If you have a LinkedIn profile, you have probably received a message from a recruiter inquiring about a position they are working hard to fill. Sometimes, this opportunity can be your next career move. Other times, the job can miss the mark and not align with your career goals. These recruitment messages either come from an internal recruiter or a third-party recruitment specialist from a staffing firm. Regardless of your interest in the position, it is crucial to respond to the recruiter, and here is why.
They can put your resume in their CRM
First of all, if a recruiter reaches out to you and you want to learn more about the job opportunity, they will ask you for your resume. Once they have your resume, they will upload it to their company’s CRM system, where they keep all of their candidate records. This system helps them keep track of candidates’ qualifications, notes, contact details, and other important information. However, if you have no interest in the position, don’t just leave the recruiter left on read. Reach back out to them, thank them for thinking of you, and send them your resume. The first place most experienced recruiters look for potential candidates for a new opportunity is the CRM system.
If you are not in their system, you could miss out on other opportunities in the future! Here’s an example of how to respond to a recruiter in this situation:
“Hi [Recruiter’s Name],
Thank you for reaching out to me about this position. This sounds like an exciting opportunity, but I am not currently exploring new jobs at this time. However, can I send you my resume if you have another opportunity in the future?
Thank you, and I look forward to connecting with you.”
You can build a relationship with the recruiter
If you don’t respond to a recruiter when one reaches out to you, it’s challenging to build a relationship with them. Recruiters are no strangers to low response rates. Thus, if you take the time to reply to them, they will likely remember you when another opportunity comes up that better matches your skillset and career goals. Also, you should connect with them on LinkedIn so you can remain on their radar as they work on other requisitions. Plus, recruiters often work on exclusive job orders that you won’t find anywhere else, so fostering a relationship with them can open new doors!
Your job situation may change one day
As we all learned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, your job situation can change in the blink of an eye. Whether that’s restructuring, department changes, mergers/acquisitions, or even your company suddenly shutting its doors, your employment situation today may look a lot different in the not-so-distance future. Therefore, we always recommend responding to a recruiter and connect with them if your job situation shifts.
Looking to connect with a recruiter?
So, you hopefully understand the value of responding to a recruiter when they reach out to you. Even if you don’t have an interest in that particular position, you never know what roles they may have available in the future. If you are interested in keeping a recruiter in your back pocket, review our job board and signup for our Talent Network! You can upload your resume and create job alerts that match your skills, career interests, and location to find the next step in your career. We look forward to connecting with you!
