If you’ve never worked with a staffing or recruiting agency before,  it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the variety of services and work placements, as well as the jargon many recruiters and agencies use. Although you don’t need to be an expert, there are a few things you should know to help differentiate between agencies and find someone who will serve your individual needs. High up on that list is understanding your goals and needs.

What to know:

If you want to try a position for a while before committing, seek “temp-to-hire” or “contract to hire” roles that match your skill set. If temporary positions don’t interest you, and you’re just looking for help finding your next long-term position, look for agencies that provide “direct hire” or “headhunting services.” If you own your own company and don’t need benefits, search for 1099 contractor positions.

What to ask:

• Ask yourself: What kind of position am I looking for?
• Does this agency have ‘temp-to-hire’ and/or direct placement positions for my skill set?
• Does this agency offer subcontracting or 1099 positions?

*This content was originally written as a guest post on Mac’s list, available here.