They call at all hours, leaving desperate messages with few details, and never remember who you are when you call them back. Why do we deal with them? Because they are often the gatekeepers to all the jobs.It seems that the job market is on an upswing for technology practioners. So how can you navigate the often treacherous and shark-infested waters of recrutiers? Here are six tips:

First, don’t take anything personally. This may be the hardest step considering that most of us are pretty emotionally invested in finding the best job for us. Every time I take it personally I end up saying or doing something that I am not proud of.

Second, you have to remember that most of the people you are dealing with don’t really understand what it is that you do. Often they are reading from a script, trying to match words or acronyms from the job description to your resume without any regard to context. I can’t even begin to count the number of times that I have had to explain what ‘usability’ is to a recruiter.

Third, interview the recruiter. Find out if they have an exclusive on the position or are competing with other recruiters. Don’t waste your time with ones who don’t have relationships with the hiring managers.

Fourth, sometimes you have to tell them what they want to hear. Think of it as employing simple Pavlovian-response practices. Every recruiter wants to get the impression from you that you are focused and clear on what you want. Don’t feel badly about changing up your story among recruiters, make it a test to see what responses you get.

Fifth, don’t be afraid to say no to something. Trust me, there’s another gig around the corner. Slow and steady always wins the race. Yes, it’s a tough thing to bring into practice; bills pile up, your credit card balance expands, and you can become bored of not going to work everyday. But endeavor to perservere, you’re worth it.

And finally, have fun. This is your chance to make a leap into a great new position. You’re looking for the right place, the right money, and the right fit for YOU. Don’t forget that you run the show.

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