Why do recruiters play such an integral role in the hiring process? Good recruiters know what's going on in their target markets; they know where the talent is, who's looking, what it takes to make a good match; they are skilled at negotiating; they know how to monitor and track top candidates as they go through a company's bureaucracy, and they know that these are the reasons that employers hire them. Therefore, in today's dynamic work environment it is wise to include a recruiter or search firm as part of your professional network.

However, if you are a member of the highly, sought-after labor pool, here are some tips for dealing with recruiters. Diana Kunde, staff writer for the Dallas Morning News, offered these suggestions:

1. Never automatically hang up if a recruiter calls you. Use this as an opportunity to let the recruiter know what would motivate you to take a look at potential offers even if you are currently not interested.
2. Avoid rudeness. Rude behavior may lead to unfavorable labels or comments about you in the recruiters' files. Recruiters have expansive networks so be cautious!
3. Carefully evaluate what you say in conversations. Use good judgment in how much you tell about yourself and your current employer.
4. Handle calls from recruiters and requests for interviews ethically in terms of your current company's resources.
5. Stay current about what is going on in your industry. This will help you evaluate recruiters.