Anyone who’s tuned into their LinkedIn or favorite news broadcast has seen startling reports of layoffs, economic downturn, and rising interest rates.

Many terrific professionals have found themselves unexpectedly released into the job market, and collaborating with a professional Recruiter can mean the difference between spending your time interviewing or spending your time applying. Learn to pick a quality recruiter and benefit from their professional network.

Here’s what to look for…

1)     In-Depth Questions

Was your interview with the recruiter 11 minutes? Not a great sign. Hiring Managers expect applicants from recruiters to be pre-screened for both their experiences and their motivations. The better your Recruiter can intelligently discuss your background, the more time hiring managers can spend investigating culture fit and synchrony in the interview.

2)     Local Presence

Yes, many positions are 100% remote. But despite our support for the new norm, we still believe a quiet majority of hiring managers prefer local talent. They may not always say it, but we see them light up when they learn a candidate is 10 miles away and not 1000. Whether it’s for the occasional Friday Happy Hour or simply being aligned in time-zone, you can expect to receive more interest from your local market.

3)     Authenticity

Job seeking is filled with bad news. If your conversations are filled with sunshine, rainbows, and big promises then something is likely amiss. Treat bad news as a sign that you are working with a professional that respects you. The best recruiters want you empowered with real feedback and trustworthy guidance.

4)     Responsiveness

We all get tied up in other tasks and priorities from time-to-time, but if you see a pattern of responses taking days… Run.

5)     EQ

The best recruiters know that your personal and professional life can get intertwined. Treat questions about travel expectations, family obligations, commuting requirements, and long-term goals as a motivation to find a company that shares the same vision of work/life balance.

Dan Morris is the President of SalesFirst Recruiting and runs the Denver office. He can be reached at dan@salesfirstrecruiting.com.