Many jobseekers feel uneasy about keeping in touch with recruiters, feeling as if they are being a pest. As a former executive recruiter, I appreciated candidates who kept in touch in an unassuming way – i.e., they let me know the latest news about them and their market, but didn’t always have a request or need. Here is what other recruiters from a variety of industries advise about how jobseekers can stay in touch:
Many jobseekers feel uneasy about keeping in touch with recruiters, feeling as if they are being a pest. As a former executive recruiter, I appreciated candidates who kept in touch in an unassuming way – i.e., they let me know the latest news about them and their market, but didn’t always have a request or need. Here is what other recruiters from a variety of industries advise about how jobseekers can stay in touch:
Build the relationship before you need anything
Xavier Roux is a Partner at Redseeds Consulting, recruiters for the management consulting industry:
Strong candidates cultivate good relationships with recruiters when they are NOT looking for a job so that they can get help when they are.
Don’t be afraid to follow up about a specific position that interests you
Andrew Hendrickson is Managing Partner & Principal Consultant with OPHR Group, recruiters for technology and new media:
If you are very qualified you should feel comfortable making 1-2 cold or follow-up calls no matter what stage you are in the process, but keep in mind too many will result in your being disqualified….
[Send] a follow-up action plan once you understand a hiring manager's expectations. This works especially well for people in sales and marketing or any job that requires results. If you are considered a top prospect sending a high-level yet well thought out 90 day action plan can put you above your competition.
Contacting via social media is okay, when you have done research and come prepared
Jennifer Sobel is a Recruitment Manager at Disney ABC Television Group:
Many job seekers are desperately trying to use social networking tools to search for jobs, which is a great idea. However, they are using the tools all wrong. I must get 10-15 “LinkedIn” requests per day from people searching for a job at my company. Their requests usually sound something like this “Hi, I don’t know you but would love to work at Disney ABC Television Group. Are there any openings for me?”… I would urge each job seeker to only reach out when they have identified an open position that they meet the minimum qualifications for….Not having your research done beforehand comes off as lazy and it doesn’t give a recruiter any reason to help you.
Being helpful is a two-way exchange
Sarah Grayson is a Founding Partner of On-Ramps, recruiters for the social sector: It's always impressive to me when candidates refer us other strong candidates and go out of their way to stay in touch…. It shows me that they know how to network and value relationships.
Is Your Job Search Flexible or Just Unfocused?
As a recruiter, I’ve seen lack of flexibility on the recruiting side with employers clinging to every last detail in their ideal spec while perfectly good candidates get overlooked. As a career coach, I see jobseekers prematurely dismissing possible targets waiting for that perfect job. It’s true that you want to be focused in your job search (otherwise you dilute your efforts and come across as scattered and possibly desperate).
5 Questions to Test If Your Resume Is Recruiter-Proof
After recruiting in search and in-house for over ten years, I have read thousands of resumes. Due to sheer volume of resumes received and all the other things that vie for the recruiter’s attention in the hiring process – scheduling, interviewing, networking, reference checks, client debriefs, and more – the resume review process is ruthlessly quick.
How Do You Score On Employers’ Top Five Desired Skills?
Even if you are happily employed, work environments and priorities change. You want to make sure that you are not getting complacent and allowing your skills to rust. The above five skills are always valued, but the standards by which they are measured change over your career. Maybe you got to where you are now because of superior analytical skills and despite below average communication skills, but now you are a manager.
