A Resume Checklist: Get your resume into the hands of a recruiter

How do you get your resume into the hands of a recruiter? The simplest answer is: Many times, recruiters will find you. If you have an up-to-date profile on LinkedIn and a desirable list of skills, it’s not unusual for you to be contacted by a recruiter who would like to place you with a client company.

LinkedIn is also a great way to locate recruiters who work in your field or your geographic area. You can use LinkedIn’s People Search function to find a contact.

For example, you may type in: recruiter, consumer products, marketing, Sacramento and the search will yield results you can review to find potential recruiter contacts. Reputable recruiters will have LinkedIn profiles outlining their career and accomplishments and defining the type of clients and candidates they work with. You should also review their Recommendations and see what their clients and candidates say about them.

When you want to connect with a recruiter, a good place to start is with your colleagues. Ask if they have worked with a recruiter who was helpful and who treated them with respect and professionalism. Human resources managers and recruiting directors often can be a good source of recruiter referrals as well. Ask: “Who is the best recruiter you’ve worked with?”

You can also look at job postings from recruiters on the major job boards (Monster, Indeed, CareerBuilder, etc.) as well as industry-specific job boards. See which recruiters have posted positions similar to the one you’re seeking. (These are posted by contingency recruiters, not retained recruiters.)

You can also make connections with recruiters by joining and participating in LinkedIn Groups.

Google’s search engine can also help you mine the LinkedIn database to find a match. For example, use the following search query (replacing “Chicago area” with the location of your choice): Site:linkedin.com ~recruiter “Chicago area”

The Riley Guide also provides links to online directories of recruiters — both free online listings as well as paid directories:

http://www.rileyguide.com/recruiters.html

Resume Distribution Services

If you want to save yourself the time and trouble of researching recruiters and making contact with one recruiter at a time, consider a resume distribution service like Profile Research, LLC.

Resume distribution services can develop a targeted list of recruiter contacts by industry, geographic area, or keywords and your resume will be distributed to the recruiters directly.

These companies also offer resume distribution:

• ResumeArrow
• ResumeDeliver

Success rates for using resume distribution services are difficult to gauge. Even though you have a stellar resume, you may find you get very little response to an unsolicited distribution. Some job seekers have found these services to be very effective, yielding contacts with hiring managers and recruiters who are either currently advertising open positions, or who may be receptive to learning more about a candidate. Depending on the amount you invest in the service, you may find it to be extremely cost-effective as a job search strategy.

When evaluating a service, ask:

• How do you get the contacts for your resume distribution service? Are these opt-in contacts? (Are the people receptive to receiving resumes?)
• Do you send the resume to everyone on your list, or do you target the resumes to specific keywords to ensure the recipient only gets resumes they would be interested in?
• Do you specialize in a particular industry?
• Do you have testimonials or references from clients who have worked with you and had success using your services? What is your success rate?

Build your own

You can also build your own list. For example, Custom Databanks, Inc. offers a subscription to an online directory of recruiters and venture capital firms. The company has compiled information on more than 15,000 U.S. and Canadian executive search and personnel agencies.

The listing will give you contact information for the recruiting firm, including email address and website (when available). It will also let you know which type of recruiting firm it is (contingency or retained) — and whether there is a salary minimum for candidates they work with. Many search firms will also provide a description or summary of their services or specialties, including job functions and industries they serve.

 Recruiter image courtesy franky242 and green checkmark courtesy yodiyim via FreeDigitalPhotos.net.