How to Get Recruiters to Respond

If you’re trying to get a job, and are applying through job boards, you’re not likely to get a response from recruiters. The best way to get a response is to reach them through Linkedin.

You have 300 characters to make a favorable impression, so speaking from the heart, showing passion, hard work, circumstances, and diversity of perspective may be enough for them to respond.

Once they do, you can impress with your the knowledge you have on the problem they’re trying to solve or you can politely ask if they’d be willing to refer your resume to the recruiter so it doesn’t get lost in the pile.

So next time you see a job you’re interested in:

1. Look up their company name on Linkedin
2. Go to the People tab to see who works there
3. See who’s the likely recruiters or hiring manager
4. Send a connection request with a very thoughtful message

Here’s an example of a thought provoking message, and remember you only have 300 characters to make an impression:

Hi XXX

I'm interested in the “Product Designer” job at your company and am one of the hardest workers you will ever meet. I’ve had extenuating circumstances though: I was in a car accident 4 years ago and as a result lost my eyesight.

I'm reaching out to flag my resume.

May we connect?
XXX

Doing this with 5-8 people per company and for every job you apply to will multiply you chances of getting a positive response.

About the Author

Roy Baladi is the founder of Jobs for Humanity, and cofounder of Jobs for Lebanon. He was formerly Head of Marketplace at PerkSpot and SmartRecruiters.

You can connect with him on Linkedin.