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Recruiters engage in some of the most career-impacting activities in our society: helping people find fulfilling work that matches their skills and connecting talented people with enterprises that need their skills in order to grow and prosper. When done right, recruiting is a true win-win.<\/p>\n
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When recruiters make this magic happen, it may seem like\u00a0they have an unrivaled mastery of the complexities of human interaction.<\/p>\n
This type of understanding doesn\u2019t happen over cocktails and golf or emerge from a computer algorithm. Those things are\u00a0certainly part of the mix, but the \u201csecret\u201d in the recruiter\u2019s so-called \u201csecret life\u201d is neither glamorous nor high tech. Rather, it\u2019s a lot of hard work and long hours. The connection you see a recruiter work today may well be the result of relationship-building that has taken place over many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur job isn\u2019t about closing a transaction,\u201d says Todd Dorfman, a\u00a0Krauthamer & Associates<\/a>\u00a0principal executive search consultant with a 98 percent success rate. \u201cOur clients are making a significant investment of time, energy, and financial resources to identify the best possible candidates who will make a significant impact on their business. We are asked to make sure there are no surprises. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; the key is to identify those early and ensure you can play to their strengths and support their weaknesses.\u201d<\/p>\n A\u00a0good recruiter<\/a>\u00a0is always \u201con,\u201d always taking advantage of opportunities to make connections and expand their networks. They\u2019ll use computer software to help keep track of those connections and link them to opportunities, and they\u2019ll build and maintain relationships through a variety of activities, including socializing, but the true value they bring is the depth with which they get to know their clients and the candidates in their networks.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for new career opportunities, here is how\u00a0you can crack the code and become part of a top recruiter\u2019s network:<\/p>\n As noted earlier, a big part of a recruiter\u2019s job is to make sure that a potential hire is truly a good fit for an organization. Don\u2019t waste your time or a recruiter\u2019s time going after a position that requires sales or business development if that\u2019s something you hate. Don\u2019t put on a brave face and say that you\u2019re willing to relocate if you\u2019re really hoping you can get the job and then telecommute.<\/p>\n Top recruiters tell us that they don\u2019t have lists of pet peeves that automatically disqualify candidates, but exaggerating your education, experience, work history, or other important factors is a surefire way to get dumped from a recruiter\u2019s network. A\u00a0good executive search professional will take a deep dive into your background to be certain there are no unpleasant surprises. No executive search consultant wants to be associated with a hire that ended in an embarrassing revelation or otherwise negative outcome.<\/p>\n Take heart: Recruiters tell us they look at education, but not because they care whether you went to an Ivy League school or a state college.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to know how you got there,\u201d says Dorfman. \u201cDid you bootstrap yourself, get in on an academic or athletic scholarship, other traditional avenues? Nothing is a red flag. It just helps us understand what makes you who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re at a crossroads and you\u2019re not sure what you want to do, leave the executive search consultant out of it. Again, they\u2019re paid to find the best candidate, not to introduce people who are window-shopping for their next career move. Do your homework and your soul-searching on your own time. Introduce yourself to a recruiter when you have a career path and goals mapped out.<\/p>\n Hate writing cover letters? Guess what \u2013 Recruiters hate reading them.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of the letters we see are verbose and oversell, and [they] are littered with grammatical errors,\u201d Dorfman says. His advice: Keep it short and direct. Show that you understand the organization\u2019s needs and outline how your background relates to those needs.<\/p>\n Any recruiter worth their salt will want to know the story behind your resume. Why were you at this business only a year? Why did you make this transition? How did you find that position?<\/p>\n \u201cI never look at a resume and uniformly dismiss it,\u201d Dorfman tells us. \u201cBut I will want to understand the candidate\u2019s career progression.\u201d<\/p>\n Most top recruiters will take the time to review your resume and have a conversation with you even if you\u2019re not a good fit for an opening they\u2019re currently trying to fill. That\u2019s because they understand the value of building relationships and maintaining them over time. It\u2019s not at all unusual for an executive search consultant to stay in contact with top candidates for many years.<\/p>\n That said, recruiters represent the organizations that hire them to help fill positions. It\u2019s okay to reach out to update a recruiter about a promotion or other significant professional development, but if you are in their system, they will reach out to you when there is a potential match. When you talk to the recruiter, ask how often they would like to hear from you. Each recruiter has a different approach, so it is a question that they will appreciate.<\/p>\n If you know someone whose work you admire, refer them to your executive search consultant. If you work for a company that needs to fill key positions, make the introduction. If a recruiter calls you to ask for a referral, share your time. They\u2019ll remember it \u2013 and you.<\/p>\n Remember, quality recruiting is all about building relationships and making high-value connections. The more you\u2019re able to facilitate that, the higher your stock will rise within your respective labor market.<\/p>\n1. Be Real<\/h3>\n
2. Be Honest<\/h3>\n
3. Be Clear<\/h3>\n
4. Be Concise<\/h3>\n
5. Be Prepared<\/h3>\n
6. Be Respectful<\/h3>\n
7. Be Reciprocal<\/h3>\n