The 2 Types of Candidates Recruiters want to speak with

Connecting with Recruiters on LinkedIn? Trying to "network" with them but not able to generate any interest? Or perhaps you're trying to send Direct Messages out to Recruiters to see if you can at least get on a phone/Zoom call to introduce yourself.

How do you get the attention of Recruiters you want to connect with?

As a Recruiter myself, I wanted to share with you things from a Recruiter's viewpoint which would better enable you to focus on the right Recruiters, and determine which ones to build relationships with.

The truth is - most of the time Recruiters are communicating with people. Recruiters are constantly connecting, networking, and communicating with potential Talent they can present to Hiring Teams. And this is the case whether its a Staffing Agency or Corporate Recruiter.

That being said, Recruiters are not entirely random in their approach. Just like any profession, Recruiters have to prioritize their time when they are actively sourcing candidates: and there are specific types of candidates who especially capture Recruiters' attention. To understand how Recruiters make this determination, you have to understand 2 very important categories of Talent most Recruiters out there are keeping their eyes peeled for:

1. People who might be great potential fits for positions they are ACTIVELY recruiting on
2. People who might be great potential fits for positions they ANTICIPATE in the future

I've definitely listed these two categories in order of importance.

A Recruiter's 1st priority is #1 above. A Recruiter's 2nd priority is #2 above. Everyone else comes after those two.

So to increase your chances of falling into these categories, you need to ensure you focus your attention on Recruiters who specialize in recruiting for your field/industry/skills set. Connecting with such Recruiters increase the chances of YOU capturing the Recruiter's attention and wanting to have a conversation with you - because if they frequently recruit for your space, then chances are, you meet one of the above 2 categories.

"Yeah but Dean, I AM reaching out to those Recruiters who specialize in my field and I never get a response!"

That could be because:

• You're not reaching out to enough Recruiters (it is a numbers game to a certain degree)
• You're not following-up and/or staying on their radar - you're only reaching out once or twice, and yes its your responsibility to stay on their radar when at the networking stage
• Your message/email/approach is the issue. Its not just WHAT you do, but HOW you do it - i.e. the content of your communication makes a difference

How you approach them, the content of your message, and your ability to sell your value, makes a difference. If you fit into either of the above categories Recruiters are looking for, however your communication is not compelling - it might not make much of a difference that you're reaching out to the right people (in this case Recruiters).

However, if you are able to effectively communicate to Recruiters that you fit into either of those 2 categories mentioned above, you WILL get their attention.

Found this article helpful? Don't forget to Like, Comment, Share and Follow me for more content!

Have a conversation scheduled with a Recruiter? Download my FREE sample script of how you need to be running Recruiters through your Resume. Get free access here.

Dean Kulaweera

IT Recruiter & Founder, DK Global Talent