Your chose recruiting as a career because you love helping other people land the jobs of their dreams. Now, it’s your turn. As you embark on your job search, give yourself a refresher course on how to effectively communicate with head hunters.
Or, maybe you just need additional communication resources to share with your candidates. Either way, here are some tried and true tactics:
- Do your research.
Start by researching the company a recruiter represents. You can also check salary websites to get an idea of what compensation you might expect from a role. Also, take time to carefully read the job description to see if you think it would be a good match for you. This will ultimately save everyone time.
- Make a good first impression.
Like most interactions, the right first impression counts when meeting a recruiter. Achieve this by promptly replying to messages and returning missed calls, being on time, and practicing good old-fashioned manners and courtesy.
- Be clear in your messaging.
When you contact a recruiter, try to provide all the necessary information in one shot. Be specific, and explain why your experience and skills would be a good match for a role. Include links to your resume and portfolio – which, though it should go without saying, should always be up to date. As you well know, a recruiter can’t present candidates with outdated materials.
- Be honest and open to feedback.
Honesty about your strengths and weaknesses will build trust with your recruiter, as well as help them match you with the right job. And for a recruiter to be an effective career coach, you need to be open to receiving feedback on what works and what doesn’t, so you can score an interview and impress potential employers.
- Be friendly and positive.
Yes, a conversation with a recruiter is a professional dialogue, but it still helps to maintain a friendly tone. Speaking in a calm, pleasant manner is also great practice for how you would present yourself in an interview or work environment. Be positive, even when discussing past negative experiences. For instance, emphasize the lessons you learned, rather than badmouthing a previous employer or coworker.
- Be available.
Make an effort to accommodate your recruiter’s schedule to show respect for their time. Be as flexible as possible with your calendar and open to any potential requests, such as additional resume details, a cover letter revision, or a phone call to gather more information.
- Follow up.
Don’t hesitate to check in periodically with your recruiter. You don’t want to be a stalker, but it’s important for recruiters to get follow-up inquiries, since messages can easily get buried.
At Search Wizards, we are recruiters. So we get it. And matching talent acquisition pros with leading employers is our sole focus. Contact us today so we can share ideas and get started on taking your career to the next level.
