by Kevin Donlin - Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes

Finding a recruiter is a bit like finding a dentist or a lawyer -- the sheer number of choices can keep you from making any decision atall.

Over the years, I've consulted with dozens of recruiters, so I'd like to pass along a few tips to help you find the right one.

There are thousands of recruiters to choose from, so try to find one who specializes in your field. Your personal network is a goodplace to start. Ask friends and co-workers if they can recommend a recruiter who's workedfor them. After that, try the Yellow Pages and your favorite search engines.

Once of the main benefits of working with a recruiter is the time it can save you. If you're currently employed and aren't able toconduct a thorough job search, a recruiter can act as your eyes and ears. Many willeven interview you at night so you can go about your business during the day.

When you contact a recruiting agency, be sure to ask about their fees. In this tight labor market, most won't charge you, becausethey're paid by employers to beat the bushes for qualified candidates. If you don't mindpaying a fee (for what should be a much higher level of service), be sure to contact at least three recruiters to get a feel for pricing in yourfield or geographic region.

Once you've found a suitable agency, get their fax number or e-mail address and send them your resume. Call to confirm that they got it.

It's all right to call once to follow up after that, but most recruiters probably won't have time to chat unless they have an opening thatmatches your skills closely. In the meantime, pursue other avenues of job hunting,such as your network of personal and business contacts.

In other words, don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you see a recruiter as just another tool to assist you in your active jobsearch, you'll get better results, faster.

Best of luck to you!
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Kevin Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers providesame-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance. He is also author of"Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manualthat will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back.