Creating and Maintaining Relationships with Recruiters

Do you plan to search for a job independently? With diligence and careful planning, it is possible to land a job this way. But chances of success increase when you approach the job search process with a recruiter by your side.

Connecting with a recruiter may be easier than it seems. For the most part, all it takes is some proactive action on your part. Although, before setting out to find this person or firm, keep in mind that it is your responsibility to maintain your relationship with the recruiter.

Your next job is within reach, but first you need to reach out. By initiating contact, proving your credibility, and staying connected, you can find and impress a recruiter.

Initiate Contact with Recruiters

Research local recruitment firms in your area or ask friends and colleagues for recommendations. Some recruiters are industry specific while others work for a network of businesses. Once you’ve narrowed the list to include recruiters that are best suited for you, it is time to make contact. Here are some suggestions for how to introduce yourself.

• Send your résumé along with a cover letter that states what you would like in a job (i.e. location and compensation).
• Also, make it clear why you are looking for a job at this time. When approaching this delicate subject manner, be sure to remain positive.
• In addition, be sure to show-off what you know about the industry. Both recruiters and employers appreciate this.

Prove Your Credibility to Recruiters

Working with a recruiter can greatly diminish the amount of time it takes to land a job. But it still takes time. While you are waiting, continually prove your credibility to the recruiter. One suggestion for how you can do this is to write articles and blogs about your industry. If this doesn’t appeal to you, another credibility booster involves staying active on LinkedIn. This will increase your credibility in the eyes of the recruiter and raise your appeal to employers.

Stay Connected with Recruiters

Job seekers can go days without hearing from recruiters. In fact, it is good idea to check in with your recruiter on a regular basis. It is appropriate to check in about once a month. Any more than that can seem cumbersome. Also, when a recruiter contacts you, it is best to get back to the individual as soon as possible.

Working with a recruiter is the best way to connect with an employer, but it wouldn’t be called “work” if it were easy. The person who has a successful job search is the individual who has a good relationship with a recruiter or recruitment firm.

Dan Kaplan is the managing partner of a New York based global executive recruitment firm. He sums up the benefits of having a healthy relationship with a recruiter. He says, “We are in the business of getting to know good people in the industry, and you want to become part of that network.”

Such a relationship can only increase your chances of landing a job. Be proactive in establishing and maintaining this relationship. With a recruiter by your side, appealing qualities employers look for will be on display. Your diligence, careful planning, and proactivity may be rewarded with the ultimate payoff: a job.