How to get on recruiter radar

How to get on recruiter radar Wouldnt it be nice if recruiters called you regularly to see if youre interested in interviewing for one of their jobs? Here are some steps you can take to make that fantasy come true: 1. Get a high profile in your industry. Speak at conferences. You might not get paid in cash, but youll be noticed. And because you wont get paid, landing a spot on a panel is actually not that difficult. Speakers get noticed not only by conference junkies, but also by the press (a fine line, really). And the best way to get your name in the news is by saying something intelligent and elucidating to someone who can quote you. Also, if you can afford it, hire a public relations professional. I got the idea for this column from a press release (generated by a public relations specialist) sent to me in the form of an article by David Theobald, CEO of Netshare. Who knows if he really wrote it (I doubt it since writers are cheap and CEOs arent.) But he does have good ideas. And look, it worked. Now you know his name and might check out his company. 2. Send a resume recruiters can use. Become a specialist. I once met a recruiter for lunch. She spent the whole meal finding out about me, and then she said, You need to say what you are up front. Generalists dont help recruiters. I did not take her advice. At the time, I was scared to specialize I thought Id miss opportunities. But research shows that after five or six years, you will move faster in your career if you establish yourself as a specialist. This makes sense, because a recruiter has to sell you to her client in one sentence, for example, General Motors guy who is a management star, or advertising genius who can take a brand to the top. Also, create a keyword-friendly resume. No one wants to imagine that their career is dependent on some computer plucking them out of a black hole. But the reality is that recruiters manage large piles of quality resumes with keyword searches. So write a resume that includes the keywords you want to be identified by. 3. Say the right thing. You never know where you are going to meet a recruiter. Maybe youll sit next to one on an airplane, or maybe youll get a phone call in the middle of your busiest day at work. You have to be ready to talk at any time. So have a pitch about yourself ready to go, and focus on accomplishments. When a recruiter asks, What have you been doing? he is sniffing around for star performers, not just people who get their job done. So dont bore the recruiter by listing job duties. (Many people say they cannot do this because the recruiter needs background to understand the accomplishment. This is not true. Everyone understands raised revenues, saved time, and decreased costs. Lead with one of those phrases, and if the way you did the task is a little obscure, youll still get your point across. Dont bother clarifying details that dont matter.) Also, be prepared to talk about what youre looking for in your next step. If you cant answer that question, a recruiter cant determine if youre a good fit. After all this, youre probably wondering what Mr. Theobald has to say. Heres an example: Have a good voice message. You have only one opportunity to make a first impression, and everyone thinks thats eyeball to eyeball, but its more likely to be on the phone. Be sure the tone and message on your answering machine is upbeat and professional.