You do not have to depend on third parties to help you get a job. Recruiters and agencies have their place in many job searches. However, your job search may be an exception. If you are seeking a position in the same industry or in a related job category, search firms might be useful. We have found that the following circumstances rule out the use of agencies:

• Career or industry shift
• Job history problems
• More than seven years tenure with a company
• Less than three years of job experience
• Non-traditional educational path for the job