Working the Recruiters

By DENNIS NISHI, from The Wall Street Journal

Laurie Ruettimann does not want to be sent flowers. Ever.

The human-resources professional from Raleigh, N.C., remembers getting an expensive bouquet while working as an in-house corporate recruiter years ago. The arrangement had been sent to her by a hopeful job hunter but the overture actually made her angry.

"Gift giving means that you're somehow indebted, and when you force that on somebody it's inappropriate, even offensive," says Ms. Ruettimann. "I responded like I would with any other candidate. When we didn't move forward with his résumé, I just sent him a note, automated through the system."

Find the recruiters who service your specific niche and try to meet them face-to-face at trade events. Getting an introduction from a colleague is another good way to get in.

In the current tight job market, cold calls and gimmicky gestures are the worst ways to approach recruiters—especially if your skills don't exactly match the job. Instead, experts recommend old-fashioned networking as the best way to get onto a recruiter's job-candidate list, but the effort requires more than just a LinkedIn invitation.

But don't launch into a sales pitch upon meeting, says Ms. Ruettimann. Try throwing the recruiter some business. Offer an introduction to somebody within your network who's having a hard time filling a job. The recruiter may return the favor by keeping you in mind for future jobs.

Recruiters prefer working with employed job candidates, so make your connection while you are still employed or immediately after being laid off.

There are exceptions, says Tim Honn, president of Fortis Recruiting Solutions in Lisle, Ill. If you took time off to care for an ill parent, companies will understand that. But it's important to show that you stayed active while unemployed, and this includes pursuing extra career training, consulting or doing volunteer work.

"You never want to give the impression that you're just sitting around and waiting for calls," says Mr. Honn, who also advises job hunters to never omit anything that can be uncovered with a Google search. He recently uncovered résumé inconsistencies while doing reference checks on a job candidate. The omissions killed the job hunter's chances with the company and Mr. Honn.

Be strategic with your job search. Plastering yourself all over the Internet and on every job site and database can make recruiters suspicious, says Ms. Ruettimann. "It makes you look desperate, and recruiters don't want to waste their time if you've already been turned down by a bunch of companies."

—Email: sjdnishi@gmail.com