Steps to Search for Executive Recruiters

Years ago, typical wisdom held that it is best to by no means seek out executive recruiters, aka headhunters. Instead, it’s best to wait for them to contact you. Make the first move and also you’d risk coming off as too eager if not totally desperate.

There might have been some logic to that advice within the sturdy job markets of yesteryear. Nowadays, nevertheless, should you don’t take the initiative, you could possibly wait a very long time to your phone to ring or a textual content message to ping. Maybe for 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 losing your time or, heaven forbid, theirs. For example:

1. Be Seen

Not only will greater professional visibility enhance the percentages of recruiters coming your way, it will additionally make it more likely they’ll acknowledge your name and return your calls or emails when you reach out to them. So, if you happen to haven’t completed so already, be part of the professional associations in your subject and attempt to turn into active in them. Attend business conferences and look for ways to participate as a presenter or panelist. Contribute to professional publications and websites. Make positive your LinkedIn profile is up to date. Your photograph should be present, too, and painting you as the desirable—and hirable—professional you are. Anything you are able to do to get your name on the market, in need of making a idiot of yourself, can help.

2. Attend Conferences

Sure, we’ve talked about this already, however here it is again for a different reason. Recruiters usually attend these conferences, too. It’s a good opportunity to network in what’s usually a collegial, low-pressure setting. Carry plenty of business cards and, just as necessary, get theirs.

3. Target the Right Recruiters

Executive search firms tend to specialize. Some giant ones might cover multiple industries. Others focus more narrowly, similar to on a single trade or a particular job skill. There’s no level losing your efforts on a firm that doesn’t recruit in your subject and should, the truth is, have fewer connections there than you do.

4. Ask Around

When you’re presently employed, you may not want to broadforged your curiosity in connecting with an executive recruiter. All the identical, it’s worth 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 beneficiant and helpful, others far less so). If your contacts know you well enough and are comfortable recommending you, ask them for a referral or see whether you need to use 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 related to them, too, consider asking for an introduction.

6. Play It Cool

Even if you happen to really need a new job, there’s normally no point letting on. At any given time, a recruiter would possibly or might not be working on searches for which you’d be a good candidate. So don’t count on outcomes instantly however try to build a relationship that will guarantee your name will be on the list— ideally, right up top—when an excellent opportunity comes along.

7. Be Useful

If you happen to’re known within the business, you may additionally meet recruiters when one of them checks with you as a reference for another person they’re researching as a candidate for a job. If recruiters come to rely on you as a productive, pleasant and considerate information source, chances are you’ll eventually be top of mind when they’re searching for a job that fits your credentials. As you talk to them, discover a way to indicate that you’re always open to new opportunities yourself.

The Bottom Line

Getting known by executive recruiters is a goal that should be part of everybody’s career planning. Start placing yourself in the way of assembly them—and being helpful to them—as early as possible in your career.

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