Getting to Know a 'Recruiter'
As often as quarterly, I conduct a session at a few Career Transition organizations on "How To Work With A Recruiter." It is a popular topic, attended by Managers and above that are receiving services through these organizations. There is so much mystique around the executive recruiting world. There really doesn't need to be. That said, I want to mention a few basics on how to actually get to know us.
This will sound self-serving . . . . .
. . . . . but return our calls. When we reach out to you, it is because we know your background and feel you might be a possible fit for a search we are conducting. There are two possible outcomes to a call:
- The position could be a great next move for you.
- The position could be a great next move for a network contact of yours.
Either way, you have engaged us - and we track that. You are coded in our database as someone we can reach out to again - and we will.
Trying to proactively reach us?
We work for the employer. Our goal is simple - to present our client (the employer) with a 'slate' (short list) of screened, qualified, referenced and interested candidates. Our searches are specific - our clients want people with specific backgrounds and experiences.
We would love to meet with all of you - but simply can't. That said, if you want to get our attention, you need to pre-think your approach.
Hundreds of e-mails per day
Here are the ones that get read last IF there is time . . . . . the 'titles' from the Subject line of the e-mail:
- Onboard me to MY new search
- Resume
- A personal job search agent
- RE: (or Re:)
- Introduction
- Resume and Introduction
- Hello Dave
'Re:' (or 'RE:') is an attempt for me to think you are responding to me. But my personal favorite - 'Hello Dave'! For those of you that know me, and especially for those that don't, I have never been Dave.
A few suggestions
- Return our calls. (Our callback percentage from first calls is less than 50%.)
- Try to get referred to us AND use that referral name in the subject line of your e-mail (or in the voicemail you leave).
- That said, make sure the referral is real - I will follow-up with the referral source at some point.
- Approach firms proactively - get your resume to us if you make a job/career/company change. We want to be able to find you.
- Make it personal - if you can find our e-mail address, don't start with 'To Whom It May Concern.'