Working with a recruitment firm is more than firing out a resume, it’s a relationship. No, not the Zinfandel and bonbons kind, but one where good lines of communication and understanding are just as essential.

Here are five rules for working with headhunters.

1. Ask the right questions
The first thing you should do is go to the recruiter’s site and get a feel for its focus and vertical. During your preliminary conversations, ask questions that help you evaluate the firm and the person who is representing you.

a) Who are your clients?
Maybe they can’t name names, but they can speak generally. For example, they can tell you if they specialize in a particular experience level, industry or technical skill set.

b) What’s the company background?
Ask how long the firm has been in business and what makes them stand above the competition.

c) What’s the recruiter’s style?
Some recruiters act like your best friend and call every day. Others will only call when there’s news.

d) Are they contingency or retained search recruiters? In a nutshell, contingency searches mean the firm is racing a number of other firms to fill a job. Retained searches usually indicate an exclusive relationship – the recruiter has more time to find perfect or near-perfect matches for the role.

2. Be open
When working with a recruiter, your input is essential. You need to be able to articulate your accomplishments, goals and demands in order for the recruitment process run as efficiently as possible.

Feel free to reveal reasons behind important decisions and expectations. Saying “relocation is not an option” is a firm, clear way of expressing yourself, but it puts things into better perspective if you’re above board and say, “I can’t relocate. I have kids from a previous marriage and moving will cause me to see them less.” Extreme personal detail isn’t needed, but knowing the reasons behind your requests can help a recruiter work to find better solutions.

3. Be prepared to be turned down
You may read the job description and think you’re perfect for the job only to be turned down by the recruiter. Why? Well you may have expert Java and C# skills, for example, but the employer is looking for a coder with a background in financial applications or wireless. Understand that the employer is paying for the closest match.

4. Ask about time expectations on interview follow-up
Avoid disappointment. Ask the recruiter when the decision will be made. The next day? The next week? It will give you peace of mind. Whatever you do, don’t harass the recruiter with phone calls and email.

5. If you’re looking to reinvent your career, a recruiter isn’t for you
So you can sell anything and want to try your hand at technology. A recruiter can’t sell you to a client by hyping skills like “great personality” and “fast learner.”

Client companies pay recruiting firms to identify talent. If a candidate comes from the competition, there’s less ramp-up time. That person can hit the ground and bring in business, fast. The individual has a proven track record to show evidence of future performance. A company won’t take a chance on you, not if they’re paying the firm to find a perfect fit.