Where to Find Work / Using Recruiters
There's a thread that was generating a lot of discussion on the PADNUG mailing-list last week. It was about where to look for work, and evolved into whether or not one should use a recruiter. I've included my response below.
My last three positions didn't come from recruiters, but from either craigslist or people I knew at those companies. With that said, each time I go looking for a position I contact my recruiter friends to see if they can help me. In truth, I lean on them for help pretty hard.
Whether or not you choose to take a position presented by a recruiter (versus a position you find through other means) really that depends on what type of position you're looking for. Startups generally don't use recruiters, especially early on. Top-tier companies (e.g. Amazon) have recruiters in house. Many superman-like positions come from word of mouth (e.g. almost any big hire @ Microsoft).
Using a recruiter doesn't mean you'll have to take a lower rate/salary. That depends entirely on your capabilities. If you aren't happy with the amount of money you're being offered, then perhaps now is the time to qualify yourself for those senior/architect level positions. If that's what you want then tell the recruiters this and they'll help you understand what you need to do to qualify for those positions. There's a good chance that you may find that the only thing left for you to do is to ask for these upper-level positions.
If you prefer doing short-term contract work, then you may want to consider forming your own business and being entirely independent. The rates are higher, but you take on more responsibilities as well. In that case you're really forming your own startup.
Sitting down and talking with a recruiter is a great way to find out what you want. I find that many are more than willing to listen to your situation and offer advice where they can.
