How to get the attention of a recruiter

A common problem I hear from candidates is lack of response from recruiters.  It does not matter if it is a corporate recruiter or a third party firm like Capstone.  Candidates tend to send out a lot of resumes and communication after the new year, and oftentimes it is ignored, missed, or discarded.  So how can you be sure your information gets to the top of the pile?

1)  Do your homework and customize your communication.  Instead of simply sending your resume, but sure something in your email or phone call shows that you did more than click on a link to send your information.  Find out something about the hiring manager if you can and mention that in your initial message.  Research the company and see if you might have a common connection there.  Perhaps a friend, former colleague, or college classmate works at the organization and could provide a reference for you.  This takes a little more effort, but can really pay off.

2)  Always follow up an email with a phone call if possible.  On average I receive somewhere between 100-300 emails a day.  It is nearly impossible to reply to all of them, but I typically reply more quickly to candidates that also leave a voicemail.  Especially if it is a professional message and with a purpose.  Be sure when leaving the voicemail to reference exactly what you are calling about and what you emailed about before the call.  The more specific you can get, the better the response.

3)  Be persistent, but not pesky.  I try as best I can to reply to all messages in a timely manner, but sometimes it isn't possible with other priorities that pop up during the day.  If you don't get a reply, but follow up after a few days to check back in, that increases your chances of getting a reply.  I am also quick to apologize if more than a day or two has transpired.  Keep in mind, however, with the advent of caller ID that calling 10-12 times in a short period of time without leaving a message is not the definition of persistence.  That is called stalking, my friends.  

4)  Do NOT apply to multiple positions at one time.  Especially if you are not uniquely qualified for all of them.  It baffles me when a candidate applies for two customer service positions, one management position, and then three sales-related positions.  Quantity does not trump quality when applying for a job.  If I see multiple applications like that it tempts me to delete all of them without even reviewing the resume(s) of the applicants.  Pick the one that most closely resembles your professional background and then use some of the other techniques I have outlined above.

5)  Be courteous.  This may seem like common sense, but I could share story after story of candidates who are rude not only in their initial communication, but also with follow up.  I understand that as a candidate you may get frustrated with the process occasionally.  You need to learn to compartmentalize the bad experiences and stay positive going forward.  Don't take it out on the next person you talk with and expect them to be motivated to help with your job search.

There is no magic pill to get the attention of a recruiter, but hopefully these are some ideas that can be put into use as you continue your job search in the new year.  As always, I would love to hear from you if you have additional comments.  Have you had to do something unique in the past to get the attention of a recruiter?