Steps to Seek for Executive Recruiters

Years ago, conventional wisdom held that you should by no means seek out executive recruiters, aka headhunters. Instead, you need to wait for them to contact you. Make the primary move and you’d risk coming off as too keen if not totally desperate.

There might have been some logic to that advice within the robust job markets of yesteryear. As of late, nonetheless, when you don’t take the initiative, you could possibly wait a very long time to your phone to ring or a text message to ping. Perhaps to your entire career.

Still, some ways of connecting with executive recruiters are more effective than others. The goal is to get on their radar without wasting your time or, heaven forbid, theirs. For example:

1. Be Visible

Not only will higher professional visibility enhance the percentages of recruiters coming your way, it will also make it more likely they’ll acknowledge your name and return your calls or emails whenever you reach out to them. So, for those who haven’t performed so already, be a part of the professional associations in your field and try to become active in them. Attend industry conferences and look for ways to participate as a presenter or panelist. Contribute to professional publications and websites. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date. Your picture ought to be present, too, and portray you because the desirable—and hirable—professional you are. Anything you are able to do to get your name on the market, wanting making a fool of yourself, can help.

2. Attend Conferences

Sure, we’ve mentioned this already, however right here it is once more for a unique reason. Recruiters usually attend those conferences, too. It’s a very good opportunity to network in what’s normally a collegial, low-pressure setting. Convey plenty of business cards and, just as vital, get theirs.

3. Target the Proper Recruiters

Executive search firms tend to specialize. Some giant ones could cover a number of industries. Others focus more narrowly, corresponding to on a single business or a particular job skill. There’s no point wasting your efforts on a firm that doesn’t recruit in your discipline and will, in actual fact, have fewer connections there than you do.

4. Ask Round

For those who’re at present employed, you may not want to broadsolid your curiosity in connecting with an executive recruiter. All the identical, it’s value checking with trusted colleagues and others in your network to see which recruiters they know and recommend.

Ask about their experiences (some recruiters are incredibly generous and helpful, others far less so). In case your contacts know you well enough and are comfortable recommending you, ask them for a referral or see whether you should utilize their names in introducing your self to the recruiter.

5. Check Them Out

Just as you’d investigate any company you have been hoping to interview with, research the recruiters, too. Look up their bios on their firms’ websites and read their profiles on LinkedIn. If any of your LinkedIn connections occur to be connected to them, too, consider asking for an introduction.

6. Play It Cool

Even for those who really want a new job, there’s often no level letting on. At any given time, a recruiter would possibly or may not be working on searches for which you’d be a very good candidate. So don’t count on outcomes instantly but attempt to build a relationship that will ensure your name will be on the list— ideally, proper up top—when an important opportunity comes along.

7. Be Helpful

For those who’re known in the industry, you may additionally meet recruiters when one in all them checks with you as a reference for someone else they’re researching as a candidate for a job. If recruiters come to rely on you as a productive, friendly and thoughtful information supply, it’s possible you’ll eventually be top of mind once they’re searching for a job that fits your credentials. As you talk to them, discover a way to indicate that you simply’re always open to new opportunities yourself.

The Backside Line

Getting known by executive recruiters is a goal that needs to be part of everyone’s career planning. Start placing yourself within the way of meeting them—and being helpful to them—as early as doable in your career.

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