Recruiters Get Featured on LinkedIn: What Should Job Seekers Do To "Woo" You?

One of the oldest aphorisms, not to mention time worn clichés, in recruiting: the extended job search as dating metaphor - or, for similes' sake, that looking for the perfect job is a lot like looking for the perfect mate.

The whole concept of "finding a match" (catch me a catch?), or that long process of "candidate courtship," is central to our lexicon - and our professional lives. E-Harmony has attempted applying its algorithms to creating a lasting relationship, and in the age of social recruiting, as in romance, engagement is the most meaningful commitment out there.

That's why RecruitingBlogs is teaming up with LinkedIn to find out what job seekers need to do to get recruiters to fall in love with them once they've found a perfect match.

We want to find out what recruiters really look for in a candidate who thinks he's found his career soul mate; you know the type - the one who won't stop leaving you e-mails and voice messages asking for updates, even when they know the feeling's not mutual.

But every recruiter knows there's nothing more magical than the chemistry that happens when candidate, culture and CV all align. That's why we want you to let us know, this Valentine's Day, "What Can Candidates Do To Woo Recruiters?

Valentine's Day is around the corner, so we want to know:

What's Something Job Seekers Should Do To Woo You?

Leave your best advice for candidates by commenting below, and your responses may be featured in a LinkedIn blog post on Valentine's Day.

Comment by Nicole Greenberg Strecker, Esq on January 30, 2014 at 3:29pm: Are you sending me an invite because you think I might be able to help you get a job? Tell me! Let me know what you're looking for or how you think I might be able to help. An engaging note with a bit of a story makes me want to pass your info along, even if I can't help you myself. Many recruiters get countless connection requests everyday. Send a personal message and make yourself more than just another avatar.

Comment by James Rowbotham on January 31, 2014 at 9:05am: Show me that you've actually read the job description or at the least, know what industries I work in. Don't send me a canned/generic message, but a well-tailored pitch that speaks to me.

Comment by Matthew Harvey on January 31, 2014 at 11:58am: Recruiters sift through so many applications a day yet it still amazes me how few candidates actually pick up the phone to follow up and sell themselves to me. The CV only tells a part of the story in most cases.

Follow up your application with a timely phone call a few days later, you may be surprised with the response but please make sure you have the majority of the skills and experience in the job description or it may be a short and unproductive conversation!

Comment by Crystal Miller on January 31, 2014 at 12:44pm: Think beyond the job description. How do your skills, experience and assets benefit not just this job, but the company? If you're going for a professional, strategic role - show me that you've got a plan for impact based off of the information we've shared in not just the job description, but also our website, career site, and the homework you've done on the strengths & weaknesses of the company.

Beyond that? Demonstrate you know the difference between responsible follow-up and "stalking." Yes, I want to hear from you but not every day.

Comment by Eric Foutch on January 31, 2014 at 1:25pm: Recruiters spend a lot of time on Linkedin looking for high performers. The best way to become a high performer is to connect with people in your industry, showcase your knowledge by sharing relevant information, and start thought provoking conversations in groups. Getting people to endorse you for skills should come easy. Start by endorsing them first and you will see them soon return the favor.

Comment by Keith D. Halperin on January 31, 2014 at 1:40pm: @ Eric: IMHO, LI Endorsements are a joke and a waste of time.

-kh

Comment by John Turnberg on January 31, 2014 at 2:37pm: As a job seeker, think of your work history as a book. What is the story that it tells and why is it compelling? Your cover letter, InMail message or email can be viewed as the synopsis that is found on the back cover, which creates the need or desire to find out more.

Most importantly, take the time to review the job description and your resume. Does your resume clearly articulate your value proposition to the recruiter or the hiring manager, as to how you can solve for the needs outlined in the job description?

Comment by Jim Wahl on January 31, 2014 at 3:09pm: One thing is to not assume every recruiter on Linkedin in an agency recruiter. Take time to learn about the company that we work for. It's a great help when someone reaches out to me regarding a specific position rather than stating "please take a look at my resume and let me know if I am a fit for any position in your company".

Comment by Shirley Shurling on January 31, 2014 at 3:15pm: To woo me as an applicant - have an objective AND summary of qualifications that illustrate your PROVEN performance and potential factors that should ensure your capacity to deliver on the most critical components of the job description. Two or three sentences/bullets are best.

Yes, that means you will need to take 3-5 minutes to tweak your resume with each job application.

Follow-up with phone call, tweet or text and give me 48 hours to respond.

Comment by Nick Lagos on January 31, 2014 at 6:47pm: In lieu the fine advice already posted (don't want to be redundant), I'll spin a new view by saying "don't wait till you need a job, to be presenting yourself as an "A" player". Establish a "digital footprint" and maintain it at all times, so when people "Google" you, they see a professional at the top of their game. Tweet industry best practices, share your work on LI (or the appropriate venue for you, maybe github if you're a developer), woordpress, blogger, aboutme.com (you know where I'm going). "Lock-down" FB (privacy settings) so nobody happens upon you puking in the neighbors pool at that "can't remember a thing" party (I swear, this happened to me with a candidate once. Member of the 9 inning club... 9 beers, 9 hotdogs in 9 innings. Pool party to follow... wasn't pretty (but I digress)).

Oh.. and since this is focused at LinkedIn, lobby LI to bring back In-profile Activity Feeds to breathe life into your profile. Tweet current BUSINESS RELATED news and activities so visitors see both a historical perspective, as well as your current professional interests and direction. Want to "impress me" as a recruiter, show me you're "livin-it" & "lovin it" through your In-profile LinkedIn Activity Feed! LinkedIn's the first place I'll go, the rest I mentioned above is just window dressing... necessary... but LI is where recruiters go.

Frankly, customized (tweaked) resumes and cover letters (to a job description or company) just don't do it for me anymore. Yea, I'll read um, but I'm just not that stupid. Anyone can "doctor" a resume and kiss my ass (or my company's) and yes, well written achievement based resumes do have their place... but I feel for you suckers... I really do. Today, applying to 50 -100 positions (even if you're degreed) is not at all uncommon. I'm not such a recruiting narcissist as to think you are going to ignore the agony and frustration this horrendous economic situation has spawned, in concert the fact that 99% of the applications you file will go unanswered, and expect you to kiss all the ass's of everyone involved in this "flawed" process. Please... do not try and make it easier for me.... just be honest about the dragons you've slayed to the whole world through your digital footprint, and I'll know you're not just trying to BS me to get in the door.

Last I looked we're in the 21st century. Web 2.0 (maybe 3.0) is here! Revel in it and show me through your day to day actions over a reasonable period of time (need more than the last month when you were canned from your last gig) that you "get" what the hell is going on in "your space" (and the world around you)...and I'll show you to my clients.