A recruiter can help you understand a vacancy and present your experience. You still need a clear record of where your CV goes and what has been said about you. Treat the relationship as a defined piece of your search, not permission for someone to circulate every document or make commitments on your behalf.
Check fit before sharing a full file
Ask which roles, industries and markets the recruiter handles and whether there is a specific live vacancy. Check the agency's own website and independently verify the contact route. The National Careers Service recommends checking agency specialization and asking whether it handles the type of work you want.
A professional profile and familiar logo are leads, not proof of identity. If the person claims to represent an employer, verify the route through an independently found company contact where necessary. Avoid sending passports, bank details or other sensitive records merely because someone says they need to register you quickly.
Agree on the submission scope
Ask what will be sent, to which employer and for which role. Keep a record of your consent and any limits. If the recruiter wants to change your CV, review the changes for factual accuracy before that version represents you. A clearer job description is useful; an inflated title or invented qualification is not.
Tell recruiters about an application already made to the same role so you can clarify possible duplicate submissions. Ask how they handle that situation instead of assuming a universal ownership rule. Do not sign an exclusivity or representation agreement without reading its exact scope, duration and consequences.
Separate recruiting from paid promises
Ask for a written explanation of any proposed charge and check applicable rules before paying. The FTC warns about placement-service scams and upfront charges for job promises. Do not mistake a fee, certificate package or official-looking invoice for evidence that employment or a visa is guaranteed.
If a recruiter requests money, sensitive documents or an unusual payment route, pause and verify independently. Never deposit a check and forward part of the money on an alleged employer's instructions. Keep the evidence and contact your payment provider promptly if you think you have already paid a scammer.
Keep your own search record
Record the recruiter, verified contact, vacancy, CV version, submission date and next expected step. Ask for feedback and tell them when your availability changes. Keep direct applications and other agencies in the same private tracker so you can give accurate answers about your search.
You can be cooperative without surrendering control. Decline a role that does not fit, correct a misleading claim and withdraw permission for a future submission when appropriate. A recruiter can explain an employer's process, but immigration eligibility, professional recognition and contract interpretation may require separate official or qualified advice.
Sources and further reading
Source guidance checked on October 27, 2026. The exercises and examples above are editorial suggestions, not hiring guarantees. Follow current employer instructions and destination-specific official requirements.
Continue your job-abroad plan
- Read our guide to verifying recruiters and offers.
- Read our guide to organizing applications.
