What To Do When a Procurement Recruiter Calls

You’re deep in work at your desk when a LinkedIn message from a procurement recruiter pops up. You weren’t really looking for another job. But it couldn’t hurt to find out more, right?

If a recruiter contacts you about a job, what are the right steps to move forward in the process? While you may not end up taking the new role. Still, it’s validating to be noticed.

When a surprise job opportunity lands in your inbox, understand that recruiters reach out even if you’re not actively searching. Recruiters may work in-house or may be consultants. Recruiters find candidates and connect them with hiring managers and the hiring company’s human resources time. Contact with a recruiter is only the first step in the hiring process. A recruiter may present several candidates for the same job to the company.

Consider being approached by a recruiter as a testament to your skills and experience. Your LinkedIn profile and other online presence present a positive view of you in the industry. The recruiter’s goal is to fill the job. They wouldn’t get in touch with you unless they thought you had a chance at filling the role. However, contact with a recruiter is only the beginning of the hiring process. It’s not a job offer. It’s only a chance to pursue the job.

How to Work with a Recruiter

Here are a few things you can do to take advantage of a new job opportunity through a recruiter.

If you’re interested in the job, you’ll want to move forward and schedule an interview with them to learn more about the company and position they’re looking to fill.

During the time before the interview, figure out if you would leave your current position and why. Perhaps you’re looking for new challenges or a higher salary. Often, it takes starting a new position to get a significant raise, even if you ask for additional salary.

Aditi Agarwal, Senior Manager at The Source Recruitment, also states that it’s important to “try having a two-way constructive conversation. Sound enthusiastic and pick the right time to chat.”

In the initial contact, get pertinent details like the day-to-day duties and level of pay.

Leading up to the call, research the organisation, rehearse your elevator pitch, and prepare to talk about the requirements listed in the job posting. You’ll also want to come to the conversation with questions for the recruiter.

Even if you’re not interested in the current company or position being presented to you by a recruiter, you still want to respond to their message.

For starters, they’re likely recruiting for additional roles beyond the one they mentioned in their message. Also, the recruiting world is small, and if you’re not a fit for their role, they can pass your name along to another recruiter. Additionally, if they don’t have a position or company that’s the right fit for you right now, they can keep you in mind for future ones that may be a better fit. Finally, you can share the name of a friend or peer who might be interested in the position.

To Ghost or Not to Ghost?

If you’re not interested, let the recruiter know upfront. Don’t string them along or ghost them.

‘I always advise professionals to be open to new opportunities no matter how happy they are in their current role,’ says Matt Collingwood, Managing Director of IT recruitment agency VIQU. ‘However, if an individual knows it’s unlikely that they would accept a new position at that point in time, it’s important they make the recruiter aware of that in the initial conversation.’

Keep in mind recruiters network with each other and use technology to track candidates. They will know if you drop out of the process or fail to follow through. That can frustrate the recruiter and lead them to tag you as a candidate to avoid in the future. If you change your mind about pursuing the job, be professional and let the recruiter know.

‘You don’t want to gain a bad reputation as an unreliable candidate,’ Collingwood says. ‘After all, you may want to look for a new job at some point and don’t want to alienate potential employers and recruiters they might want to work with.’

Engaging with recruiters can broaden your horizons, offering new pathways for growth.

‘Stay open-minded, assess the opportunity thoughtfully, and use it as a chance to align your career aspirations,’ says Denisse Guenoun, Co-Founder at Pana Partners. Being proactive and informed can turn unexpected encounters into valuable career moves.’