I don't see how helping people can be considered double dipping as long as you're open and honest with all involved as to what services you are providing and on behalf of whom. If you are working with a candidate to help them craft a well written resume, research salary levels, explore career goals, etc. then that candidate may reasonable infer that you are acting on their behalf. Yet if you are recruiting on behalf of an employer and receiving compensation for helping them find candidates, that employer may reasonably infer that you are acting on their behalf. Clearly and unambiguously disclose to both sides your relationship with the other. Be clear as to whose agent you are. Then both sides are entering into the relationship with their eyes wide open and cannot reasonably be upset with you later on should you take some action on behalf of your client that may not be in the best interests of the other party.

Many and perhaps most third party recruiters / headhunters provide candidates with a significant amount of help with resume writing, salary expectations, career counseling, etc. Those TPRs typically receive their payments from the employers. Yet it is very typical for the candidates to legally be the clients of the TPRs. Should it be at all surprising to us in the recruiting world that the employers and candidates do not fully trust TPRs when they have these mixed loyalties? At the end of the day, it is going to be pretty hard for a TPR who is concerned about paying their rent to be solely loyal to the candidate when the TPR is being paid by the employer.

Disclosure. Full and honest disclosure. That is the key.