Ask-A-Recruiter: The Elusive Art of Following Up – How Not To Fall Off the Radar And Still Walk Away With Your Dignity Intact
Contributed by Silvana Carpanelli Hayes from www.ivyexec.com
Q: Sometimes I feel I’m stalking recruiters. When is enough really enough?
Calls go unreturned, emails are unanswered, and soon you realize that the sweet smell of after-school brownies in the air is, in reality, the sweet smell of desperation. I have one thing to say: It is not always you. Sometimes, it is them.
1. The hardest thing to say is NO. In some instances, hiring managers and recruiters have a hard time letting a candidate know that the company or client has decided to go a different way. This is right around the time when most professionals feel they are failing to follow up.
Solution: Give your recruiter a chance to email you with feedback. Any experienced recruiter will tell you that when he or she has dropped the ball, they appreciate the opportunity to do the right thing. After emailing your recruiter, you know you have done everything in your power to pursue the opportunity in question. You have succeeded in keeping the relationship between you and the recruiter intact and keeping the door open for the future.
2. So you have the hot career, the right education and a masterpiece of contemporary literature for a resume: why do you feel they don’t want to talk to you?
This one is an easy one: A recruiter may talk to hundreds of candidates a day, while working on multiple positions, and sometimes they just don’t know who you are right off the bat! This is not a reflection on you or on their interest in you as a viable candidate, but more of an occupational hazard.
Solution: Don’t catch them off guard. Always email first. Recap your last conversation, be specific about the job you discussed and schedule a time to speak. If possible, attach your resume to the email as well. By doing so, you ensure they will pick up the phone with your resume in hand and will be ready to have a coherent conversation.If you have to leave a voice mail, make sure you include all your details. Trust me: if you leave just your first name and phone number you will be waiting for that call until next year!
3. Is there anybody out there?
Online job boards present a new set of challenges at the time of following up. Very few of you trust the jobsites available. It is important that when you decide to apply for a job online, you have a way to follow up.
Solution: Being a member of jobsites that prescreen candidates is the easiest way of finding exclusive job opportunities online. Such job boards are backed up not only by technology, but also by real people.This type of job board will always provide the email of a recruiter, a phone number to their office, or a general contact that manages your membership. When in doubt, look for a “contact us” section that goes beyond the “one way contact form” and offers at least an email address that is sent directly to the recruiting team.
The golden timeline of the perfect follow up:
- Email a thank you note to the recruiter you just spoke to, whether you were told your resume would be submitted or not. If you were asked to update or modify your resume, time is of the essence and you should act quickly.
- Second email: A week after the date of submission, ask if there is any additional information that might be needed on your end and express your interest in the position.
- Schedule a time to speak: Send an email recapping the process so far. Include details such as: When you spoke last, what position and company was discussed, and what the recruiter told you in your last conversation. Attach your resume again and ask to schedule a time to speak. Be proactive and make the call at the scheduled time.
- Closure email: If you are successful and you get the job, let your recruiter know. They will, of course, get confirmation from the company but you should update them too. If your interview does not result in a job offer, email your recruiter to make yourself available for other opportunities that may match your profile.
- The never-ending story: If after a month, you are still looking for the right career move, send a brief message to all the recruiters you have worked with. This will guarantee that you remain on their radar.
One tip: Always ask if it’s ok to stay in touch, they will rarely say NO.
