?? Struggling to forge connections with recruiters? Let's strategize...

First things first – I understand entirely. It isn't easy, and frankly, recruiters don't make it any easier 99% of the time.

Approaching someone you've never met is challenging in itself. Add in how busy they are and how seldom you seem to get replies, and then throw in that these individuals may hold the key to potentially landing your dream job. Well, the pressure just starts to multiply, as does the importance of getting through and getting it "right."

That said, I'd like to offer a handful of strategic tips to make your 1st message to recruiters more authentic and considerably more effective.

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??? Tip #1 – Find common ground:

Do a bit of digging around on the recruiter's LinkedIn profile to see if you can identify any shared connections or interests.

Maybe you both support the same charity or went to the same university or perhaps they are in the same group on LinkedIn?

If their profile doesn't yield any results, take a gander at their recent posts for a potential conversation starter. Or if they are in Executive Search, their profile page on the firm's website. Find something in common you can use.

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?? Tip #2 – Showcase Your Understanding of the Company's Values:

Everyone else is going to talk about how they admire the company and blah blah blah.

Don't do this. We won't read it, we won't believe it, and we won't care!

Instead, demonstrate that you understand the company's culture and values. Mention how you align with them and give specific examples from your experience where possible. As a recruiter, this tells me that you understand the importance of fit in the recruiting process, and it ticks a box for us at our end.

We prefer to send people who are qualified and who fit with a business to our clients for open roles. It's more likely that they'll like you and that we will make a successful placement.

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?? Tip #3 – Offer Value Upfront:

Consider showcasing briefly how you can add value to the role you are interested in. Point out a specific skill set or experience that you bring to the table, demonstrating an exact fit for a role.

You can use the cheat sheet we give you, otherwise known as the job description, or look for some company news.

“You need an X who has done A, B and C.,

That’s great because I AM an X who just did A, B, C and D in my current role.

You can use the same thing you should be doing at the top of your CV and in your cover letters in a LinkedIn message or email. Demonstrate how you meet our and the client's needs.

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?? Tip #4 – Seek advice rather than selling yourself:

Swap the hard sell for an inquisitive approach. Ask for their insights on what makes a successful candidate for the role at hand. Don't guess, just ask!

You're halfway there if you can match the criteria we laid out in the job description and demonstrate a cultural fit. Don't guess at the rest; just ask what else would help make you or your CV stand out. We know our clients, and we know what they’d prefer to see, so just ask. It helps you, and it helps us. Make it a symbiotic relationship.

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I’ll be honest: the above takes more time and means fewer applications, but that’s exactly what you should be doing. Aim for fewer roles, target them more precisely and approach them very differently from what you’ve probably been doing.

Ultimately, it's less work, more targeted, and with a higher success rate.

Nobody wants to send hundreds of applications, so don’t!

Send far fewer but far higher quality ones for roles you actually want, not just fishing expeditions because your current strategy isn’t working. Throwing more junk at the wall doesn’t mean it’ll stick any better.

Remember, recruiters get swamped by hundreds of applicants for every role across dozens of platforms, 99% lacking any depth, consideration or targeting and specificity. Taking the time to craft a well-thought-out message amplifies your chances of catching their eye and encouraging a click-through to your profile or a message back.

Please don’t do what everyone else does; it isn’t working anyway!

#CareerAdvice #JobSearchTips #RecruitmentInsight #LinkedInStrategy #PersonalBranding #JobHunting