As we come out of this fog where companies stopped hiring and people continued to be downsized, it’s time we make sure we’re well prepared for what’s next. For many, the next step in rejoining the workforce is working with a recruiter. While you may have worked with one in the past, times have changed and so should your approach. If you’ve been seeking a job for any length of time without desired results, this information might put you back on track.
Tip #1 – Research recruiters on LinkedIn
Since we live in the digital age where just about everyone has a LinkedIn profile, this is the first place I would start. By simply entering in keywords, you can find recruiters who work on positions in your industry. Better to connect with a specialist than a generalist in most cases. This is the section to enter your data:
Now that you have a list of recruiters to consider contacting, take a look at their profiles. You’re looking for a couple of things but first and foremost are recommendations. Read through at least a few of them to get a sense of what others think about their abilities. Better to work with recruiters that have been successful and have testimonials to prove it. It doesn’t mean that working with recruiters who don’t have recommendations is a bad thing; you just have less information to go on. Now that you have your list, prioritize them based on:
• Industry experience that matches your background
• Recruiter that works on positions in your desired geography
• Quality of recommendations
• Size of network
Tip #2 Effective ways to connect with a recruiter on LinkedIn
If you are a level 1 connection already, you can send a note to the recruiter. If you are not, there are a few ways you can connect. Without being a stalker, feel free to join groups that fit your background and interest and happen to be shared with said recruiter. You can also ask for an introduction from a mutual connection. Make sure that you clearly state why you want to get connected with this recruiter. You might also want to start networking IRL (In real life) where recruiters and job seekers hang out.
Understand that not every recruiter works the same way, wants to connect with people that haven’t met so you need to walk a fine line. By doing your due diligence, you’ll be able to make some educated decisions on who seems most receptive to receiving your invitation. As long as you are professional and courteous you shouldn’t have too many problems. Respect their time and don’t forget to thank them as most are extremely busy connecting with dozens of people on a daily basis.
Below is an example note you might want to send a recruiter. While this example is incomplete, it should give you some ideas of how you might phrase your note. I suggest you get feedback from a professional you respect before sending notes. Even in my example, there is a grammatical error emphasizing the need to proofread.
Tip #3 – Utilize social networks to connect with recruiters
Besides LinkedIn, there are other places on the Web where you can connect with recruiters and get great information. Twitter is one site where plenty of recruiters spend time. On occasion, there is an online chat by professionals looking to help one another. Finding these conversations takes nothing more than getting connected with recruiters and asking them if/when there might be an online discussion for job seekers. One in particular that I found extremely beneficial is #JobHuntChat on Twitter.
As you can see, there are plenty on recruiters and other professionals willing to connect and provide guidance and assistance. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s what social networks is all about. If you are uncomfortable at first, sit back and soak it in. Learn from others how to communicate and what is appropriate. You’ll pick it up in no time as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort.
While this post is far from complete in covering all the ways you can work with a recruiter, it should hopefully guide you down the right path. One obvious omission from this list is asking your trusted network for recommendations of recruiters to connect with. That might be the real starting point for anyone in job transition. What are some other suggestions you can provide that might help someone who is currently seeking new opportunities?
Photo credit: http://www.biojobblog.com/articles/general-job-stuff/
