Whether you're deep into the job hunt, or the idea of a new job piques your interest - you don't have to go it alone. Enter Recruiters. Working as an extension of your job search, recruiters can get you in front of the right people, at the right time, and promote your skills and experience to a potential employer.

But there's more to working with a recruiter than simply handing over your resume and letting them do all of the work. If you want to make the most of your recruiter experience you need to stay active and involved. Here are some tips for maximizing the effectiveness of your recruiter:

Your specialty is their specialty.

Make sure your recruiter specializes in your field. Recruiters usually concentrate in specific job sectors or industries. You'll have the most success with a recruiter who already had established contacts in your field or knows of current available openings for you.

Keep the communication open.

Stay in touch with your recruiter frequently to keep yourself fresh in their mind. Share potential positions or target companies that you have researched. It's also important to provide your recruiter with updates on your resume about your education or experience to maximize potential opportunities that will match your abilities.

Get the inside scoop.

Take advantage of your recruiter's inside knowledge of different companies and key contacts. Many recruiters have been on hundreds of job searches. They already know many of the common interview questions their clients will ask and can help fine-tune your interviewing skills. They're also ready to assist in improving your resume and tailoring your cover letter to appeal to a particular company. Never be afraid of working with more than one recruiter to expand your pool of opportunities.

Patience is a virtue.

Be patient. Sometimes your recruiter will contact you for a specific job and have an interview lined up for you within a week. Other times, recruiters may not have any current openings for someone with your experience, but may in the future. In any job search, it's important to stay positive and keep in touch with your recruiter to get the most out of your experience.

Tell us about your successes in working with a recruiter!