You're trying to reach recruiters, but you're not sure who's who. Some work for the company. Some work for staffing agencies. Does it matter? Who should you contact?
Short answer: Yes, it matters. And you should contact both—but differently.
Most job seekers don't know the difference—and it's costing them opportunities.
Some recruiters work for the company. Some work for agencies. Which one should you reach out to?
They promise the world, then ghost you or pitch roles that don't match what you want.
They don't respond to cold outreach. They're buried in applications. How do you even get on their radar?
You need a strategy. Reaching out randomly isn't working.
"I spent 2 weeks emailing an 'Amazon recruiter' who turned out to work for a staffing agency. They didn't even have a real Amazon role. I wasted so much time."
— Reddit r/cscareerquestions
Here's what you need to know about each type.
Work directly for the company
When to use:
When you want a specific company and have a strong fit for an open role
Work for staffing firms, get paid when they place you
When to use:
When you want speed, flexibility, or access to multiple companies at once
Smart job seekers don't pick sides. They use both strategically.
Don't pick one. Reach out to internal recruiters at your dream companies AND agency recruiters who specialize in your field.
Only reach out when there's an open role that fits. Reference the job posting. Make it easy for them.
Build relationships with 5-10 good agencies in your industry. They'll keep you in mind when roles open up.
Check their LinkedIn. Do they specialize in your field? Do they have good recommendations? Avoid generalists.
Why guess when you can have contacts for both?
Search by company name. Find in-house recruiters. Email them directly about open roles.
Filter by specialty (tech, finance, healthcare, etc.). Build relationships. Get early access to roles.
Skip LinkedIn. Get emails that land in inboxes and actually get read.
While others wait for job boards, you're already in a recruiter's inbox.
Want to work at Google? Search for Google recruiters. Want agency contacts? Filter by staffing firms.
We'll show you job titles, departments, and specialties so you contact the right person.
Tailor your message based on who you're contacting. Get responses. Get interviews.