Nobody likes receiving an unsolicited phone call, it’s true.  It can be frustrating having to field multiple incoming calls and emails from recruiters, but if you’ve got skills that are in-demand, it might be worth it to take the time to hear what they have to say.  While you may be happily employed today, you never know when your circumstances could change.

Making New Connections

Making new industry connections is critical for anyone interested in growing in their career.  Even if a recruiter doesn’t have a job lead that can tempt you away from your current employer, if you’re courteous to that recruiter, you’ll be able to reach out when you do find yourself ready to move on. When it comes time to start looking for new challenges, that recruiter could end up becoming your white knight.

Even if you don’t think you’d be the right fit for their current offerings, if you know someone who would be a good fit, go ahead and connect the recruiter with that person.  Helping others strengthen their networks can reap long-term benefits for your career. Scratch someone’s back today, and they’ll be there for you when you’ve got an itch.

How to Evaluate a Recruiter

Before you decide to talk to a recruiter, you’ll want to do a bit of research to make sure the conversation is worth your time. Unfortunately, the industry is riddled with disreputable and fly-by-night organizations. You also want to be sure that the recruiter has been in the field for a long time – young recruiters may be good at their jobs, but they simply won’t have as large or as strong a network as a more seasoned professional.

A simple search of LinkedIn should tell you all you need to know about whether or not you’d be comfortable speaking with that recruiter. All professional recruiters should have a LinkedIn profile, and their organization should also have a company page on LinkedIn. If you like what you find on LinkedIn, do a Google search of the company and look for any reviews or testimonials, and check out their website to get a feel for the caliber of candidates and organizations they work with.

Set Boundaries and Be Honest

It will be important to set up-front boundaries with any recruiter. Be sure to let them know what times of day they may or may not call, on what lines they may or may not call, and whether or not it’s ok to leave a message. Be sure the recruiter has your personal contact information, as you don’t want to be fielding recruiting calls from your desk or sending employment-related email from your work account.

Boundaries are important for your privacy and peace of mind, but honesty is also important for the recruiter’s sake. If you truly aren’t interested in making a connection, be open about it up front. You should never lie about your abilities, skills, experience or expectations, either. Any embellishments you make, no matter how minor, will be easy to verify when your credentials are checked. The only way to have a beneficial and fruitful relationship with a recruiter is to be up front and honest 100 percent of the time.

An Exercise in Self-Reflection

Busy professionals rarely have the time to step back and reflect upon their own careers.  Connecting with a recruiter can help you take that necessary time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, career path, and possible new opportunities. The types of questions posed by a recruiter can be a worthwhile exercise in self-examination, forcing you to take a good look at where you are in your career and where you see yourself in five or even 10 years. Even if you come to the determination that you are truly happy where you are, you might make some new discoveries. You’ll learn your true value in the marketplace, and you might uncover new skills that you wish to pursue, or new responsibilities you’d like to take on to help you grow professionally.

Strategic Search Solutions is a full-service recruiter that works to place enterprise software sales professionals with exciting opportunities. We work with some of the most dynamic organizations in the industry, and we’re actively looking to grow our network of candidates. Even if you aren’t ready to make a change today, if you’re interested in testing the waters, give us a call. We’ll work with you to help you understand the current job landscape, get a handle on your market value, and possibly connect you with your next opportunity.