How to Get a Recruiters Attention (for the right reasons!)
How to Get a Recruiters Attention (for the right reasons!)
Competition in the job market for great roles is fierce. A candidate must appear professional and a high quality candidate in all interactions. You want the job and the recruiter want to look good to their client (the hiring manager). Here are our tips to help.
First Impressions
- Your first impression to any recruiter is your application. Your CV and cover letter must be error free and grammatically correct.
- Ensure that your CV and cover letter are not generic. They need to be specifically tailored for the role you are applying. This conveys your interest and understanding of a role.
- Keep your CV and Cover letter simple and avoid unnecessary jargon. Your CV should be under 3 pages and your cover letter a single page. Keep your writing on point and easily scanned.
- Ensure your CV highlights achievements that are relevant to the key selection criteria. This demonstrates that you have the skills they are looking for. Use statistics, percentages and dollar figures where they are relevant. This provides evidence of your previous success.
- Ensure you cover letter is engaging and includes keywords from the role description.
- Follow the application process rules. Submit your application to the address specified, in the format specified. This demonstrates that you can follow directions.
Make a Great Impression Online
- Recruiters will often Google candidates. Ensure that you have a professional social media profile on LinkedIn. Other social media accounts should be reviewed. Do they make the right impression? If not, ensure they are locked down with appropriate security settings.
- Be well networked. Do any of your LinkedIn connections know someone at the hiring company? Can they introduce you? An internal recommendation often goes a long way.
The Interview
- Dress the part. Research the company’s dress code and arrive looking like you work there.
- Don’t underestimate the value of eye contact, a smile and good body language. This is a reflection of your attitude.
- Be well researched- know the company’s challenges. Ask great questions.
- Be professional- don't bad mouth your existing employer. It sets a poor tone.
- When were you last interviewed? Consider putting aside some time for interview practice.
Follow Up
Don’t forget to send a follow up to thank them for their time. How you treat a recruiter is a good indication of how you will treat their clients!
Are you hunting for a new role? We challenge you to apply our tips to get a recruiters attention. Did they get you onto the shortlist and interviewed? After that it’s up to you!
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