This is for a Linkedin Recruiter 

I feel like ranting a bit 🙂

Let me start by saying that I got both my current and last job via LinkedIn/unsolicited emails and both turned out to be very rewarding , so in no way am I against recruiters reaching out to potential recruits on any platform.You should, it is great for both you and the employee

My issue is with the sheer unprofessionalism of almost 90% of “amazing offer” emails that I receive from Linkedin recruiter s. Here are a few types of “recruitment” emails that kind of bug me.

Linkedin Recruiter Types

1. The Amway :

I have an amazing leadership position opening in the leading Indian e-commerce company in Bangalore. Send me your resume ASAP

Really? Do you think you are hiding the identity of the company  , and why this secrecy? You already gave me enough hints about the company, so why hide the name? Funny part is, every single time I reply “Name?” , I get the answer in a few minutes.

This is like an Amway ad ” dude amazing business opportunity, just come to the seminar and your would know…I won’t tell you what it is”

Dear Linkedin Recruiter :

Unless this is for  FBI or CIA , asking people if they are interested without even telling them which company it is, is kind of disrespectful 

2. I am God –You Mortal

I have amazing openings for you, send me CV, Expected CTC……..name of your first born etc etc

I like how you did not even do the pretense of “hey are you looking out”

Linkedin Recruiter : NO

3. Don’t want this apple, how about this banana? Or the 100 other fruits we have

Hi, blah blah blah….we want to interview for position XYZ . Not interested? We can also interview you for “A,B,C,D,D………entire catalog of jobs I have with 20 companies

Send me……CV. CTC, …..DOB of your pet…etc etc

Oh come on, you started off well but then why oh why did you send me pretty much your entire catalog of jobs. I know people use templates , but don’t make it so obvious.

If you are not sure, just say let us find a good fit.

Dear Linkedin Recruiter :

Focus , It helps. Do not tell the menu before someone has even sat down

4. I use a template and you know it

Actual Email from a Linkedin Recruiter:

Hi Madhur, hope all’s well at your end in Bengaluru 🙂

I believe you’re currently working with Directi… Based on your LinkedIn profile, I think you would be an ideal match for this position

5. I am all about research

Actual Line from a Linkedin Recruiter:

I’m all about doing my research before ever contacting for a position I’m tasked with filling

This email is fine once. But when you receive the same email from 4 different people multiple times, it gets on your nerves

Dear Linkedin Recruiter , divide your leads

Divide your leads

6. I never changed my email

From: Loverboyxyz@gmail…

…………..

Yup, your email needs to be professional . Please stop using the first email ID you ever created to recruit

Dear loverboy,

You really are not a recruiter but, just a freelancer ? Too new to even have a domain email ID?

7. I do not read

Hi,

Would you be interested in joining as fresher Software Engineer at this BPO at a salary that you drew 8 years ago?

I have been a dev for 6 years and am pretty proud of it. I still love code but sadly it is no longer my area of expertise. This is visible not just from my higher education choice (Management not MS) but even my current role.
Just because I mentioned that in 2008 I was a sharepoint expert does not imply I am still interested in the exact same job in 2016. Please READ the profile of the person . It wastes your time and mine

Dear “I do not read recruiter” ,

BLAH

How to write a good Hiring Email ?

Over the years I have received many hiring emails and based on my personal(only mine) experience I can say the template of a good hiring email should be

Hi<my name>

<a little bit about who you are and what do you do–Important>

<If possible, how you found me and why are you reaching out>

<a little bit about the role and department –The MOST important thing.Eg Do not tell me Product Head role, tell me which product and what does it do, what are the plans if any>

<Ask me if I am interested and suggest next steps>

DO NOT ask me for my updated CV, my notice period, my expected CTC etc etc. Let us first talk before jumping the gun. Most conversations end by simple “sorry I am not looking out”.

Basic points to keep in mind

1. Drop the pretense: you are a recruiter and the other person is a potential recruit , both need each other. Do not stress on how you know my work location and do not mention how you are impressed with the work i am doing in <My current company> (I got this email 1 month after joining a new company . So someone outside my company  was impressed even before I was? )
2. Do not assume everyone is looking out and would jump at the mere thought of someone hiring them. So before asking for CV, CTC etc etc atleast initiate a call to see if the person in interested
3. Context Matters: Always set the context. Think of it like a face to face conversation. The basic info such as your own intro and the role info needs to be upfront.
4. Be specific: Do a basic research on the kind of job the candidate does before bombarding him/her with random openings
5. Use templates, just do not shove it into the face: Yes you probably will be and should be using a well-crafted template, but do not make it too obvious
6. Be like a normal human being talking to another human being

You have awesome jobs to offer to deserving candidates, let your emails shine the way you expect the candidates  to in the interview 🙂

and happy Recruiting