Today's highly competitive job market
requires you to employ various strategies when
conducting a job search. One such method is
partnering with a recruiter which can help
maximize your efforts. If you have never built an
effective relationship with a recruiter, it is
not too late to start. Before you jump out there
and start calling or emailing every recruiter
listed on the Internet, here are some quick facts
you should know about recruiters and their daily job responsibilities:
They spend about four to five hours a day on the phone
They make contact with about 500 people every week
They can receive anywhere from 500 to 1,000 emails every day
They rely on their network for current industry information and market trends
They are compensated for finding the right candidate for their client (companies)
Now that you have a mental picture of a
recruiter's daily challenges, here are some
highly recommended strategies you should use in
order to get a recruiter's attention.
Have specific job targets
Recruiters are usually specialized by industry
and/or function. For example, a recruiter may
only work with healthcare professionals while
another may specialize in placing Executives in
all industries. A recruiter's primary goal is to
make a placement, so if you are unclear about
your job targets or you are open to any
opportunity that comes up, a recruiter is probably not your best option.
Have a well-defined message
Whether your first contact with a recruiter is by
telephone or by e-mail, you must be able to
quickly articulate your core competencies and
qualifications, describe the value you bring to
the table and provide evidence of your career
achievements. Prepare and practice your 30-second elevator pitch.
Develop a comprehensive resume
Regardless of what highs and lows your career
progression may have taken, recruiters need to
know the details about every position you held
even the ones that only lasted three months.
While you may choose to minimize employment gaps
on the resume you send directly to employers, you
need to be upfront and honest with the recruiter
about everything. Your resume should have the
dates for every position (starting and ending)
and the graduation years in the education section
despite your age. Top tier degrees should be
listed on the first page of the resume and use a
bulleted format to highlight your quantifiable
accomplishments. Tip: If you are concerned about
revealing too much, you can create a separate
resume that is just for recruiters only.
Use a table in the cover letter
When responding to a listed advertisement,
inserting a table with two columns in a cover
letter will allow the recruiter to quickly scan
the document and decide whether you are match.
Use one column to list the job's required
experience and qualifications and list your
corresponding qualifications in a second column.
With over 500 candidates competing for the
recruiter's attention, don't leave anything to chances.
Develop compelling subject line
A compelling subject line message will increase
your chances of getting the recruiter to open
your e-mail right away. Use something to make an
immediate connection - if you were referred by
someone or met the recruiter recently at a
networking event, put that in the subject line.
Think twice about e-mail blasts
Technology can be both your friend and enemy in
your job search. The high volume of email
received by recruiters has prompted high levels
of email filtering and bulk mail settings. While
you may have the opportunity to send your resume
and cover letter to 500 recruiters, there is no
guarantee that it will be seen. In addition,
there are some recruiters may choose to ignore
resumes sent through bulk mail as they view the candidates as being unfocused.
Be honest
There are consequences to lying, omissions and
misrepresentations made to a recruiter. First of
all, a majority of recruiters use Google,
LinkedIn, ZoomInfo and other business and social
networking sites to learn more about candidates.
Consequently, being dishonest and hiding critical
facts are the fastest ways to ruin a relationship with a recruiter.
Have something to offer
A relationship with a recruiter is like any other
relationship and there needs to be equal give and
take. If you have qualified contacts, industry
insights or current market news that the
recruiter can use, be the first one to offer a
helping hand - you will reap the benefits in the long run.
About the Author:
Abby M. Locke, president of Premier Writing
Solutions (www.premierwriting.com), is a
Certified Executive Resume-Writer and Personal
Brand Strategist who helps mid-management and
senior-level professionals achieve personal
success with customized, branded executive
resumes and career marketing documents. Her
resume samples have been published in Nail the
Resume! Great Tips for Creating Dynamic Resumes and Same-Day Resumes.
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