During the Great Recession, many top companies turned to sales recruitment firms for the first time. There was no other way to cope with the torrent of resumes that came through their inboxes everyday. By some estimates, there are 22 million sales professionals all competing for the best sales jobs in North America.

The advantages for human resource departments and sales team managers are clear, but why should a saleswoman or salesman trust sales and marketing recruitment agencies with guiding a career in sales? The truth is, sales and marketing recruitment agencies have access to many of the best sales jobs, jobs that you won’t find posted on Craigslist or other job hunting sites. So how do you know you’re working with a recruiter who’s on the level? Simple, ask these three questions:

The #1 Most Important Question To Ask Sales And Marketing Recruitment Agencies…

The very first question you need to answer — does this sales recruiting company charge job seekers to work with them? If the answer to that question is yes, then you’ve found a dead end. No doubt they will tell you all the reasons to hand over your hard earned money… “It takes money to make money!”, or, “We offer an executive service for VIP’s, so we charge a small fee for our services.”

While some legitimate sales recruitment agencies might charge you a fee, the worst sales and marketing recruitment agencies will, too. That’s because the top agencies can charge companies for their services, not job applicants.

So if sales and marketing recruitment agencies ask you to submit cash along with your resume, then offer them your hardest no.

Do you work with Fortune 500 companies?

A simple yes, no question deserves a simple yes, no answer in return. And anything less than yes should be a warning sign. If the answer is yes, then ask for any specifics they can give you. If you’re looking for a specific type of sales job, then you should also research what kind of opportunities they can offer in that specific industry.

Can any sales professional apply? What’s the interview process like?

The best sales and marketing recruitment agencies need to maintain a stellar track record of placing top candidates in the best sales jobs. In order to do that, they need a selective application process. A sales recruiter with no interview process or standards for filtering applicants might not be able to get you the best sales jobs.

Of course, depending on what kind of sales job you’re looking for, there are additional questions you should ask. But the fact is sales and marketing recruitment agencies can help candidates land some of the best sales jobs in the industry.