You’ve probably heard that LinkedIn is a great way to connect with employment recruiters, to network and to find out about the latest job postings that may not be published elsewhere. While this may all be true, it’s likely you’re unsure about how to go about connecting with recruiters in a way that is professional and effective. You know you want to make a good impression. Once your research brings you to the correct contact person at the company you are interested in approaching, follow these tips for approaching recruiters on LinkedIn so that they will want to work with you.
Avoid Going Directly for the Ask
When approaching a recruiter, the situation is very much like meeting any new person. You want to build a rapport, talk about what you may have in common or share information you think they may find of interest. Frankly, it’s simply rude to begin your correspondence by immediately asking for a job, a referral or assistance of any kind. Surprisingly, recruiters report that this is an extremely common occurrence for them.
But Don’t Waste Their Time
Recruiters are busy people just like everyone else. While it’s true that their job relies on finding qualities candidates for their employer, they aren’t desperate to hear from just anyone. If you’re going to approach a recruiter through LinkedIn with the hopes of gaining a valuable networking contact, you need to be professional and strategic. Share with the recruiter why it is you thought this person would be a good networking contact, talk about your background and why you are interested in their business.
Make Sure You Have the Right Person
A huge pet peeve of recruiters is when job seekers reach out to them simply because they are affiliated with a particular company. Don’t make the mistake of contacting the first person you come across who works at your desired employer. That’s just bad form. Recruiters often specialize in searching for candidates to serve particular job functions. For example, if you are hoping to land a marketing job for a big electronics corporation, make sure you’re not hitting up the head of recruitment for the Research and Development division. That person is not likely to take the time out of their busy schedule to forward your resume or inquiry to the correct representative. Take some time to do some in-depth research on Google or the company website in order to nail down the correct contact person.
Be Realistic
Once you do determine which person is the most relevant for your interests, make sure you’re being realistic in your expectations of them. Too often, job seekers will barrage a recruiter with requests to help them in ways that are beyond the scope of the recruiter’s job function. For example, it’s not uncommon for individuals to ask their newly found contact to help them get placed in a position. Essentially, this request is placing a burden on the recruiter to determine your strengths and expertise, then to suggest a position that would be perfect for you. A better plan would be to research open positions on your own, then suggest to the relevant recruiter your interest and fit for that position. It’s also acceptable to inquire as to whether there are similar positions available. The difference in this scenario is that you have personally taken on the legwork, rather than expecting anyone to do it for you. Recruiting professional will appreciate that.
These are a few tips for helping you to find the most success when approaching recruiters on LinkedIn. The most important thing to guide you in your efforts is to remember to bring value to your new contact. Make them see you as an asset to their company or department, and you will have initiated a mutually profitable networking relationship.