Recruiting and staffing services can be excellent job search resources. They focus on matching your skills with the job openings of employers or companies, and almost always, the employer pays their fees so there is no cost to you.

Recruiting services search for qualified candidates for full-time positions. These firms are also called headhunters or executive search firms.

Benefits of using a recruiting service include:

• You often get access to unadvertised openings.
  
• A third party (the recruiting firm) is working to match your skills and long-term goals to a job.
  

Staffing services match workers with short-term or temporary-to-permanent positions. They're sometimes known as contract firms or employment agencies.

Benefits of using a staffing service and doing temporary work include:

• Build skills and meet financial needs while continuing to look for work.
  
• It's easier to get a job when you have a job.
  
• You may be able to get more flexible hours or working conditions to accommodate your personal situation.
  
• Gain work experience, develop skills, obtain training, or increase networking contacts.
  
• You can check out an employer or an occupation before making a commitment to training, a particular career, or a particular employer.