If you are eyeing a leadership role, one of the best ways to find a perfect job tailored to your expertise and experience is to connect with an executive recruiter.

Executive recruitment agencies act as the bridge between companies and candidates, linking the perfect-fit employee to the best offer.

However, connecting with a recruitment agency is not an easy peasy task.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about establishing a strong relationship with executive recruiters to help land your dream job.

Always be in touch

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of January 2024, there are almost 6 million Americans (not in the labor force) searching for a job. So, whether you are looking to land an executive role or not, the right time to start building a relationship is before you need to.

It’s best to seek these firms when you are still employed and not actively looking for a new place. In truth, developing a relationship or reaching out to a recruiter when you need a new job can be very challenging.

Establishing a good rapport with an executive recruiter before actively seeking a job increases the likelihood of being matched with the best opportunity.

Do your due diligence

There are numerous recruitment agencies, which makes it a tad tricky to find the right one to connect to. However, it’s crucial that you do the work and pick the right consultant in line with your expertise, career, region, and nice.

Keep in mind that large firms, unlike individual recruiters, are focused on a wide range of clientele - not limited to a specific region, niche, experience, or expertise. Hence, you should consider consultants with a history of filling candidates for similar positions you are interested in. 

Build your professional presence

As you work toward contacting and maintaining a good relationship with a recruitment agency, you should also focus on being visible to your recruiters.

Attend relevant conferences, be an active member of several professional associations, and keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. This way, your recruiters can easily identify your skills, abilities, qualifications, and experience, ensuring they make a good match.

Furthermore, take advantage of social platforms such as LinkedIn to put yourself out there and be attractive to firms and other recruitment agencies. Also, be ready to interact with other job seekers, allowing you to build a professional network.