Picture this: Your phone dings. It’s an email from a recruiter reaching out about a job. You’re flattered, but not interested. How do you respond without eliminating future opportunities with the company?
Whether it is a LinkedIn message, an email or even a phone call, you’ll likely be faced with this scenario at some point in your work life. Regardless of how often you’ve faced this situation, the approach should be the same: Respond honestly, and remember to maintain professional job search etiquette.
Think Before You Say No
Remember, recruiters are contacting you to start a conversation. They think you might be a good fit within their organization and want to learn more about you to find out if their initial instinct is true. Often it’s valuable to echo that approach, setting aside your own initial instinct to say no to learn more about the company. What you hear might surprise you.
Sometimes, though, you’re just not into it. Maybe you are completely content in your current position or just took on an exciting yearlong project. Honesty and candid conversations about your general career path help recruiters better understand your current position and how to continue the new relationship.
Keep the Door Open
What if you aren’t interested in the position but are interested in the company? Use it as an opportunity for two-way networking. Ask the recruiter for more information about the company’s culture, the people or the work. You’ll better understand whether the company is a place you’d like to work and express interest in future opportunities.
Save the recruiter’s information. You never know when these connections will come in handy. Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn or, if you meet in person, ask for a business card. On the back of the card, write something memorable about the conversation you had. Maybe you cheer for the same baseball team or are part of the same professional organization. This information will help you associate the conversation with the person and give you talking points for future exchanges.
Say “No Thanks” the Right Way
Some people believe saying “thanks, but no thanks” burns a bridge, but that’s not the case if you approach it the right way. If they’re reaching out, recruiters see potential in you and understand the timing has to be right; good recruiters will wait.
Not answering the message is never a good idea. Recruiters appreciate any response, even if you aren’t interested. And if you have any inkling you may be interested in the future, it makes sense to respond warmly to make the connection. Offer a thanks for reaching out, provide a general outline of your career goals and tell them you’ll be in touch if your situation changes. It will close the issue of the position they’re looking to fill but keeps the door open for future interaction.
Tell us: How do you handle recruiter inquiries when you’re not interested in opportunities that they’re offering?
Mike Myers is a recruiter on Burns & McDonnell’s HR team. He actively reaches out to potential candidates in hopes of finding new talent for the firm. If you’re interested in learning more about Mike or about opportunities available at Burns & McDonnell, connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter (@MSMrecruiter).
The post Job Search Etiquette: When You’re Contacted and Not Interested appeared first on The Burns & McDonnell Careers Blog.