Partnering
with a recruiter is one of the most effective ways to power your job search
activities. Engaging the right recruiter is like having a second set of eyes
reviewing executive opportunities that match your career background.
Before
you jump out there and start calling or emailing every recruiter listed on the
Internet, you should understand how they work, some of the daily challenge they
face, and simple techniques you can use to make their jobs easier.
- You
are not their only executive candidate
Executive
recruiters can easily spend up to five hours a day dealing with potential
candidates by telephone; they contact close to 500 people every week for
further screening and interviewing; and they have the daunting task of sorting
through 500 to 1,000 emails daily.
- Have
a specific job objective or goal
While
a recruiter’s primary goal is to connect qualified candidates with hiring
companies, he/she cannot assist you if you are unclear about the positions you
are interested in; they can best place candidates who have at least 10 to 15
years’ experience in the same field.
- Have
a strong online identity
More
than 75% of executive recruiters use Google and other online resources to learn
more about candidates before contacting them. Maximize resources like Linked
In, Zoom Info, Ryze, Jobster can get you started with creating an online
presence.
- Try
to minimize e-mail blasts
Recruiters
receive such a high volume of emails that they often use extensive email
filtering and bulk mail systems to streamline their incoming emails. While
email blasting programs give you the opportunity to send your resume and cover
letter to hundreds and even thousands of executive recruiters, there is no
guarantee that it will be read.
- Develop
memory-jogging subject line
When
reaching out to recruiters by emails, use a common event, person or activity to
make an immediate connection. If you were referred to the recruiter by a
personal friend, or if you met the recruiter at a recent networking event,
place a sentence in the subject line that would jog his/her memory.
- Prepare
a well-defined message
Whether
you are reaching out to recruiters by telephone, emails or in-person events,
make sure that you have developed a 30-second elevator pitch. With hundreds of
executive jobseekers contacting the same recruiter, make sure that your message
stands out.
- Write
a comprehensive, recruiter-only resume
Executive
recruiters need to know the details about every position you held – even the
ones that only lasted six months or the ones you got fired from. Include
starting and ending dates for every position on your resume and keep the
graduation years in the education section. Create a bulleted list to highlight
your quantifiable accomplishments and place top-tier degrees on the first page
of the resume.
- Create
a career biography
Many
executive recruiters like to review a career biography because they can quickly
assess the jobseeker’s background and career progression. Write your career
biography in a narrative format and include some of your top career
achievements.
Abby M. Locke, Executive Director of Premier Writing Solutions (www.premierwriting.com),
is a Nationally Certified Resume-Writer and Personal
Brand Strategist who helps senior-level
professionals and C-level executives achieve personal success with customized,
branded executive resumes
and career marketing documents.
