Why Your Recruiting Agency Sales Templates Suck

February 5, 2019 Jonathan Kidder No comments exist

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t receive an automated sales template inmail from a recruiting agency. It’s a copy/paste template that highlights why their firm can find top talent. This morning, I received this message: Hi Jonathan, thanks for connecting on LinkedIn. I work at (agency) which is a search boutique executive and professional search agency for companies who need to fill critical positions in data analytics within their information technology departments.

 

As an inhouse talent acquisition professional these inmails are my pet peeve. Please stop sending me nonsense. You cannot build a connection with me using an automated sales template.

 

I worked at a staffing agency and understand the level of stress that sales teams face. They have daily, weekly, and monthly goals to find new job requisitions to work on. That’s why sales teams auto-blast inmails across LinkedIn. It must work with some clients because if it didn’t I wouldn’t receive so many of these automated messages. Instead of sending automated messages, here’s what I would recommend:

 

Building Relationships over a connection

Who do you know? Make a list of your network and use that to connect the dots. For example, I had a sales professional mention that he knew a close recruiter friend and then recommended that we connect over coffee.

 

It was human touch and a subtle approach to a connection. We met for coffee and didn’t go much into work details. But, if felt like I was valued and they wanted to build a relationship with me. It just so happens that they work at a third-party agency that specializes in finding Big 4 finance auditors. If we ever had a need, my first call would be to that company.

 

Instead of mass inmailing companies, build relationships with local connections. Value individuals over a mass quantity. Go small and focus on quality results. Become the go-to person in your niche. If they happen to have a job opening and you have a pipeline of leads, briefly let them know that you have leads for that position and you can be of assistance during a tough situation.

 

Long-lasting partnerships and well-built networks come from valuing relationships. It’s more about building out that network in a meaningful way than attacking in-house recruiters with spam. In the end, as cheesy as it may sound, the value of true connection in sales cannot be overstated.

 

Jonathan Kidder
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