When The Recruiter Calls?

Recruiting, retention or contingencies involves (or should, anyway) reaching out directly to individuals who, based on their title or position, might have the experience to handle the job description and position for which the client is seeking someone. Of course, the persons addressed are currently usually employed by one of the client's competitors. If you are that person, what would you do? What would you do if a recruiter called and outlined an opportunity at an unnamed company? Obviously, if you're unhappy where you are and the opportunity sounds interesting, you'll bite. But I'm not talking about this scenario. I'm talking about reacting when YOU are happy where you are. Because there's a smart way to react and a not-so-smart way to react. And either choice affects your career much more than you might think! So here you are sitting at your desk working on an important project when the phone rings. And you pick it up. It's a recruiter who introduces himself, his company and asks if you have a minute. What do you say? “Thanks for the call, but I'm happy where I am. And hang up the phone? WRONG ANSWER!!!! Why? Because you've just cut yourself off from knowing what's moving and shaking in your industry, which means you're just cutting yourself off from hearing about unadvertised opportunities that could potentially benefit your career. You just decided to limit your options. And if you don't have access to information, you can't make an informed decision, can you? What should you do instead? No matter how happy you are with your current company, listen to what the recruiter has to say. You have a much better chance of leveraging your career when a recruiter calls than when (and if) you contact the recruiter. There are people who are really happy with their current position and have no interest in making a change right now, regardless of the opportunity that is presented to them at the time. But you listen anyway, not to change, but to develop a relationship and keep yourself informed and in control when you need a change. My friend went with a company that had nationwide offices. She started at their corporate office right out of college. Over the years, she earned an MBA and continued to climb the ranks. She was with this company for 25 years… until she was fired a few months ago. She didn't see it coming. And she got scared. If YOU are not in control of your career, then your company IS. Company restructuring, layoffs and downsizing are occurring with alarming frequency as companies tighten their belts and carefully monitor who is contributing and who is not. Sometimes it's not even a contribution. In these plush-carpeted, windowed offices, top executives and board members comfortably decide whose head will roll and for what reason. Sometimes it's just the elimination of an entire department - and it has nothing to do with YOU, individually. For example, it is not uncommon for a new manager or president to come in and bring his own people with him. But it can happen so fast and it can happen to you too. Will you have a network to fall back on if so? Will you have established relationships with recruiters that you can turn to immediately? Develop it before you need it. The time to take control of your career is just when you don't think it's necessary: ​​when you're happy and successful where you are.