2018 HBCU Careers Magazine

HBCU Careers Magazine

How To Approach A Recruiter By: Keirsten Greggs

In the 18 years that I’ve been a recruiter, I’m frequently consulted to provide insight on career related topics. Overwhelmingly, there are two questions that come up time and time again. 1. You’re a recruiter; can you get me a job? 2. How do I approach a recruiter for assistance? My response to the first question (if I don’t ignore it all together) usually falls somewhere on the Smart Remark Spectrum between sarcastic mocking and eye rolling

annoyance. Contrary to popular belief, I am not the Keeper of ALL Jobs. I do, however, respond very favorably to the second question. The person who asks me the second question as opposed to the first is showing they respect my time and value my input. Additionally, they are positioning themselves for thoughtful feedback by actually asking me (a recruiter) how I want to be engaged. I advise this person to prepare and plan, personalize their approach, and pursue with purpose. Prepare and Plan • Over 90% of recruiters are using social media to find quality talent; so be discoverable. Your profile on professional networking sites like LinkedIn, Opportunity, and Jobcase should be up-to-date and consistent with your resume. The content should include relevant coursework and projects, related work experience and internships, and point to your future career plans. It should also be consistent with the professional image you’re trying to project. These days the lines between professional and personal profiles are blurry. As such, I recommend cursory checks on your personal profiles and connections as well. Remember, you are the company that you keep. • For every five people that approach me for help, four of them start by asking me to review their resume. Of those, three are REALLY asking me to write their resumes for them. If you’re looking for resume help, please have something for the recruiter to review that, at a minimum, gives them an idea about the direction your career is heading. • Develop a job search plan and research the organizations and types of positions that interest you. Some job postings will contain contact information for the recruiter who is filling that role. If the job postings don’t contain the recruiter’s name, you can always do a search for recruiters at your desired organizations. • Create, practice, and be ready to deliver your value proposition/elevator pitch on-demand. Make sure it contains who you are, what you do, and how you can benefit an organization. Personalize Your Approach • Blindly forwarding your resume, copying andpasting genericmessages, using templates, and sending the same auto-generated messages to every recruiter shows a lack of preparation. Entry level positions attract A LOT of applicants so you need a more targeted approach.

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