If you haven’t realized yet, a lot of the tips that I post about I get from when I’m endlessly scrolling through LinkedIn. This tip is no different. Since I started working in the recruiting and staffing industry, I’ve followed and connected with a multitude of influencers in the industry. They post what most recruiters are too scared to talk about, but are already thinking. I came across this post by Jane Ashen Turkewitz where she discusses how you should reach out to a recruiter.
About 99% of the time when someone in our company receives a resume, there is no accompanying information. I’ve talked about it briefly before, but sometimes your resume doesn’t tell the story you want it to. Take my resume for example. I’ve worked in the staffing and recruiting industry for almost three years, and I’ve been doing marketing for about 7 months. If I were to send my resume to an agency without stating what I was looking for, they would probably assume that I am looking to work in recruiting, because that’s what my experience tells them.
If you’re sending your resume to a recruiter, or to a hiring manager at a company, and you’re not actually applying to a specific job, let them know what you’re looking for. Think about it as a mini cover letter, keep it brief, but detailed.
“Hello, I am looking for a position as a CNA. I have just received my certification and I am looking for entry level roles in the Boston area. If you have anything available please let me know. I would also be open to other opportunities relating to my past experience as a customer service representative in a long term care pharmacy setting. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.”
This lets the recruiter exactly where and what you’re looking for. If you’re not interested in roles related to your past experience, you don’t have to add in that bit of information.