By Bruce Powell, Founder & Executive Recruiter
Good recruiters find good candidates for good jobs. That’s what they do well. If you want to get noticed by more quality headhunters and hear about great opportunities, there’s a lot you can do to get onto their “definitely do call” list. Check out these 11 terrific ways to get yourself to show up on a top recruiters radar.
Network Within Your Industry
1. Get Out There
Be social and visible in your industry. Go to conferences, forums, trade shows, and seminars. Talk to people, hand out your card, and network.
2. Make Friends In High Places
Get endorsements from senior people or authorities in your industry who can provide referrals about your professional ability and establish your credibility.
3. Speak Up
Make yourself heard by speaking in public at industry events or panels. Give a speech or participate in open forums to get your name known and raise your profile.
Network With A Headhunter
4. Post An Online Resume
A quick way to be found by loads of recruiters is to upload your resume to online job sites. You may get more calls than you want, but if you use the right keywords you can help weed out the irrelevant job offers.
5. Be Willing To Listen
If a headhunter calls you about a position, take the time to listen. Even if you’re not looking to move right now, it’s good to know about what’s going on in your industry. Plus, you can let the headhunter know if that kind of role would be a good fit for you in the future.
6. Spread The Wealth
If a headhunter calls you with an opportunity you’re not interested in, try and give him or her the names of colleagues or people you’ve met who might be.
Use Social Media As A Recruitment Tool
7. Love LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful business networking tool and recruiters use it daily. Keep your profile up-to-date, professional and interesting with the right keywords. Join groups, sign up for events, post comments and start conversations.
8. Take To Twitter
Recruiters are big fans of Twitter because it’s so easy to announce new job opportunities. For example, at IQ Partners we regularly tweet new roles as a quick way of getting the word out there for certain types of searches. Follow the recruiters who have the positions you want. Retweet their tweets and send them potential referrals. Make sure your Twitter profile has a link to your online bio.
Make Yourself More Marketable
9. Be Good At Your Job
Become a well-rounded professional by continuing to develop your skills through courses and continuing education. Get recognized in your organization and contribute to your industry. Success gets noticed.
10. Be Your Own Best Brand
What makes you unique? Think of yourself as a brand and figure out what makes you a great hire. Package and promote your brand by concentrating on what makes you a desirable employee and the value you can bring to an organization. Being clear about your value will help recruiters be clear about why and where you’d be a good fit.
11. Get It In Writing
Contribute to your company blog or start your own blog. Offer to write an article for trade publications in your industry. Write letters to the editor of newspapers and magazines. Get credited with your name, title and company to make it easier for recruiters to find you.
Getting on a top headhunter’s radar can be difficult. By following as many of these tips as possible you will be well on your way to getting noticed by the ideal recruiters for the jobs you want.
For more tips about gaining the most from your headhunter, check out our other Dealing With A Headhunter blog posts where common questions are answered by our Toronto headhunters.
IQ PARTNERS is a Recruitment Agency with offices in Toronto, Montreal & Vancouver, We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. Our recruiters specialize in Marketing, Communications, Consumer Goods & Services, Retail, Sales, Technology, Finance & Accounting, Financial Services, Life Sciences, HR & Operations, and Construction, Property & Real Estate. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto and operates internationally via Aravati Global Search Network.
