culture and team dynamics
- Can advocate for you internally
- No pressure to close quickly for commission
Cons of Working with Internal Recruiters
- Only work for one company
- May be slower to respond (high volume)
- Limited visibility into market compensation
Agency (External) Recruiters
Who they are: Work for staffing agencies or recruitment firms. They fill roles for multiple client companies.
How they're compensated: Commission-based. They get paid (often 15-25% of your first-year salary) when you get hired.
Their priority: Making placements quickly. They need to fill roles to earn.
Pros of Working with Agency Recruiters
- Access to multiple companies and roles
- Often have "hidden" jobs not posted publicly
- Highly motivated to get you hired
- Good salary negotiators (higher salary = higher commission)
Cons of Working with Agency Recruiters
- May push you toward quick placements over best fit
- Limited company-specific knowledge
- May submit you to roles without your knowledge (ask first!)
Which Should You Contact?
Contact Internal Recruiters when:
- You have a specific dream company in mind
- You want a permanent, long-term role
- Culture fit is a top priority
- You're patient and willing to wait for the right opportunity
Contact Agency Recruiters when:
- You want to explore multiple opportunities quickly
- You're open to contract or temp-to-perm roles
- You want someone advocating for your salary
- You're in a specialized field (they often have niche expertise)
Best Practice: Contact Both
The most successful job seekers don't limit themselves. They build relationships with both internal recruiters at target companies AND agency recruiters in their field.
This multi-channel approach maximizes your exposure to opportunities—both the ones posted publicly and the hidden ones that never hit job boards.
With RecruiterContacts, you can filter by recruiter type, finding both internal corporate recruiters and agency professionals in your industry. Cast a wide net, then focus on the relationships that yield results.