WRONG QUESTION Do you know a recruiter who specializes in.

WRONG QUESTION Do you know a recruiter who specializes in…. PREORDER the second edition of LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the DVD at a discount. Check out all the specials here. Heres one of my biggest  job search pet peeves: asking for a recruiter who specializes in a particular industry or location. Perhaps youve gotten emails like this: Do you know a recruiter who specializes in IT (or project management, or supply chain, etc.)? Do you know a recruiter in Seattle (or Houston, or D.C., or Podunk, USA)? When I get this question I cringe.  Not because the job seeker is doing the wrong thing (they are just trying to get a job), but because they are barking up the wrong tree.  Heres why I say that, based on my experience and observations. Id love to know what your experience has been Recruiters dont work for you and they dont care about you. Really.  Maybe some of them do (okay, I know some of them who do care about you, as a human being), but their job is to match a companys needs with a candidate who fits those needs.  They work for the company, not you, and when it comes down to it, they get their multi-thousand dollar commission because they placed the right person, not because they spent the time to coach all of the wrong people. Recruiters arent really good at networking. In Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi includes headhunters as that elite group called power connectors.  The idea is they talk to people all the time, know everyone, know what opportunities are coming up, and can likely introduce you to the person you really need to talk to. Wrong. My experience with most recruiters is they (a) are so busy they dont know which way is up and which way is down, and cant take a second to spend any real time with you, (b) are very protective of their network because this is how they make a living (protective of your peers because they might eventually place them one day; protective of company contacts because thats how they get those big-commission opportunities in the first place not by charitably help you, rather by signing a contract with the company so they get a piece of the pie when you are hired). Now, I say they arent good at networking, but in fact they are excellent at networking as it pertains to their job.  Dont expect them to put their networking mojo on to help you figure out who you should talk to perhaps I should say recruiters arent really good at networking for you. When you find that right recruiter, you make THE mistake. I bet 99% of the people do this.  If you ask me for a tech recruiter in Podunk, USA, and I give you a name or send an email introduction, you do the wrong thing. What is the wrong thing? You become a needy job seeker, just like the other 5,000 needy job seekers in their database. You send them a well-thought-out email that looks a lot like a cover letter, talking about all of your great strengths and accomplishments, and a resume.  You have prepared hours to send this stuff, which makes you sound and look very professional, so you think. But you look just like 80% of the rest of their candidates. And then you dont follow up right.  You ask them a week or two later if they got your email, what did they think, and do they know of any positions open. Heres the problem: you are using them like a tool, and they are considering you like a candidate. UNLESS they have a position open right then that exactly matches what you showed them, or if they can recognize some very special qualities and qualifications and know something might come up where youll be the perfect match, you are mentally (and virtually) filed into some add one more to my 5,000-person database bucket. You have marginalized yourself because you played right into the system, instead of actually networking with the recruiter. How do you get around this stuff?  Realize that, as human beings, not all recruiters are the same.  Id say most that Ive met fit into this stereotype, but there are some out there who care more about you as a human being Ive given them credit for.  Id listen to anything that Steve Levy, Heather Gardner, Nick Corcodilos (aka, Ask the Headhunter get on his awesome newsletter) recommends. Heres my advice, if you get the name of a recruiter who specializes in.: NETWORK WITH THEM. Dont send them a resume and cover letter or intro email. From one professional (thats you) to another (thats them), send them an email or make a phone call and network.  Work on a long-term relationship. Nurture it.  Id start off asking them questions about their openings and how I can help them.  I OFFER to make introductions to my industry peers.  I bring something to them to help them do their job and get that commission. I try and become a power connector FOR them. I try to become helpful, and memorable. Sure, theyll know Im looking, but Ill stand out from the other 5,000 candidates they have in their database. My followups wont be do you have anything for me yet, or have you heard anything at my target companies?  That is focused on me rather my followups would be what can I do for you, how can I help you with your current openings, what kind of professional do you want to get to know. Perhaps Im way off-base on this one what do you think? WRONG QUESTION Do you know a recruiter who specializes in…. PREORDER the second edition of LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the DVD at a discount. Check out all the specials here. Heres one of my biggest  job search pet peeves: asking for a recruiter who specializes in a particular industry or location. Perhaps youve gotten emails like this: Do you know a recruiter who specializes in IT (or project management, or supply chain, etc.)? Do you know a recruiter in Seattle (or Houston, or D.C., or Podunk, USA)? When I get this question I cringe.  Not because the job seeker is doing the wrong thing (they are just trying to get a job), but because they are barking up the wrong tree.  Heres why I say that, based on my experience and observations. Id love to know what your experience has been Recruiters dont work for you and they dont care about you. Really.  Maybe some of them do (okay, I know some of them who do care about you, as a human being), but their job is to match a companys needs with a candidate who fits those needs.  They work for the company, not you, and when it comes down to it, they get their multi-thousand dollar commission because they placed the right person, not because they spent the time to coach all of the wrong people. Recruiters arent really good at networking. In Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi includes headhunters as that elite group called power connectors.  The idea is they talk to people all the time, know everyone, know what opportunities are coming up, and can likely introduce you to the person you really need to talk to. Wrong. My experience with most recruiters is they (a) are so busy they dont know which way is up and which way is down, and cant take a second to spend any real time with you, (b) are very protective of their network because this is how they make a living (protective of your peers because they might eventually place them one day; protective of company contacts because thats how they get those big-commission opportunities in the first place not by charitably help you, rather by signing a contract with the company so they get a piece of the pie when you are hired). Now, I say they arent good at networking, but in fact they are excellent at networking as it pertains to their job.  Dont expect them to put their networking mojo on to help you figure out who you should talk to perhaps I should say recruiters arent really good at networking for you. When you find that right recruiter, you make THE mistake. I bet 99% of the people do this.  If you ask me for a tech recruiter in Podunk, USA, and I give you a name or send an email introduction, you do the wrong thing. What is the wrong thing? You become a needy job seeker, just like the other 5,000 needy job seekers in their database. You send them a well-thought-out email that looks a lot like a cover letter, talking about all of your great strengths and accomplishments, and a resume.  You have prepared hours to send this stuff, which makes you sound and look very professional, so you think. But you look just like 80% of the rest of their candidates. And then you dont follow up right.  You ask them a week or two later if they got your email, what did they think, and do they know of any positions open. Heres the problem: you are using them like a tool, and they are considering you like a candidate. UNLESS they have a position open right then that exactly matches what you showed them, or if they can recognize some very special qualities and qualifications and know something might come up where youll be the perfect match, you are mentally (and virtually) filed into some add one more to my 5,000-person database bucket. You have marginalized yourself because you played right into the system, instead of actually networking with the recruiter. How do you get around this stuff?  Realize that, as human beings, not all recruiters are the same.  Id say most that Ive met fit into this stereotype, but there are some out there who care more about you as a human being Ive given them credit for.  Id listen to anything that Steve Levy, Heather Gardner, Nick Corcodilos (aka, Ask the Headhunter get on his awesome newsletter) recommends. Heres my advice, if you get the name of a recruiter who specializes in.: NETWORK WITH THEM. Dont send them a resume and cover letter or intro email. From one professional (thats you) to another (thats them), send them an email or make a phone call and network.  Work on a long-term relationship. Nurture it.  Id start off asking them questions about their openings and how I can help them.  I OFFER to make introductions to my industry peers.  I bring something to them to help them do their job and get that commission. I try and become a power connector FOR them. I try to become helpful, and memorable. Sure, theyll know Im looking, but Ill stand out from the other 5,000 candidates they have in their database. My followups wont be do you have anything for me yet, or have you heard anything at my target companies?  That is focused on me rather my followups would be what can I do for you, how can I help you with your current openings, what kind of professional do you want to get to know. Perhaps Im way off-base on this one what do you think? WRONG QUESTION Do you know a recruiter who specializes in…. PREORDER the second edition of LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the DVD at a discount. Check out all the specials here. Heres one of my biggest  job search pet peeves: asking for a recruiter who specializes in a particular industry or location. Perhaps youve gotten emails like this: Do you know a recruiter who specializes in IT (or project management, or supply chain, etc.)? Do you know a recruiter in Seattle (or Houston, or D.C., or Podunk, USA)? When I get this question I cringe.  Not because the job seeker is doing the wrong thing (they are just trying to get a job), but because they are barking up the wrong tree.  Heres why I say that, based on my experience and observations. Id love to know what your experience has been Recruiters dont work for you and they dont care about you. Really.  Maybe some of them do (okay, I know some of them who do care about you, as a human being), but their job is to match a companys needs with a candidate who fits those needs.  They work for the company, not you, and when it comes down to it, they get their multi-thousand dollar commission because they placed the right person, not because they spent the time to coach all of the wrong people. Recruiters arent really good at networking. In Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi includes headhunters as that elite group called power connectors.  The idea is they talk to people all the time, know everyone, know what opportunities are coming up, and can likely introduce you to the person you really need to talk to. Wrong. My experience with most recruiters is they (a) are so busy they dont know which way is up and which way is down, and cant take a second to spend any real time with you, (b) are very protective of their network because this is how they make a living (protective of your peers because they might eventually place them one day; protective of company contacts because thats how they get those big-commission opportunities in the first place not by charitably help you, rather by signing a contract with the company so they get a piece of the pie when you are hired). Now, I say they arent good at networking, but in fact they are excellent at networking as it pertains to their job.  Dont expect them to put their networking mojo on to help you figure out who you should talk to perhaps I should say recruiters arent really good at networking for you. When you find that right recruiter, you make THE mistake. I bet 99% of the people do this.  If you ask me for a tech recruiter in Podunk, USA, and I give you a name or send an email introduction, you do the wrong thing. What is the wrong thing? You become a needy job seeker, just like the other 5,000 needy job seekers in their database. You send them a well-thought-out email that looks a lot like a cover letter, talking about all of your great strengths and accomplishments, and a resume.  You have prepared hours to send this stuff, which makes you sound and look very professional, so you think. But you look just like 80% of the rest of their candidates. And then you dont follow up right.  You ask them a week or two later if they got your email, what did they think, and do they know of any positions open. Heres the problem: you are using them like a tool, and they are considering you like a candidate. UNLESS they have a position open right then that exactly matches what you showed them, or if they can recognize some very special qualities and qualifications and know something might come up where youll be the perfect match, you are mentally (and virtually) filed into some add one more to my 5,000-person database bucket. You have marginalized yourself because you played right into the system, instead of actually networking with the recruiter. How do you get around this stuff?  Realize that, as human beings, not all recruiters are the same.  Id say most that Ive met fit into this stereotype, but there are some out there who care more about you as a human being Ive given them credit for.  Id listen to anything that Steve Levy, Heather Gardner, Nick Corcodilos (aka, Ask the Headhunter get on his awesome newsletter) recommends. Heres my advice, if you get the name of a recruiter who specializes in.: NETWORK WITH THEM. Dont send them a resume and cover letter or intro email. From one professional (thats you) to another (thats them), send them an email or make a phone call and network.  Work on a long-term relationship. Nurture it.  Id start off asking them questions about their openings and how I can help them.  I OFFER to make introductions to my industry peers.  I bring something to them to help them do their job and get that commission. I try and become a power connector FOR them. I try to become helpful, and memorable. Sure, theyll know Im looking, but Ill stand out from the other 5,000 candidates they have in their database. My followups wont be do you have anything for me yet, or have you heard anything at my target companies?  That is focused on me rather my followups would be what can I do for you, how can I help you with your current openings, what kind of professional do you want to get to know. Perhaps Im way off-base on this one what do you think?