The differences are profound. A resume factory simply sends a stack of resumes to a company and sits back waiting for the call that one of those resumes has produced a hire. In contrast, a professional executive recruiter is involved in the hiring process from the initial recruitment phone call, through the entire interview process, through the negotiation and acceptance of the offer and concluding only with the start of employment with the Client Company. At the very least you will get off the phone with more knowledge regarding your industry, your competitors, and your future career options. Again, time and honesty are essential elements in each of our worlds.
Time is money.
Honesty in dealing with a recruiter saves both parties time. The relationship between a candidate and a recruiter is one of give and take. The more open a candidate is with a recruiter, the more willing that recruiter is going to be in sharing details regarding potential opportunities in their field. Dealing in information, a recruiter values a candidate's willingness to refer friends and colleagues for which they have great respect. If, as a candidate, you feel comfortable with a recruiter's professionalism, integrity and approach, then you should be more than willing to refer an associate who might benefit from a call from that recruiter.