The Right Way to Reach Out to Recruiters During Your Job Search
By Lea Wolfinger, Vice President, Ashton Tweed
Recruiters can be used as a valuable tool during your job search because they are in the business of people and therefore are great connections to add to your network. Although each firm is different, many are receptive to speaking with job searching candidates, but there are right and wrong ways to introduce yourself to recruiters. Make sure to follow the guidelines below in order to reach out to recruiters the right way and to get the most out of your efforts.
- Research each recruiting company so you contact the correct firms and don’t waste your (or their) time. Do they specialize in a certain industry or location? Do they only place certain type of roles? You should know the answers to these questions before initial contact.
- Do send your résumé because chances are that they will request it anyway. So skip the back and forth – if they’re not interested, there’s no harm done! Even if the recruiter doesn’t have time to look it over, they will still have it to refer to in the future if needed.
- Thank the recruiter for their time and/or efforts. Remember, they are helping you out! Search firms typically get paid to fill positions, not to find candidates jobs, so they are doing you a favor. It’s best to be courteous and show your appreciation.
- On that note, consider emailing before calling. Recruiters spend a lot of time on the phone. By sending an initial email, they will be able to get back to you when they have the appropriate amount of time to focus on you. Additionally, they will have more details to discuss depending on what material you send them. By cold calling, you risk a frustrating game of phone tag.
- Be able to summarize your work experience, current situation, and what you are looking for in your next opportunity precisely. This will help them immensely and prove that you are committed, professional, and worth referring.
- Remember, recruiters have to pitch you to the hiring client. This includes both your work experience and your personality! So make sure to be polite and make a good first impression when you connect with a recruiting firm.
Networking with recruiters is beneficial whether you are currently job searching or not. However, by not doing your research or contacting in an unprofessional manner, you can leave a negative impression on them. Using these guidelines, you can feel confident that you are reaching out in an appropriate fashion and making the most of your efforts.
Are you a hiring client with an open position to fill? Contact Ashton Tweed today.
Are you a job-searching candidate? Upload your résumé to our confidential database.
Share your insights! Contact jamesrudman@ashtontweed.com to contribute your life sciences article as a guest writer.
