Your Response is Your First Impression

I've recently been lucky enough to receive great response to my recent adverts and updates.

Some Do and Do Not advice to those of you who are looking to make contact with recruiters or potential employers: 

1. Do not comment "I'm interested" or "Please check my profile" - this does not help you stand out. Recruiters and Employers are looking for people who take initiative and differentiate themselves from the crowd. 

2. Don't start a relationship with a text - Text conversations are time-consuming, and are almost impossible to build rapport through. A 2 minute phone conversation is 1000% more valuable than reams of text

3. Don't Waste Everyone's Time - If a post asks for Project Manager and you've never seen a project plan document, don't send your CV. Firstly, the recruiter or employer will think you have not listened - which may affect future applications. Secondly, you will not be getting a call back, so all the effort of putting a CV together and sending it would be wasted. Finally, the employer or recruiter may have negative sentiment to you for taking up time with an application that will go no further.

4. Do call them - If you have a contact number, use it. You will be able to get a feel for the culture and personality of the business, and get crucial insight into the job. You'll also have the chance to display your winning personality and infectious energy to the employer.

5. Do Follow Up - In our current market, a lot of people are looking for new opportunities. This means that every role will receive a multitude of responses. If you don't get a call in the first couple of days after your application, follow up with a phone call. Maybe the recruiter hasn't gotten to your profile yet - but your demonstration of tenacity and enthusiasm will now make you stand out in their mind. If you still don't get anything a few days later, call again!

6. Advertise Yourself - a CV is a CV right? No. With the plethora of technology and formats available, you can make sure your CV speaks to the skills you want to highlight, and will appeal to your audience. If you're a creative, make sure your creativity shines through. If you're a developer, the technical skills you have and projects you've worked on will be important. A little bit of extra effort goes a long way

And finally...

Don't give up! Finding a new opportunity can be daunting, with many disappointments, but the perfect job for you is out there - stick with it!