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Networking amid the coronavirus pandemic has changed.
- With a recession likely, entire industries on pause, new job openings dwindling, and unemployment soaring, five seasoned recruiters shared how job seekers can network with recruiters during the current hiring slowdown hitting many sectors due to coronavirus.
- Many potential employers are currently downsizing and not hiring, and at the same time the market is being flooded with talent looking for work.
- On the bright side, however, just like candidates have more time to talk during slowdowns, so will some recruiters, so now is the perfect time to initiate new relationships with recruiters.
- Be cautious and considerate when reaching out, name drop, and expect slower response times.
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Across nearly all aspects of society - the world of recruiting included - what was once the norm is no longer a given. That's how immediate and all-encompassing the impact of the current global coronavirus pandemic has been.
Add to that a predicted recession that's expected to rival the Great Recession, mass layoffs, and skyrocketing unemployment claims, and those who have been on the lookout for new opportunities since before the crisis and those now suddenly experiencing job loss or insecurity as a result of the economic fallout may be wondering what the new rules of engagement for job seekers are in this day and age.
Business Insider reached out to five recruiters with dozens of years of experience combined - dating back to the time of the Great Recession and earlier - and who have placed candidates across industries. Here's their advice for how job seekers can keep the door open to new opportunities, even during these uncertain times.
Acknowledge the changes that are happening and rise to the challenge by demonstrating humanity and kindness
Businesses are scrambling, and the new normal is anything but normal for most - and that's something today's job seekers need to recognize, said Hermon Ghermay, director of the marketing, media, and communications executive search firm Grace Blue who has placed candidates at Harman, Omnicom, Omidyar Networks, R/GA, and Universal McCann.
Hermon Ghermay
Hermon Ghermay.
She encouraged job seekers to acknowledge what's happening with every outreach, and with more than a generic "I hope you're doing well" one-liner, which could come across as insincere.
"Sound human, not 'professional,'" she said. "The tone of the conversations I've had with perfect strangers this week has been refreshingly intimate and is a reminder of the power of vulnerability in creating connections. From the travel industry executive who was having to lay off staff while tending to a vomiting five-year-old and looking to get tested for coronavirus, to the SVP who was rushing to get a mother-in-law."
Reset expectations for response rates and times
Many of the recruiters Business Insider reached out to shared the same advice about any form of outreach during this time: Be respectful and patient.
"Don't get frustrated about calls getting pushed back or read into delayed timing," said Ghermay, who explained that some roles may be on hold indefinitely due to the current circumstances. It's not personal and it's not a reflection of you as a qualified candidate, it's about "companies trying to ascertain their talent needs in this new environment," she said, explaining that everyone involved in the process - leaders, hiring managers, recruiters - are dealing with limited information as everything changes so quickly.
For industries most directly impacted by the pandemic, two competing forces are at play, both at job seekers' disadvantage - employers are going through a period of contracting while simultaneously the market is experiencing a flood of talent looking for work. In short: companies are "thinking about which talent to retain, not who they'll add," noted Ghermay.
Be cautious and considerate when reaching out
Kim Hoffman
Kim Hoffman.
For candidates who have recently interviewed with a company and haven't heard back in more than two weeks, "It's OK to reach out to a recruiter and check in," said Kim Hoffman, a talent-acquisition director at Intuit who has 20 years of recruiter and talent experience and has hired thousands of candidates in her career.
She provided the following template for reaching out:
- Preface the email by recognizing the situation, and asking if the recruiter is staying safe during this time.
- Mention that with the current situation, you understand that timelines may have shifted, so you're checking in to see if there is anything further needed from you.
"Then, I would give them breathing room to respond at their own time," she explained.
Use "judgment when it comes to frequency and be empathetically persistent and considerate of not flooding inboxes and voicemails," said Ghermay. You should stick to whatever communication channel (email, phone, text, or LinkedIn messages) has already been in use with the recruiter.
"If you're not getting a response or not getting a response as quickly as you'd like, be patient and resist the temptation to reach out repeatedly on multiple channels," she said.
Pete Sosnowski
Pete Sosnowski.
Pete Sosnowski, the head of human resources and cofounder of the resume-building website Zety, added, "If the company [has] put on hold all hiring activities, ask when would be a good time to reconnect."
Even if a given opportunity has been put on hold, candidates can still check in with recruiters with whom they've established relationships every couple of weeks to be considered for future positions, said Tom McGee, the general manager of the sales and marketing division at the executive-recruiting firm Lucas Group. McGee has 35 years of experience in recruiting and has placed candidates at global companies like True Value, Ashley Furniture, and Thomson Reuters.
Tom McGee
Tom McGee.
As to what to avoid when reaching out, the recruiters interviewed shared that the following would be seen as crossing a line professionally:
- Insisting on meeting in person - given the current call for physical distancing.
- Reaching out to the same individual recruiters more than once a week.
- Continuing to reach out about opportunities when employers have made it clear that all recruitment activities are canceled or will be on hold for a set amount of time.
Don't be afraid to initiate new relationships with recruiters - they may have more time on their hands to connect
For job seekers looking to expand their networks at this time, McGee shared that there may be an even more receptive audience on the other end. "Just like the candidates have more time to talk during the slowdown, so do recruiters, so reach out and talk to someone," he said. "The more people you reach out to, the more success you can have."
In industries that haven't been as affected - other than by moving online instead of doing their work in a physical office, "recruiters might get back to their normal activities very quickly," said Sosnowski, who shared similar advice for candidates to use this time to reach out, especially when they think they're the best fit for a new opportunity.
"You're actually doing them a favor by pointing their attention to (possibly) the right candidate," he said.
When candidates do reach out, it's important to remember that recruiter-candidate relationships are a two-way street, shared Ghermay. Candidates can add value by asking how they can help recruiters, making "thoughtful" referrals, and sharing industry trends, news, and learnings, she added.
For example, here are a couple lines Ghermay provided for making connections between a recruiter and one's network:
- If there are any searches you're currently working on that I can help source talent for, just let me know the criteria or share a job description and I'll think of anyone in my network that I can introduce you to.
- A former colleague is trying to fill a couple of business critical roles and could use an external partner to help with that, can I connect you both?
Save recruiters time by crafting an attention-grabbing elevator pitch - and name drop whenever possible
More important than resumes, elevator pitches are what help recruiters sell candidates to key decision makers, said Ghermay.
"Be concise and precise … make it easy for the recruiter to advocate for you by highlighting what skills and experiences match up with the job requirements," she explained.
For candidates being referred to the role, be sure to name that person - particularly in the subject lines of initial emails to recruiters, recommended Ghermay.
Invest in yourself
This is a great time to cross off items on the to-do list - whether that's seeking the help of a professional coach, taking new classes, or building a website showcasing career experience and work samples, said Ghermay.
Some other ideas Hoffman shared are updating your resume and LinkedIn profile and seeking out networking opportunities.
While in-person networking may be on hold, connecting online is always an option.
"Some companies are offering virtual events where they discuss different topics or projects happening within the company," Hoffman added. "These can be great activities to continue to make yourselves more marketable during this time."
Kerri McKinney
Kerri McKinney.
Kerri McKinney, the director of global sourcing for Terminal.io, a remote engineering staffing company, who has over 10 years of experience in the recruiting industry hiring for high-growth companies, including Indeed.com, PayPal, and Amazon, suggested considering virtual coffees and informational interviews. "People may be hungry for interaction during this time and happy to discuss professional growth opportunities," she said.
Hoffman suggested job seekers can set these up by reaching out to friends or peers at companies of interest.
Be open to new kinds of opportunities
One of the best ways candidates can keep the door open, said Ghermay, is by being open to new kinds of possibilities.
"The world looks very different today than it did even a week ago, and it will keep changing," said Ghermay, adding that job opportunities will likely look different, too. "Don't be myopic about opportunities or have stagnant career goals. Think creatively about what might be next and be willing to connect with different groups and communities."
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