Last week I received this exasperated email from a networking friend of mine who happens to be an inside recruiter for a large insurance company. She clearly needed to release some frustration and chose a safe place to do it…with me, her friend.
With her permission, I have masked the names and am sharing her experience with all of you. Click through to read this article “What Recruiters Hate”
What’s the big lesson to be learned here? Never approach a recruiter under the guise of networking when your real intent is purely transactional -“hire me now.”
Recruiters are people too. They are not there to fill your orders or save you in your hour of need. You must work hard to build a relationship with them, just like you should do with anyone else in your professional network.
Now, think of the potential long-term value of having a recruiter know you and like you? Stop transacting and start building long term, mutually-beneficial relationships. It’s good for business and it’s good for your career.
Your networking GOAL for this week:
Call a recruiter whom you have worked with in the past. Perhaps they had placed you at a company some time ago. Reach out to simply say Thank You – you made a difference in my career. Wish them Happy New Year. Find out what their 2011 goals are. Then ask them how THEY are doing and what challenges they are facing. Then ask them how YOU can help them. They might have an assignment that you could be helpful with.
Net net: give before you get.
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