working with a recruiter can be a great strategy for speeding up your job search and finding potential employers that are a good match for your career goals. the first step to getting a recruiter's help on your job search is reaching out to them through email. if you can write a compelling email to get a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to continue with your job search with the help of their industry connections and insights about the job market.
in this article, we provide steps for how to compose effective emails to recruiters from start to finish.
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where can you find recruiter email addresses?
before you start sending emails to recruiters, you need to know how to contact them. you may have to email multiple recruiters before you get a response or find the right person to work with you. there are multiple places that you can find email addresses for recruiters:
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job listings:andnbsp;many recruiters are responsible for posting job descriptions on behalf of actively hiring companies. you can search for job postings in your industry and look for the recruiter's email address in the listing so that you can contact them about other similar opportunities.
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company career pages:andnbsp;some businesses have their own recruiters dedicated to seeking out talented applicants exclusively for their organization. if you're interested in working at a particular company, you may be able to find a recruiter's information on the career page of their website.
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staffing and headhunting agencies:andnbsp;you may be able to find a recruiter by going through a staffing agency that works with both people looking for jobs and companies hiring new employees.
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how to send a recruiter an email
here are the steps you should take to prepare an email to a recruiter that can help you begin working together on your job search:
1. be direct in your subject line
recruiters receive a large volume of emails every day, so having a strong subject line is important for getting the recruiter's attention. in your subject line, briefly summarize your experience and what you want to get out of working with a recruiter.
this saves the recruiter time when sorting through emails from job applicants and immediately shows them if you would be a good fit for the types of employers they work with. here are some example subject lines you can use to intrigue recruiters before they even click on your email:
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experienced sql developer seeking roles in it management
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graphic designer searching for new opportunities
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brand manager inquiring about pr roles
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requesting assistance with the transition from project management to consulting
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2. greet them by name
in the opening of your email, refer to the recruiter by name to show that you put thought and attention into your email. even if you're contacting multiple recruiters, you should customize each email to make every recruiter feel like they're your first choice for help on your job search.
use the same name format from wherever you got their email to gain favor by using their preferred name. avoid using nicknames and only use gendered honorifics like "mr." or "ms." when the recruiter has already referred to themselves in that way.
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3. explain how you found their information
next, form a connection with the recruiter by describing how you found their contact details. if a colleague or friend referred you to the recruiter, mention them by name to promote a sense of familiarity. here are a few sample sentences that concisely and effectively describe your connection to the recruiter:
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we met last month during the annual hr professionals conference in san diego.
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i found your email when i was browsing for sales jobs on indeed.
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kaitlyn mackey, who you recently helped with an executive search, recommended that i reach out to you about finding a role in senior management.
4. briefly review your experience
now that you've established a basic introduction, describe what you have to offer the recruiter. you don't need to explain your entire career, but you should give the recruiter a sense of what skills you have to offer. this helps them determine if you could be a good fit for any of their clients before moving forward. mention your current role, your years of experience or the industries you have experience in. for example:
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i've been a quality assurance engineer at bluelab corp for the past five years and am interested in applying my experience in the manufacturing industry to a fresh environment.
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i'm currently interning at the state capitol and will graduate with my b.s. in political science this spring.
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i have an extensive portfolio of corporate branding projects that i've completed over the past ten years.
5. describe your next career goals
to determine if they can help you find a job, the recruiter needs to know both your past experience and your future goals. mention what type of career or job change you're looking for so the recruiter immediately knows if they can help you. reference the general type of positions you're considering instead of missing out on potential opportunities by being too specific. these examples succinctly explain job goals for the recruiter to assess:
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after completing my master's degree, i want to transition from my government work to jobs in the private sector.
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i am relocating within the next few months, so i'm searching for similar positions in the chicago area.
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i'm looking for roles in the marketing industry where i can telecommute.
6. ask to collaborate
directly ask the recruiter if they're interested in working with you to find your next job. remember that recruiters and job-seekers have a mutually beneficial relationship: you help them fill open roles for their clients while they help you find employment.
suggest a brief meeting, schedule a phone call or ask if they're interested in seeing your resume and portfolio. this call to action helps encourage the recruiter to respond. here are a few ways you can ask the recruiter about next steps:
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based on your job postings, i think my skills could be a match for some of your clients. do you have time this week to talk on the phone about my experience?
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are you interested in meeting to see if your hiring goals and my experience are a good fit?
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could we schedule a time where i can learn more about your recruiting efforts in the it industry?
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7. wait for a reply
while it may be tempting to send as much information as possible right away, wait for the recruiter to respond before emailing the recruiter your resume, cover letter or portfolio. wait for them to respond and develop a rapport before asking them to spend time looking through your application materials.
template for recruiter emails
here's a template you can use to draft effective, impactful emails to send to recruiters:
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subject: [job title or type of profession] seeking [type of job]
hello [recruiter name],
i found your email through [source of contact information] and wanted to reach out about any opportunities in the [desired field] industry in [location]. i'm a [describe current position or general experience] looking for [types of roles you want to apply for]. do you have time this week to talk on the phone and explore opportunities to work together? if we're a good fit, i can follow up with a copy of my resume and professional portfolio.
best,
[name]
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get personalized salary insights with the indeed salary calculator
example email to send to a recruiter
use this sample email as inspiration when writing outreach messages to recruiters:
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subject: multilingual interpreter seeking work in business translation
hello jacob,
miranda rowe gave me your email after her positive experience working with you to find a full-time asl translator job. i'm an experienced interpreter fluent in czech, russian, hungarian and turkish looking for opportunities to translate business transactions for clients. are you interested in having a quick call to discuss our goals in the international interpretation field? i'm happy to send over references and my c.v. whenever convenient.
best,
esteban akins
