I'm completely burned out and looking at industry jobs. For people who left, do you recommend using a recruiter? They seem like a dime a dozen but I'm not sure if I'm missing out by doing it on my own

I would forgo a recruiter and use that to negotiate with your future employer. A recruiter gets anywhere from 25-30% of your annual salary as payment. You'd probably be pretty happy with half of that as a signing bonus. But, if you point out that you're saving them money, maybe you can get more - hell, I'd pay more. Recruiters do not have access to positions you cannot otherwise find. All employers post their positions as far and wide as possible due to challenges finding talent. Be diligent and patient in your search. That's how you find your ideal position and optimize your comp.

Recruiters are exhausting. Added stress IMO

The best jobs you will find by networking yourself, take time to figure out your dream job and put in hours on LinkedIn setting up calls and really networking. I do know people that have figured out one or two recruiters that had solid jobs they liked and jumped, but if you’re not getting hit up for something you’re excited about don’t waste time meeting and speaking with them. Speak to the people you want to work for instead.

Basically I recommend using a recruiter as well as well as looking by yourself. It increases your chances

Pushy recruiters will add stress , and you'll know it right away. The best gigs will always be from your own networking. Especially if you are the manager level, Partners may assist with placing you and reaching out to their own networks if you exit "gracefully." I've seen plenty of managers get that help when they start the discussions early.

I used a recruiter. They got my new company to meet my salary expectations even though it was above their max

I used a recruiter and it was extremely helpful

The only people saying they had a good experience with a recruiter are recruiters on here

Yes doing legwork and finding connections and jobs you actually want is great, and you have a small bargaining chip when you go to the negotiating stage of an employment offer. On the other hand... “ain’t nobody got time for that”. Tell several recruiters the geographical area/size of company/title/salary you want and they can narrow down the openings to jobs you actually might want.

In the end I think I'm going with that approach, I'm trying to find them on my own but I'm allowing a few people to help me. Did everyone know that Monster is owned by Randstad? I put my resume on there and now EVERY recruiter in the northern hemisphere has left me a voicemail.

any LinkedIn recommendations for helpful recruiters?

Thanks all, I appreciate the responses. I am not at the point yet where I am ready to tell my partners but it's also in the back of my head as a potential option. I unfortunately (stupidly) specialize in an industry that is more lucrative to audit than actually work in so I have to first figure out what I want to do when I leave 🤯

What firm?

1) I looked up the best places to work for, good reviews on Glassdoor, new/upcoming and top largest companies in the city. 2) searched for jobs at the companies I liked on LinkedIn, Glassdoor and companies websites. Worked out well for me. Recruiter got me a free lunch and an upbeat perspective, but her salaries were much lower than what I got when I found a job myself.