Like many things, if you have a record, the type of job that is commission based, which recruiters generally are, is a good choice. If you make it, the company likes you, if you don't...you starve!
Finally, it is not uncommon at all for recruiters to use several different aliases. That is, one name when speaking with possible human resource or hiring managers, another while prospecting and building a resume list or file of possible job seekers, and even another when preseting themselves as "experts" in different fields. IE; Joe Smith, expert financial recruiter could well be Tom Jones expert in IT recruiting, etc.