How to get recruiters attention?

Here’s a breakdown of my top tips for avoiding being stonewalled by a recruiter:

1. Give me a relationship first, and your CV second

This is where your tenacity comes in. I don’t always like receiving unsolicited calls from candidates without seeing a CV first. But unless I’m really busy (which I often am) if they call my direct line or the switchboard, I’ll take the call and just have a chat. This is the best way to start a meaningful connection with me. Always call first, as I’m getting CVs everyday and I’m far too busy to reply unless you’re a perfect match.

2. Give me enough reasons why

The only reason I won’t put you forward to a role is because I’m still considering the risk. You may wonder: “What risk? All he has to do is send my CV”, but bear in mind that if I sent your CV to my client and it came back with an emphatic “no” – especially if you’re switching careers – my reputation could be damaged.

There’s a saying in recruitment that goes “you’re only as good as your last candidate”. A good recruiter is not going to risk sending in a CV unless they’re absolutely sure you’re right for the job, so you need to give me the ammunition I need to fight your corner. Also if a recruiter wants to meet up, do it; there’s only so much certainty I can gain from hearing your voice.

The only real chance you have of convincing me to take a risk on a career-shifter is to show me you’ve got an infectious personality, and are going to shine in front of my client.

3. Beat the bots

So you haven’t managed to influence the recruiter. Go direct to companies with applications; but before you do, beware of the ATS – Applicant Tracking System. If you’re not getting called in for an interview by HR then your CV might be getting rejected by robots. With advances in technology, some large companies have ATS systems that automatically filter out irrelevant CVs.

Optimise your CV with keywords and ensure your education and full work history is clearly laid out and “searchable”. Check out this infographic to see what may be happening to your CV once it gets sent off to a job application.

4. Be realistic

Now this one is a tricky area. I’m all for transferable skills; in fact some of the best hires I’ve made have been totally ‘outside the box’. But I’m also realistic.

For example: if it’s a field-based role and you don’t have a driving license, don’t try and convince me that your friend will drive you around the country all day! Most job markets are competitive, so that’s not to say don’t apply in the first place. Supply and demand is variable and every client of mine is different; some have more flex on experience than others. But if I say that you’ve not got the right experience then you can take that as the truth. After all it’s in my interest to help you out!

5. Be different

I recently saw a CV that really stood out from the crowd. It was in an infographic style and really got her personality across; so much so that we’ve been raving about her in the office ever since, and I’m actually interviewing her for my new company to join as an intern. Stand out and be different, especially if you’re going for a creative role. If all else fails, do something crazy like rent a billboard.