Hunting for a job is itself a full time job, and right now the competition remains high. Wouldn’t be nice to get a call from a headhunter and be told about a dream opportunity in the ideal city for twice what you thought you were worth? It happens every day. Professional recruiting firms such as Heidrick & Struggles make up an $8 billion industry. Here are a few tips to get your phone to ring.
Online
LinkedIn is the primary marketplace right now. You have to be in on this site with a professional profile that includes the keywords that identify your differentiators. For example, a headhunter may need to find a sales leader for a start up technology firm. Think about the words that may get used in the search: sales, entrepreneur, director, manager, leader, innovation, rapid, change, custom, unique message…
John Campagnino, Accentures’s head of global recruiting, is tasked with hiring 50,000 new associates this year and plans to make 40% of new hires through social media in the next few years.
Get Quoted. Les Berglas, Founder of Berglas & Associates goes as far as to say that “A lot of recruiters are addicted to LinkedIn.” He would also advise you to be quoted. LinkedIn is the first step, but you also have the opportunity to be quoted in trade journals on online media. You want to be appearing as an expert in your field in an online search.
Personal Website. You can contribute to your online identity in many ways, including a “yourname.com” website. You can visit www.kenrevenaugh.com for an example of this medium. When I get a call from a recruiter, they have found me through a colleague or LinkedIn, but they have usually found my personal website in their research. If you are a Mac user, you can take a class on iWeb and quickly build out a site that fits the bill. On all of my online profiles, you will notice it is very easy to contact me. Make it easy for a headhunter to contact you.
Always call back. As an avid social media participant and lifetime networker, I receive calls and emails from recruiters weekly. Some would see it as a burden to answer all those calls, but I suggest you not only respond, but take the time to understand the search. You may not be the right fit, but you could help the recruiter find the talent in your network. This is a great method to make a friend of a headhunter.
Don’t cold call. I can tell you from experience this does not work. During a job transition, I had the great opportunity to work with Right Management, an outplacement firm, as they managed my search. They had a lot of tricks and tips and one was a direct mail campaign with follow-up calls to recruiters to introduce my resume. Professional headhunters will tell you unsolicited resumes rarely become candidates.
Do network. Often, you will know someone more senior to you who has been placed due to a relationship with a recruiting firm. Ask others to introduce you to recruiters.
Do take contractor assignments. Very often, the most valuable talented and sought after recruits are those currently employed. Headhunters have a name for people like this: passive candidates. As a contractor, you continue to build your resume but also exist as a passive candidate.
Start making the effort now and, over time, you will build relationships with recruiters that will continue to enhance your career.
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photo by loty
Some great comments! Thanks. I am always asked “Why doesn’t a Recruiter return my phone call?” Place yourself in the Recruiters shoes, they have over 50 resumes a day, often in the hundreds. They don’t work for the candidate, they work for the client. Time logistics in simple, return 50 phone calls per day, just impossible!
In my profession (software engineer), it has long been a seller’s market (i.e., far more openings than there are engineers to fill them). I am constantly called by headhunters wanting to know if I want to make a switch or know someone who is looking. In spite of the obvious fact that it is a seller’s market and they need me to fill an opening so they can make money, it amazes me how little attention they pay to what I am looking for. It’s all about what the company wants, what their requirements are. Watch the headhunter’s face when I hand them my list of requirements. It’s like, “Huh! You can’t give me a list of requirements. Only the hiring company can.” In fact, you can tell by their expression that they think it’s absurd you would tell them what YOUR requirements are before you would go to work for a company. You should be grateful the company would even talk to you and give you an interview. I say, “Screw that!” You (the headhunter) just got done telling me about the shortage of Java/Flex developers and how you have so many openings. So, it seems to me that I am in the driver’s seat. Convince ME as to why I should look at their company when I can choose from any number of companies. They should be courting me – not the other way around. I have a nice secure job with a six figure salary. You want me to work with you, then start putting my requirements on equal par with the company’s. Yes, they write you the check, but they write it because of ME – the employee. I’m the one who makes you your money – not the company. So, do a 180 on your attitude.
Thank you very much for your post! I am very interested in your points.