HACKER Q&A
📣 wantsanagent

How do I find an agent?


I want an agent. I'm a mid career software engineer and I feel like I could be better building a personal brand and finding higher compensation positions. I can do all this myself of course and have, but I'd really like to hire someone whose mission is to advance my career. Find very specific positions, reach out to companies on my behalf, suggest ways I should be advertising myself, do a bit of that advertising on my behalf.

"That's a recruiter/headhunter" - Sure! But specifically I want to pay them and not have them shop me out to companies who might also pay them. I'm fine paying a retainer on top of the standard salary percentage for a new gig.

Have you done this? How did you make it work?

  👤 JSeymourATL Accepted Answer ✓
From time to time you’ll see a recruiter looking to ‘re-invent’ the placement model acting as a talent agent; representing only tech rock stars.

They never last.

The temptation to steer individuals to companies paying a bounty of 25-33% OTE is impossible to pass up.

Ultimately, you’re the best pitch man for advancing your career.

Try thinking of yourself in terms of Product/Market fit. Who can you best serve?

Finally, borrow a page from Jaleh Rezaei on Cold Outreach. See her brilliant presentation here. > https://www.ycombinator.com/library/9n-how-to-generate-leads