In a recruitment network, reputation is everything. It’s important to build relationships and put in the work that your trading partner expects. If you fling resumes at partners hoping that one sticks, or if you send a candidate for a partner’s job that is completely off-track, or if you send a partner a candidate that you’ve never had a conversation with… chances are you are going to get a bad reputation. And bad reputations stick. There can be hundreds of trading partners to choose from and work with, so if you want someone to work with you, make sure you are only sending on-target candidates that you have a relationship with. Make sure you present them in a way that you contribute a ‘value add’, not just a LinkedIn profile link or resume.
Here’s some tips on how to submit candidates to a trading partner and build a good relationship in a recruitment network.
How to present your A+ candidates to an importer:
1. Call the importer first – you want to know where are they are in the process (if there are candidates in play, whether they have people in final rounds of interviews, what the interview process is, whether they have a track record with the client, etc), and what the “must-haves” are for the role.
2. Don’t just send a resume. Treat a trading partner like you would a client, and include a write-up detailing all the reasons why the candidate is a fit. Cover the critical areas like education, certifications, citizenship/whether authorized without sponsorship, relocation availability, compensation requirement, and work experience with targeted bullet-points as to why this candidate aligns to this position.
3. Include selling points & helpful screening questions, like: What size budget do you manage? How many direct reports have you had? Do you have experience with XYZ software? etc., to help better gauge the fit. That way, you are adding additional value and the importer knows that candidate has been talked to about the specific job. That’d save a lot of trial and error recruiting, time, and possibly increased relationship growth between trading partners.