Sure, you're happy with your current job, but companies get bought, departments get out-sourced, and people get new bosses. How can you keep a pulse on the job market without impacting your busy schedule?

The answer is simple; maximize your relationship with a few good recruiters. For this article I collaborated with Peter Gilbert, CPC to provide insight and tips on building that relationship.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Dan Simmons and I own Continental Search, a recruiting firm in Baltimore, MD. We have specialized in placing Lotus Notes professionals in direct hire and contract positions since 1998. We recruit from the Atlantic to the Rockies, excluding the NYC and Chicago markets. Our clients are Lotus/IBM Business Partners and Fortune 500 firms. I'm a Certified Personnel Consultant and have over 10 years recruiting experience. I've been writing for DominoPower Magazine for over a year now. For more on me you can visit http://www.consearch.com.

My collaborator is Peter Gilbert, owner of Certified Personnel Corporation of New Jersey. Peter has been recruiting Lotus talent since 1993 in the New York metro area, from Connecticut to Philadelphia. He's also a Certified Personnel Consultant with over 20 years recruiting experience. Peter's clients are large pharmaceutical and insurance companies and Big 5 CPA/Consulting firms. For more on Peter you can visit http://www.certifiedpersonnel.com.

Enough about us, let's talk about you. Here are some solid tips as to how to maximize your relationship with a recruiter.

Find a pro and stick with him
No one recruiter, no matter how good, will always have the right job for you. It's good to have relationships with a few talented recruiters. The key word there is talented. Take a moment and see if the recruiter you're speaking with has a clue about what you do (or for that matter, what he is supposed to be doing).

A good recruiter will have connections in your niche, having placed other individuals like yourself. Ask the recruiter about the last two Lotus Notes pros he has placed, what they did, what they are doing now, etc. If he can't do that, he may have a job for you, but he's not someone with whom you'll want to build a long-term relationship, as he doesn't have long-term relationships in your niche. If he can answer these questions, then maybe you should begin a relationship with him, as he can keep his eyes open for you and discreetly look around the job market while you're busy doing other things. You should probably build relationships with three to four recruiters.