Tapped on the shoulder by a recruiter, what do you say or do?
We encounter mixed reactions when we reach out to people about job opportunities. Some people react negatively when tapped on the shoulder by a recruiter, for various reasons: unfamiliarity, you’re busy, you’re not interested in another job or you simply do not like recruiters. Others see it as an opportunity to verify their market value…
We encounter mixed reactions when we reach out to people about job opportunities. Some people react negatively when tapped on the shoulder by a recruiter, for various reasons: unfamiliarity, you’re busy, you’re not interested in another job or you simply do not like recruiters. Others see it as an opportunity to verify their market value or market positioning or an opportunity to further their career. And between these extremes, there is a whole group of intermediate reactions.
Think about it at the most fundamental level. Being tapped on the shoulder means that a recruiter has been researching people in your industry and come across your name, most usually as a result of a recommendation by one of your industry peers. This is a good thing as it marks you out as a probable superior performer–and it means that you are being recognised.
5 easy tips on what to say next time a recruiter taps you on the shoulder.
Tip #1 – Take the call with an open mind and take down the recruiter’s details for future reference. You might not be interested today, but who knows what anyone’s future employment prospects can be. You may want to contact that recruiter sometime in the future.
Tip #2 – Before you answer any questions, try and get as much information about the recruiter as you can, so that you can verify their credentials. You want to make sure that the person you are talking to is legitimate and an industry specialist.
Tip #3 – Once you are comfortable with the recruiter’s background, find out as much as possible about the role before you answer any questions yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, a good recruiter will not be troubled by your questions. Besides it confirms your interest.
Tip #4 – If you consider the opportunity is suitable / interesting, let the recruiter ask questions. Answer them as openly and honestly as you can. Just as there is no place for exaggeration in a written resume, there is no sense in not being honest and straightforward with a recruiter. An honest initial discussion with your recruiter can develop into a long-term career management relationship.
Tip #5 – Finish your conversation with relevant questions, such as timing of future appointments. If you are interested in the role, make sure that you indicate this to the recruiter. Indifference will most likely put the recruiter off.
Like most things in life, an opportunity is only any good if you seize it. So, the next time a recruiter comes knocking, seize it as an opportunity to learn and, perhaps, progress your career.
The Latest Updates
Let’s look at the current trends in job demand and talent availability in the agriculture and agribusiness sector in Australia over the second half of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. There was a weakening of job demand in this sector but a slight improvement in candidate availability and job interest during this period….
In times past, people’s working lives often played out over many years at one company, but now the world has vastly changed. These days it is common to shift between jobs and organisations, but this practice raises questions as to what is today considered the Goldilocks time to spend in a job? How often do…
Employee retention matters. Organisational issues such as training time and investment, lost knowledge, mourning, insecure co-workers and a costly candidate search aside; failing to retain a key employee is costly. Various estimates suggest that losing a middle manager costs an organisation up to 100 percent of their salary. The loss of a senior executive is…