Undercover

Landing a CSO Job

Why recruiters are your friends (and other secrets to landing a new CSO job)

By Anonymous

Finally, our recruiter will scan newspapers and security periodicals to see who is writing about security or involved in security news. Clue number three: Try to write or be interviewed about the security topics of the day. Of course, it doesn't particularly help you if you write anonymously. (D'oh!)

Handle with Care

Once you make contact with some recruiters, it's important to work with themâ¬not against them. In other words, take special care that you don't piss them off. First, never try to circumvent the recruiter by talking directly to the company. Recruiters get paid by demonstrating that they are the one who found the candidate. If you talk directly to the company, then that puts their commission in jeopardy. Also, the retained recruiter gets paid to be a buffer between you and the company. If you begin speaking directly to the companyâ¬especially during hiring and compensation discussionsâ¬then you're stepping on the recruiter's toes.

Second, never try to play one recruiter against another. Remember, when a recruiter works on contingency, he has to demonstrate that he was the one who brought you to the table. If you begin talking to another recruiter about the same position, you risk starting a war between the recruiters over who "found" you for the position. As entertaining as that may sound, CSOs who do this risk being blacklisted by both recruiters. I've known recruiters who refuse to work with certain people because this happened.

Finally, never embarrass the recruiter by not being completely candid about your background. The company will do background checks prior to making an offer. For instance, the human resources department at your current or previous employer will typically give out dates of employment, job title and salary information. Make sure that what you say on your résumé and in your interview jibes with what HR will report.

If you violate any of these commandments, I guarantee you'll have a red-faced recruiter screaming in your face. But, on the other hand, you'll never have to worry about working with that recruiting agency again.

One side note: While you're looking for a new place to work, be sure to watch your back. I once had a colleague who was fired after it was discovered he was planning to interview with a competitor. I suggest that you never use company e-mail or fax to correspond with a recruiter. Speaking on the phone should be all right provided your conversations are short and can't be overheard.

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