Contrary to what you may have heard, recruiters can be a valuable resource in your job search. But do remember this: A recruiter’s objective is to find people for their jobs. Not to find jobs for people.
Recruiters want to identify qualified applicants. So how are you going to stand out to grab their immediate attention among a sea of applicants and inbound messages?
First, are you contacting the right recruiter?
- Internal, “In-house”: These recruiters work as employees of the company. Do you have a list of target companies? Do not neglect those internal recruiters. Depending upon the size of the company, there will be recruiters assigned to specific departments or business units. (Ex: Accenture has recruiters dedicated to Technical, Creative/Interactive, Federal, Salesforce)
- External, agency: These recruiters are hired to help the company attract and identify talent, but they could be representing more than 1 company. Again, check for specialization (finance, health, government etc). Does the agency specialize in temp or perm placement? What geography? Executive only?
Now that you have narrowed in on recruiters aligned with your area of expertise, it’s time to craft your message.
Here’s what you should not do:
❌ Hi ________, I am starting to explore job opportunities. Do you have any jobs that would be appropriate?
Why this isn’t efficient:
🔹 Unless we have communicated recently, I don’t know what your strengths or career objectives are.
🔹 You are putting a lot of trust in the recruiter to guide your career path.
🔹 Recruiters are slammed right now. Succinct details will help a recruiter customize what clients and searches would be the best match for your career growth.
Some call it your elevator pitch or value prop–I need the hook. Who are you and what value do you bring? Here’s the information we need from you instead:
✔ What are your skills/strengths?
✔ Positions/titles
✔ Target salary range/benefits/comp
✔ Remote/in-office presence
✔ Industries/target companies
An example of how to fine-tune your messaging :
Hi ___________,
I am starting to explore job opportunities. I’d prefer to work for a mature, structured company with over 500+ employees (non-consulting), with a company that respects work/life balance. I am open to hybrid/remote, within a 30-mile radius of Baltimore City. Compensation 120k+.
I’ve been doing UI design but also managing design operations, and I’d like to leverage that experience to shape the operations of a future UX department. My base resume is attached.
🌟 Do your research. Do you have any shared connections? If you were referred, name-drop.
🌟 Keep it short. Don’t ask for a coffee chat as your call-to-action. Trust me–the recruiter will reciprocate communication if they are interested.
🌟 If there is a specific job posting you are interested in, include the URL. Some recruiters are working with companies that have 200+ job openings.
🌟 Are you making a career transition or believe you can choose a variety of career paths? It’s ok if you don’t have 100% clarity of your next steps, but do spend time identifying your options and transferable skills. Career coaches can help with this process and planning if you are having a difficult time determining focus.
Recruiters want to find the right talent for their open jobs, but they don’t have time to uncover your interests and wants. Help us help you and make this a win-win situation by communicating what you bring to the table.