(continued)
Now about that opening that disappeared for a while, and is suddenly open again. It's a standard practice to have a 1 -year guarantee to the employer on a placement. That means the recruiter promises to place a second person at the company for no additional fee, if the first one doesn't last a year. What MAY have happened is that the recruiter was not too good at screening candidates, the employer was a very difficult one, or some other problem.
Ask the recruiter: Have they placed anyone in that position in the last year? How many? Why did they leave? On every company they mention to you: Do they have an exclusive listing with that company for the position? Also, you can ask how many other people are they presenting for the position in question? They may not tell you or want to give accurate information, but they have to keep in mind that you can also pop the same question to the employer.
Screw the so-called "rules" - "must have", "should have", it's all about a fictional "dream" candidate. It's rare that there's an exact match on paper. Guess what? There are a lot of times when someone with a different set of qualifications (than was originally desired) gets the job.
What you need to do is size up the position, see where you fit, and sell them on that. Be ready with the answers to any questions you can anticipate.
Do not come off as desperate, obviously, and if you sense unusual urgency by the recruiter or the employer, beware.
If you are trying to avoid the recruiter route, also try to get around the HR department. While you may not be able to completely cut them out of the picture, you do want to evade the screening process. Find out who the decision-maker and get your resume & cover letter to them or to a level above.
If you are going to travel to Kentucky, you might as well try to arrange the schedule so that you can work in any other interviews you can arrange on the same trip. Also go early so you can visit the local library / newpaper office and read up on the news about this place. While you're at it, talk to people you meet there in town about the company, hit a few bars for the same purpose, and see what you can find out.
I always gauge their honesty by asking indirectly about some not-so-upbeat topic that's been a concern to them. If their sales are stagnating, I don't say "it said in the Gazette that...." I ask, "what's sales been like recently?". You know the answer. If they are less than honest, you will be able to see it in their body language and through their choice of words, or if they try to blow off the question.
If they are less than responsive to ANY of your questions, let them know nicely that you need better from them. A non-response from them can be a test of your assertiveness, where they figure if they can dismiss your concerns easily, so can people you will have to work with.
Good luck in all this. 3 months may seem like a long time but you are not alone by any means.