Are you thinking about partnering with a recruiter that can assist you with an upcoming job search? If so, that ensuing relationship will be somewhat influenced by your current employment status and situation. Once you’ve contacted a recruiter, keeping the lines of communication open will help ensure that your job search goes off without a hitch. Using these contact guidelines as a reference will make the placement process run smoothly.
How Often Should You Contact a Recruiter?
The frequency of your communication with a recruiter should be tailored to your unique job search situation. Here are some key points to consider:
- Active Job Seekers: If you’re actively looking for a job, weekly communication is ideal. This keeps you on the recruiter’s radar and ensures you’re considered for timely opportunities.
- Passive Candidates: If you’re currently employed but open to new opportunities, a monthly or quarterly check-in is sufficient. This maintains your connection without the need for constant updates.
- During Critical Phases: Increase communication during critical phases of your job search, like when you’re awaiting interview feedback or negotiating an offer. In such times, more frequent updates may be necessary.
- Post-Interview Feedback: Always follow up with your recruiter after an interview. Your insights help them better understand your preferences and improve their assistance.
- Changes in Your Search Criteria: Notify your recruiter promptly if there are changes in your job search criteria, availability, or any other significant updates.
Remember, effective communication with your recruiter is key to a successful job search, but it’s equally important to respect their time. Striking the right balance will foster a productive and beneficial relationship.
Best Reasons to Contact Your Recruiter
Sure, headhunters are busy people just like everyone else. However, once you’ve agreed to work with a recruiter, their job is representing your best interests in the most discrete-yet-efficient way possible. Not only can it be challenging to find the right recruiter, once you’ve made your choice knowing when and how to follow-up with them can be just as tricky.
As someone who’s actively or passively seeking employment, these are reasons why you should contact your recruiter:
Checking in or updating
If you are now working in a temporary position and the recruiter or firm that you are partnering with encourages you to check in frequently, follow their instructions. If you are just casually browsing, maybe with the intent of making a move in the next year or so, a monthly or quarterly “check-in” should be enough.
Unemployed and in immediate need of a job
If you are currently unemployed, the recruiter/candidate relationship will require regular contact, in most cases weekly. However, during a hot job market, that contact interval could get shortened. Once an interested employer is ready to schedule an interview or they need additional information, a good recruiter will reach out to a candidate immediately.
If your recruiter tells you that they won’t have any feedback or other information until a specific day, there’s no reason for you to call and “check-in” prior to that designated time. It’s also important to keep your recruiter in-the-loop regarding any applications you’ve submitted directly, along with any interviews you have scheduled primarily through your own efforts.
Notifying them not only helps eliminate duplicating efforts, it also lets the recruiter know that he or she might need to “light a fire” under a given client once they’ve expressed an interest in your resume.
Currently employed but interested in other opportunities
Are you currently employed but looking to make a move within the next six months? Is your search timetable more like a year or longer? Talking with a recruiter about timing and strategy will help ensure that your career objectives are consistently being met.
Bear in mind that the hiring needs of employers vary based on their caseload, from immediate hires to those that may take up to six months or more. If an employer is bringing on a new practice group in a few months they may need to hire a paralegal and secretary to support the group’s efforts.
Or, they might have a key client working on acquisition within the upcoming year. Hiring managers are always planning-ahead as they lay the foundation for building their team.
Distinctive employment requests
Recruiters typically work with job seekers that have unique employment requests. They may be happy in their current position but are interested in hearing about opportunities to work remotely or ones that will shorten their daily commute. If a distinctive requirement is the only reason why you’d consider another job, boldly make the recruiter aware of that fact.
Asking for advice
You may also want to contact the recruiter to ask for advice. Recruiters can be valuable resources when you are interested in honing your interview skills or learning how to craft a more impactful resume.
Providing response or feedback
Once you’ve participated in a job interview, it’s imperative to notify the recruiter as to how it went. Was the position a good fit for your job skills and experience? Was the interviewer professional and unbiased? What questions did they ask you? Providing your recruiter with positive or negative feedback will ultimately help them better serve you.
Referring others
Recruiters rely upon professional referrals to keep their candidate pool filled. Once you feel comfortable working with a recruiter, sending referrals their way is an effective way to stay in touch and thank them for their efforts.
Do recruiters prefer emails or calls?
When deciding between emails or calls for communicating with recruiters, it’s essential to consider the nature and urgency of your message. Generally, recruiters often prefer emails for routine updates or non-urgent matters. Emails provide a written record of communication, allowing both parties to track progress and refer back to previous discussions. They’re also less intrusive, enabling recruiters to manage their time efficiently, especially when juggling multiple candidates and clients.
However, phone calls may be more appropriate for urgent matters or complex discussions that require immediate attention or a more personal touch, such as negotiating job offers or discussing interview feedback in-depth. Ultimately, the preference can vary from one recruiter to another. It’s a good practice to ask your recruiter how they prefer to be contacted at the beginning of your relationship and adjust your communication method accordingly to ensure a smooth and effective partnership.
3 Things to Remember When Contacting Your Recruiter
Much like those they represent, the average headhunter has a lot on their plate. Here are three important contact tips that will help you cultivate a more positive, productive working relationship:
1. Keep conversations formal and professional
Although they enjoy getting to know you on a personal level, most recruiters don’t have the time to invest in a lengthy personal conversation. Whenever possible, keep your comments on point, formal and professional. Treat your recruiter with the same level of courtesy and respect that you demand from them.
2. Use email whenever possible
Nobody likes to play “phone tag” or scroll through lengthy text feeds, and busy recruiters are no exception. Unless otherwise specified, most headhunters prefer that you communicate with them via email. For one, that allows them to pull up important details, like your job search request or interview feedback, while speaking on the phone to a potential employer.
3. Be patient not desperate
During a job search, desperation can come across as impatience, neither of which are good qualities when seeking a job in a high-stress profession in the legal field. On the other hand, practicing patience will usually open new career doors leading to that dream job that you’ve always wanted!
In summary, when partnering with a good legal recruiter, it’s important to be clear in your job search requirements, to discuss a plan regarding future communications, and to keep the recruiter in the loop regarding your own search efforts or any other changes to your candidacy. If you are interested in legal employment opportunities in Houston, Austin, or Dallas, contact Momentum Search Partners so that we can start finding you that dream job today!