If you’re searching for a new job, a recruitment firm can help. They have access to a large amount of employers, connections and influential companies who are in need of a diverse range of candidates. And typically, the positions need to be filled right now. What does this mean for you?
An effective introductory message is a critical first step to landing a new job within a month, or even a few weeks. And if you follow these tips below, you have a much greater chance of the firm contacting you back.
What to include in your email
Most job seekers don’t think of themselves this way, but when you reach out to a recruitment firm (or even an employer directly for that matter) you become a sales person. What’s the product? Nothing other than yourself.
One classic technique to make a sale is to remove any and all barriers that will prevent a sale from happening. In other words, you need to make the recruitment firm’s job easier. Here’s how you can accomplish just that.
A concise message – recruitment firms receive hundreds of applicants a week. Not surprisingly, many of the consultants are short on time. If you want any chance of scoring one of the hundreds of jobs in a recruitment agency’s database, keep your introductory message concise. Too much information is a one-way ticket to an inbox’s trash bin. So what should you say?
Mention major selling points and strengths – have you won awards, competitions or been featured in the media for your skills? Be sure to let the recruitment agency know. Also, note the achievements you accomplished in previous jobs. Did you acquire your firm’s largest contract in a decade? Did you triple your organization’s profits within a six-month period? Be sure to list outstanding achievements such as these. As for your skills, be specific as possible about what you offer. Highlight your core competencies and the value you provide.
Your target salary – don’t make the recruitment firm guess. If you get all the way to your third interview and find out your expected salary is not within the employer’s budget, a lot of time has been wasted for everyone, yourself included. Mention your desired salary up front and this will make it easier for the recruitment firm to know if you match an employer’s budget.
What not to include
When contacting a recruitment agency, knowing “What not to do” is just as important as “What to do”. Here are some missteps to avoid when contacting us or another firm.
Images in your CV – it’s true, images can help your CV attract attention. But when image heavy CV’s are sent to a recruitment agency, they stand out in a bad way. The reason? Every CV sent to a recruitment firm goes into a database, and images make it much more difficult to input your CV into their CRM systems.
A cover letter – while we can’t speak for every recruitment firm, at Criterion we prefer applicants to skip the cover letter. As mentioned in the “What to include” section, simply keep your introductory message short and highlight your core competencies.
By following these instructions, you help recruitment firms quickly assess your skills, experience and input your information into their database. The result? You have a much better chance of hearing back from the recruitment agency and then landing a rewarding job. Now that you know how to effectively contact a recruitment firm, why not give it a try? Send us your CV today.