The importance of networking is undeniable in a job search. 

However, knowing it's crucial and doing it effectively are two vastly different things. 

This is important, especially when working with recruiters.

Many job seekers fall into the trap of a transactional approach, expecting recruiters to act as personal career counselors. Remember, whether in-house working directly for organizations or agency recruiters representing multiple companies, recruiters do not work for you. Their primary responsibility is to fulfill their clients' hiring needs, which means finding candidates who match specific job requirements.

Bombarding them with generic "what's open?" emails or expecting them to magically find you a perfect fit is not only ineffective but offensive for many. Believe me, I hear recruiters all the time bemoan this approach by job seekers

If you want your networking outreach to be effective with recruiters, the key lies in a mindset shift: from what is in it for me to how we can both benefit from our exchange.

Forbes: Four Tips To Get Your Career Unstuck Through Networking

MyCareerGPS: Unlocking The Power Of Connections: Embracing A New Networking Mindset

Don’t Do This

Recruiters will tell you that these are ineffective methods to get their attention.

The Generic Networking Spray-and-Pray: Bombarding recruiters with generic messages like "I'm interested in any opportunities you have" feels impersonal and ignores their specific needs. This is similar to the spray-and-pray approach many job seekers use when applying…using one resume for all jobs. It doesn’t work to get interviews; it doesn’t work with networking.

The "Magic Wand" Question: Throwing out a vague "where do you think I'd fit?" question expects the recruiter to solve your career dilemma. That is not their job. If you won’t do the work to see where you fit, why expect them to do it for you?

The Blind Resume Drop: Simply sending your resume without context leaves the recruiter wondering who you are and what value you bring. It's like dropping a package on someone's doorstep without a label or instructions and hoping they figure out what to do with it.

Instead, Do This

These are helpful ways to get a recruiter's attention.

Targeted Outreach: Blindly sending your resume to every recruiter you find online is a waste of your time. Instead, research specific recruiters handling roles aligned with your goals. Look for individuals specializing in your industry or function on LinkedIn or company websites. Don’t send a generic outreach message; instead, personalize your message by mentioning shared connections, recent posts, or anything else that shows you are interested in them. This shows effort and genuine interest, increasing your chances of a meaningful response.

What Is Your Unique Value Proposition? Remember, resumes are facts on paper. People hire people. So, who are you, and what would you bring to the organization and role? Highlight achievements only relevant to the specific role and organization. Quantify your impact with metrics when possible. Showcase unique skills that differentiate you from other candidates.

Offer Insights: Give something to the recruiter. Demonstrate your knowledge and genuine interest by sharing relevant industry news, articles, or commentary. This establishes you as someone engaged in the field and potentially sparks a conversation. Plus, it makes you stand out because most job seekers will not go that extra mile.

Ask Thoughtful Questions: Go beyond generic inquiries: Formulate insightful questions that demonstrate your understanding of the role, company, and industry. Ask about current challenges, future plans, or the recruiter's perspective. This shows genuine interest and can elicit dialogue between the two of you and not the black hole that often happens.

Sample Scripts

Here are two scripts you could use. The first one is for reaching out to a recruiter you have identified who works in your field or industry. You do not know of a specific job opportunity; you want to get on their radar.

General Outreach Email

Subject: Building Connections in [Industry/Profession]: [Your Name] 

Hello [Recruiter name],

My career background has been in [Role/Industry]. I've been following [Company Name]'s success for some time now, and I am particularly impressed by [Specific Project/Initiative] and your focus on [Relevant Area]. 

I'm always interested in connecting with industry leaders and learning about exciting opportunities at companies like yours.

My expertise in [Your Relevant Skills, Knowledge, or Experience] has led me to achieve [Relevant Significant Achievement]. My career interests include [Specific Area(s) Of Interest].

Would you be willing to have a 15-minute conversation during which I could learn more about the exciting things happening at [Company name] and share my own experiences and interests? I would like to build a genuine connection.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Recruiter With A Specific Opening

Subject Line: Enthusiastic to bring my [Skill, Expertise, Knowledge] to the [Role Title]

Hello [Recruiter Name],

I hope you're having a productive week!

I’ve applied online for the [Role Title], but I wanted to bring my candidacy to your attention. I am currently a [Your title] with [Number] years of relevant experience in [Their Industry or Type of Role]. I was looking for this type of role. My background in [Specific skill] and success in [Significant achievement related to the skill] immediately made me think I could be a fit.

For example, in my previous role at [Previous company], I [Quantifiable accomplishment demonstrating your skill]. I'm confident I can bring similar success to the team. 

I'm particularly interested in [Specific reason you're interested in the role/company]. Would you be open to a brief conversation to discuss how my skills and experience could fit your needs for this role?

Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Now, Go Do It

I know that many job seekers feel funny about reaching out to recruiters. You don’t need to. Now that you know how to do it with the mindset of helping each other out, you can write your outreach in an authentic way that fosters conversation.

Recruiters can be great contacts to have. They know about jobs. So be friendly and helpful, and you never know; they can help you in return.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.