No this isn’t a humble brag, but just helping you take advantage of what is happening to me.
The recruiters who are returning are telling me that the company that formerly expected hybrid, is now open to WFH. I tell recruiters I am only doing WFH and if they don’t like that, I say thank you and good luck.
Now before WFH was here, there were other times that recruiters came back to me. Sometimes it was because a past employer wanted to rehire me after some time. The recruiter said that they couldn’t find someone who could replace me. Then they should have treated me respectfully when I asked them to do so.
Here is the thing. The more unusual and rare your set of skills are, the more you will find yourself with recruiters talking to you a second time or more. In fact, you will find that recruiters will advocate you to their clients once you have proven yourself.
This is why we have to give as many recruiters a chance to know us and experience the magic we can do. Once they see you are real and give results, then you have a community who wants to see you succeed.
Now it is lots of work and stressful to have interviews for jobs that you probably aren’t going to take. Lets be honest. Most jobs are terrible, and it isn’t because of the work but because of the culture. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should work there. Be very careful that where you work appreciates you and values what you do.
Sometimes you will even have recruiters tell you that they have a hard time finding someone and you are the rare person who has that skill. In that case ask for a concession. You are their solution, so that means that you are special and deserve something and benefit as well. This isn’t always about salary. It can be time off, or health care or whatever is important to you.
I had a wise person once tell me that your salary is your self esteem. Never go backwards in salary and never be desperate. You are worth the effort that you have put into your career and the passion and possibilities you bring to a company.