How to Befriend an Executive Recruiter in 3 Simple Steps

Business is all about Developing Professional Relationships

Executive recruiters are not in the business of finding  opportunities for jobseekers. Instead, we partner with our client companies to find executive talent through research, outreach and our own highly developed networks. Creating and nurturing strong relationships with executive recruiters is key to a successful career. Here’s my take on how to befriend executive recruiters with these 3 simple steps:

1. Maintain a professional online presence, especially on LinkedIn.

It’s very easy to ignore a mass mailing message from a candidate and without that personal flare, it’s almost a waste of your email or stamp. When making a professional connection with someone new, conduct a little research. I always start with a quick Google search of the person’s name. Then I take a look at her LinkedIn profile. The profile tells me a lot about the person. If you are serious about career success, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date with a great picture. Your online presence is your personal brand. It must always make a positive impression. Don’t forget to keep a well written and up to date resume on hand, too.

2. Take my phone call.

One of the most disappointing impressions I get from executives is when I reach out to them and they fail to take my calls (or fail to respond to my emails). If an executive recruiter calls you about an opportunity, take the call. Even if you are happily employed and not currently in the market. Your response to me (whether cordial or not) will be remembered. Keep in mind that you will change jobs more than seven times throughout your work life. This increases the likelihood that you will want or need executive search assistance at some point. Why not create a mutually beneficial relationship with a recruiter? Remember, networking is a two way street.

3. Get out of the office and network.

If someone calls me and wants to “pick my brain,” I want to run for the hills. If, however, that person has been referred by someone I respect in my network, I usually take the time to meet with him. Getting to know talented, passionate and intelligent people is critical to my success. For the sake of your career, it’s important to develop as many good contacts as possible, especially in your industry. You never know when a connection you met at an appointment or a networking event in the past will appear in your future and impact your career.

You will probably cross paths with many executive recruiters throughout your career. Next time you do, keep these three steps in mind to further your success.

Do you have any information to add to these three points? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments!