5 Signs You're Working With a Great Recruiter (and Not Just a Resume Forwarder)

Let’s be honest, if you’ve job hunted or hired talent, you’ve encountered the full spectrum of recruiters. From the ghosters who vanish faster than a bad date, to the gems who land you that dream job (or dream hire), the difference is night and day.

After 25 years in recruiting and managing both the stars and the duds, I can tell you exactly what separates a pro from the pretenders. Whether you're in HR or you're a job seeker, here are five signs you're in very good hands.

1. Their Calendar Looks Like Abstract Art

Great recruiters don’t waste time. They treat every minute like it’s a limited resource because it is! Their calendars are color-coded masterpieces of efficiency: prospecting, screening, interviews, follow-ups.

When a client calls? They drop everything. This is an industry for those who love to juggle. It’s for those who can spin four plates while typing an email and prepping for a Zoom call and ALWAYS with a smile.

2. They're Practically Glued to the Phone

Let me tell you about my old desk phone. Numbers rubbed off. Chord (yes, chord) tangled. Beat-up from years of use. I still keep it in my office on the shelf like a retired trophy, because that phone helped build my career. We had an intimate relationship for decades!

A successful recruiter lives on the phone. Not because it’s retro, but because it works. Real-time conversations beat back-and-forth emails every time. They allow for nuance, reactions, adjustments, and (most importantly) results.

Hiring is emotional. It’s personal. And you can’t read enthusiasm —or hesitation — over text.

3. They’re in Control From Start to Finish

If your recruiter feels like the project manager of your job search, congratulations, you’ve found a good one.

Recruiting isn’t about waiting for things to happen. It’s about making things happen. A skilled recruiter guides every step: setting expectations, prepping both sides, addressing concerns before they come up, and keeping the energy high until that offer is signed, sealed, and accepted.

They make the process look smooth, but behind the scenes, it’s choreography on the level of Cirque du Soleil. And they love every second of it.

4. They Treat Everything Like It’s Urgent—Because It Is

This job rewards speed. The kind of recruiter who sits on a good resume for a few days is the kind who loses placements (and commissions).

Great recruiters hustle, not just to fill jobs, but to win. When a client sends over a new opening, they’re off like it’s the Indy 500. Candidates are called. Pitches are made. Interviews are booked as of yesterday! It is a race to find the best applicant for the role first.

Speed matters. So if your recruiter has that “let’s go!” energy, you’re probably in good hands.

5. They’re Relentlessly Positive, and Make Things Work

Every good recruiter has a little Tim Gunn in them.” Make it work”. Things go wrong. Schedules clash. Candidates get cold feet. But a top-tier recruiter doesn’t panic; they problem solve.

That means reminding (inspiring) candidates why they were excited in the first place, talking clients through small concerns, or helping both sides reframe expectations. A successful recruiter always believes there’s a solution and then finds it.

Because the end goal isn’t just a hire, it’s a win-win.

Final Thought:

Every time a placement falls apart, I can trace it back to one of these five things being out of sync. But when everything’s firing, communication, control, urgency, and positivity all come together, the magic happens.

The client gets a standout hire. The candidate lands a role that excites them. And the recruiter? Well, we get the thrill of knowing we’ve made a real impact in someone’s life (and okay, a nice commission too).

So, next time you work with a recruiter, ask yourself: Are they just forwarding resumes, or are they driving the process?

Trust me. You’ll see and feel the difference.