Best Steps To Building Relationships With Recruiters On LinkedIn

Create A Recruiter-friendly Linkedin ProfileA brand “you” summary showcasing your

experience, achievements, and credentials.Brief, achievement-driven position overviews.Clustered work history that tells a story rather

than a long list of positions that distracts from your brand.

Brand-focused content that sets your candidacy apart from others seeking the same roles.

Keywords in the locations in your profile where the LinkedIn search engine looks for them.

Put Your Network At Their DisposalCraft a message offering the recruiter access

to your professional network.Mention the titles of some of the folks in the

industry you know to demonstrate the depth and breadth of your contacts. Be specific and comprehensive in doing so (without going overboard) to impress the recruiter with the wealth of contacts you have in the industry.

Invite the recruiter to let you know when they seek to fill their next requisition so you can suggest referrals that may help in filling it.

Offer Your ExpertiseWait 1-2 weeks, then send a second

message introducing yourself again (it’s best to assume they won’t remember your last communication) and offering to serve as an industry expert should the need arise.

List a few of the industry topics you are most well-versed in and the industry best practices you have the most experience with so they know in which areas you can offer them the most support.

Suggest IntroductionsWait another 1-2 weeks and then send a

third message describing 1-2 potential candidates they may be interested in. Comb your network for such candidates and request permission of them to promote their candidacy to an industry-appropriate recruiter.

Make sure you choose candidates who won’t be competing with you for the same kinds of jobs.

Offer to connect the recruiter with the person(s) you showcased in your email.

Share A ResourceWait another 1-2 weeks and send a fourth

message offering an industry-specific resource to the recruiter.

Keep your resource recent and relevant. Don’t send something they are likely to have found easily on their own.

Include a sentence or two about why you found this resource helpful or injecting your own opinion and perspective on the subject.

Tell Them What They Want To KnowA subject line that briefly highlights your

target title, amount of experience, area of expertise, and openness to relocation.

A 1-sentence opening that invites them to consider your candidacy.

2-3 possible titles of interest Industries and sub-sectorsSizes/types of companies you want to joinYour key strengths1-2 of your best achievementsAreas you will relocate to