How to Gain Traction with a Recruiter

Bill Moran, Talent Acquisition Manager, Kitchell CEM

Bill Moran, Talent Acquisition Manager, Kitchell CEM

Bill Moran is the Talent Acquisition Manager at Kitchell CEM with over two decades of experience in recruiting construction professionals. Specializing in construction and engineering hiring, he expertly blends advanced sourcing tools with authentic candidate engagement—focusing not just on metrics, but on finding cultural and skill alignment. His approach emphasizes relationship-building, open-ended dialogue, and trusting instincts beyond resume screenings.

You are looking for a new opportunity. Whether you are between jobs or simply in need of a change, it is a challenge. Finding a new job is itself a job. Let us review a few ways to gain traction with a recruiter.

It is important to understand the job of a recruiter. It is not to get you a job, rather it is to fill the open requisitions on their desk. There is a list to fill. There is bias and a narrow focus. Do not ask a recruiter to help you find a job, they are busy doing their job, multitasking with applicants in many different phases of the hiring process. This is a common mistake by candidates. Your goal is to introduce yourself as a solution to a position currently open.

Now that you understand the scope of responsibility of a recruiter, getting their attention is not hard, but it has a few steps.

First, you want to build a resume that answers questions that need to be answered. The basics are where you have worked, when, and what you have done. I apologize but the subject of ‘how to build a resume’ is its own article, so we will move on with the assumption of having a strong resume.

Next, build a project list, or an accomplishment list. This is a supplemental document and/or a resource to cut and paste into your resume depending on where you apply. It is long winded. It provides objective measurables of projects such as cost or value, size, time, and your impact. Do not be afraid to submit together with a resume.

“A recruiter needs to fill the jobs on their desk. Presenting yourself as a solution to this task will always be well received.”

Third, you want to follow all the employers you wish to work for on LinkedIn. The LinkedIn Recruiter™ tool singles out candidates in searches that follow any given employer. You want to be in that category. Also, request to connect with their recruiter(s) on LinkedIn. If successful you will mostly likely be provided contact details.

When you find an opportunity you want to apply against, begin by reading the requisition thoroughly. Ask yourself two things: can I do this job, and does my resume demonstrate I can do this job? Assume that hiring managers do not read between the lines, but instead only read the lines. Make it clear on your resume that you have the credentials and qualifications to execute this single specific job. Be prepared to tweak your resume about 10 percent or so each submittal to target the individual job description.

Always become a full applicant. Only applicants are eligible for employment. (*Note – even if eventually you are dispositioned for whatever reason, you remain an applicant for at least 3 years.) If you want to work for company XYZ, apply to a job and get in their Applicant Tracking System (ATS). If you are dispositioned it was still worth your time as you remain searchable by that employer when they query their past applicants. (Which happens often.)

Finally, introduce yourself as a solution. Ask an internet search engine to help you identify a company’s email format. Their email domain is almost always the same as their webpage. (More often than not it is first initial last name at their domain dot com.) Email the recruiter you found on LinkedIn directly with an insightful subject line. In the body of the email introduce yourself as an applicant in the ATS and confirm you have read the requisition and have the qualifications need to execute the job along with your availability. Attach your resume (and project list) for convenience. This will filter through the volume; help you cut to the front of the line and make it easy to process you forward. Be patient and wait for a reply.

A recruiter needs to fill the jobs on their desk. Presenting yourself as a solution to this task will always be w