Following Up the Right Way

I hear some version of this question all the time:

“A recruiter sent me on an interview, but I haven’t heard any feedback and it’s been ages. I know someone at the company very well. I want to reach out to them to know where I stand, but don’t want to overstep with the recruiter. What should I do?”

“A recruiter contacted me about a position, but now they’re unresponsive. I know someone at the company (or I saw it posted online). Can I reach out directly?”

I write often about how critical it is to build relationships with executive recruiters, so that they think of you first, later. Magnetizing your job search is getting jobs to come to you, months and years from now. Leaving a good impression is important. But when things go quiet, it can be awkward to know what to do. 

Here’s what I recommend:

- I'm assuming you've already tried to reach the recruiter via call, email and/or text whichever way they’ve been communicating with you most so far.

- Get in the right mindset. Assume positive intent. People want to do the right thing. 

- Give the recruiter a heads-up before you do anything, so they have the opportunity to course correct. Be clear about what you'd like to do.

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For example: let’s say a recruiter told you about a role, you had a call, and now they’ve gone silent. Meanwhile, your good friend works there, and you want to reach out to them directly. Try this:

“Hi Recruiter, I haven’t heard back and understand things can get busy. I’m still very interested in the role. I know someone at the company and was planning on reaching out to them on Friday. Let me know if that would step on any toes. Happy to wait if things are still in motion. What’s a good time for you to chat this week? If I don’t hear from you, I’ll reach out and let you know the outcome.”

That way, you give them a chance to respond, and if they don’t, you’ve done your part. You’re not being pushy. You’re being clear, respectful, and proactive.

This helps preserve the relationship while still advocating for yourself, which you absolutely should.

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If you'd like to learn more advice like this, check out Search in Plain Sight: Demystifying Executive Search on Amazon or Audible: https://lnkd.in/gqgu4vuq  I also created a self-paced course with group office hours: https://lnkd.in/gNCZpTXx

If you're planning on hiring tech executives this year, I'd love to chat.

🌟 Hiring? Get in touch: Somer@DistinguishedSearch.com