How To Build Relationships with Executive Recruiters To Get The Best Jobs

Employers hire executive recruiters to find top talent for their strategic and high-impact positions. You will have an easier time securing leadership positions if you cultivate relationships with executive recruiters.

Here is our 5 step framework for building a valuable relationship with executive recruiters:

1. Target the Right Recruiters

2. Understand Why You Matter to Them

3. Become a Desired Candidate

4. Understand How You Will Be Vetted

5. Stay Connected (Even When Not Looking)

1. Target the Right Recruiters

Executive recruiters often act as gatekeepers to top tech jobs. Come to their attention if you want those roles.

First, determine who to work with. Ask these questions:

1. Who recruits for the roles that I want? Executive recruiters specialize. This allows them to build relationships with top candidates in their niche. Find the ones that focus on your niche. Sharebird specializes in Director to VP Product Marketing searches in growth stage to public companies and Heads of Marketing searches in early stage companies.

2. Who is recognized for their excellence? The best executive recruiters get asked to recruit for the best jobs. Get to know the best ones if you want the best jobs.

Once you have built your list of target executive recruiters, get in contact with them through a trusted colleague. See who you are mutually connected to on LinkedIn and then ask them for an introduction. Keep in mind, your colleague will also act as a backchannel on you.

2. Understand Why You Matter to Them

Executive recruiters get paid to match qualified candidates with great roles. They want to work with great candidates like you. But it is not that straightforward. Here are the factors that motivate them:

1. They are motivated to help the employer fill the open role, not to help you find a job. You will need to showcase your qualifications and career aspirations so that they can recommend you for a role they are recruiting for.

2. They are motivated to build a long-term relationship with you. For them, a long-term relationship with you can help them in that 1) they can place you in future roles and 2) one day you may become the client and hire them.

3. They are sometimes motivated to talk to you urgently. This is the case if they have an open role that they are working on and have identified you in their research OR if they think you are a strong candidate for future roles in their niche.