Recruiter meetings

[Dallas]

Worth it if you are the one doing the hiring - then you get the invite to the Client Xmas do not the cheapo Contractor one

[DiscoStu]

I got a couple of free beers out of one once

[Poker space]

Have only had 1 and it was a fishing for names meeting by 2 agency staff. I can understand why they do it but I would only go again if I was on the bench.

[Eirikur]

Total waste of time
If they keep insisting propose a Skype call or a meeting very close to your location and not where they want. Else just threaten to withdraw your consent to represent you and they will give in very quickly (if they have an actual role for which you are a suitable candidate)

[psychocandy]

Worth it only if you've got nothing better to do.

When I was on the bench I went to meet one. It was 40 mins/£12 on the train and I thought why not? Turned out worthwhile cos Im still in contact with him and hes decent enough.

Apart from that, another one I met cos I had an interview in same city the same day so why not.

But in general wont take too much time out to do this.

[SueEllen]

Are they really necessary?

No.

Do you guys have many recruiters asking you to see you face to face so they can discuss potential opportunities with you?

No - though I do tend to met recruiters at other events.

Are they wasting my time?

Maybe.

There is a small minority of recruiters who are nice and helpful enough even though they can't sell you something.

Whether to go and met them depends on where you live, the time you have and where you are meeting them.

[stek]

I've had many a meeting with agent/potential agent in the past, free meal duly got. But that was in the day when we didn't have to pretend we are real businesses.....

Had one recently offering to meet up at Leeds German Market, for a pint o' Helles and a kasewurst, he never turned up, had to get my own sausage....

[edison]

I had it happen to me for the first time recently and it was actually a fairly good experience. I had some contact with this particular larger agency a few years earlier with one of their perm recruiters so knew they were bona fide.

I was referred to one of their contract agents by an ex-colleague who had just been placed by them. I had been on the bench for a while and also flirted with going back to perm so didn't think there was much to lose. After having a phone chat with the agent, she suggested she would bring along someone from their perm practice too.

We met the next day and spoke for over an hour. I got quite a lot of useful insight into the market and specifically the type of companies recruiting for my main skill set which is relatively niche - it turns out we had a lot of mutual connections too.

I also received some feedback on my CV and also my day rate ('you may have been underselling yourself a bit.') They didn't have any immediate contract opportunities but did have a potential perm opportunity which wasn't quite right.

As I said, I was on the bench so was nothing to lose. If you have lots of opportunities in the pipeline then may not be so useful but personally I think it's worthwhile to cultivate relationships with good agents and recruiters.

[PerfectStorm]

Never hurts to take someone up on the offer of one - helps you develop a good rapport that hopefully means they'll fight your corner a little bit more if this exact job doesn't go your way.

[northernladuk]

You are gonna have get the measure of agents pretty sharpish or you are going to have a miserable time contracting lol

[eek]

Done 1 recruiter meeting in the past 5 years. It was required by their end client SLA and got me the contract....

[tractor]

...

The only reason they do it is to offer a value add to the client that they only refer 'vetted' candidates and this is part of the vetting. I always refuse unless they are on the way to an interview.

[MattZani]

Total waste of time.

[TheFaQQer]

Are they really necessary?

Possibly - depends on you, and it depends on the agency.

Do you guys have many recruiters asking you to see you face to face so they can discuss potential opportunities with you?

No.

Are they wasting my time?

Possibly - depends on you, and it depends on the agency.

[maxedvolume]

Are they really necessary? Do you guys have many recruiters asking you to see you face to face so they can discuss potential opportunities with you?
Are they wasting my time?

Especially, when they don't have a contract for me - they want to get to know me to have good relationship... i just dont know what to believe.