While recruiters work to help companies fill their open roles, they can also help you — the job seeker — connect with roles you might be interested in and a good fit for. According to Jobscan, 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find and vet candidates. So, how can you find them on the platform and reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn? In this guide, we’ll cover:
How to Find a Recruiter on LinkedIn
If so many recruiters use LinkedIn, they must be easy to find, right? Yes and no. LinkedIn’s features and search make it easy to find people with a “recruiter” title, but you might have to do a little extra searching to ensure you’re reaching out to the right one.
Related: 23 jobs that are pretty much recession proof
Do you want to keep your job during a recession? Let’s talk about the recession-proof jobs that you can choose in any field. While no job is 100% recession-proof, certain career fields are impacted less during a recession.
During an economic slowdown or downturn, there are generally layoffs and fewer job offers. It is harder to get a job since many sectors get hit. Everyone will experience a recession differently, but it will impact most people. Whether you have high-income skills can become irrelevant quickly.
At any time a recession occurs, many are worried about their jobs. During the 2008 recession, the unemployment rate was over 10%. In the recent pandemic, the employment rates quickly rose to 14.7%. It has since come down to 8.4%, which is still significantly higher than the 3.5% before the pandemic.
Are you looking for career fields that are impacted less during a recession? While there is absolutely no guarantee, specific industries or professions are essential for our society. Here is a selection of recession-proof jobs at every skill level.
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It doesn’t matter whether you’re a registered nurse, doctor, assistant, or anything in between. Having a job in the medical and healthcare field is a great place to be during a recession.
Even when a recession hits, people will get sick, and health care is needed. Hospitals or clinics are a great career choice if you want to have job security. Plus, if you’re someone who has a nonmedical job in a healthcare clinic or hospital, you may benefit from this as well. As long as health care is needed, you will be as well.
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Technology is advancing daily, and we’re trying to benefit from that. Companies are improving systems to replace manual labor and save on expenses.
If you’re looking for a recession-proof job, working in the IT field is something to consider. People need help with their computers, phones and software more than ever before. Our world relies on technology and needs IT professionals to function.
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Whether there’s an economic crisis or not, accountants and auditors have a relatively recession-proof job. As long as businesses will continue, they need an accountant to report their yearly numbers and check their books. With their qualifications and specific skill-set, job opportunities are all around.
Also, people who have an accountant file their tax returns will most likely still use that. It’s better to pay an accountant than to make a mistake that costs more than their rate.
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An unfortunate side effect of a recession is that many are going into debt. People will add more money to their credit card balances, rack up more debt and need help managing it.
As a debt management professional, you help people reduce their debt and prevent bankruptcy from happening. You help people that need money now to reduce their debt.
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When we are talking about core services that we will always need, utility workers are providing them. We still need support in waste management, water, electricity and other utilities. Everyone is using these services daily, meaning there is constant and high demand.
The high demand combined with the aging current labor force means that there will be a labor shortage for years to come. If you’re looking for a recession-proof job, utility workers are high on the list.
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Just as utility working, public safety professionals are crucial to society during any time in the economic cycle.
Working as an ambulance driver, firefighter or police officer makes you relatively recession-proof. It is also a great option when you are looking for a job where you can help others.
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If you work for the government, you have one of the most stable jobs there is. Government jobs will be influenced little by the economic cycles, as there is a constant need for them. Also, the government is a big organization that will not downsize the moment a recession hits.
When you are applying for jobs, check out the postings they have online. It is a stable career path for your work life. Don’t worry if you are an entry-level worker without a lot of work experience. You can choose from several jobs at all levels.
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People need education, no matter the state of the economy. Teachers are essential, even during times when learning takes different forms. It doesn’t matter whether you are providing online classes, the need for education is still there.
Stanford economist Caroline Hoxby found that colleges and graduate schools saw higher enrollment numbers during the Great Recession. People want to postpone their entry into the job market since there are fewer openings. They enroll in higher education instead.
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Online shopping and delivery services have increased over the years. In the last couple of months, delivery services are booming. People want to avoid going to shops, and ordering your things online is easier than ever.
You can deliver groceries, clothes, household items, furniture and more. Everything that you have in your home, you can transport. The continued increase in people having things delivered makes delivery and courier services, one of the most recession-proof jobs out there.
Extra tip: Deliver groceries through Instacart. With Instacart, you can determine your own schedule, and you get paid to deliver food to peoples’ doorstep.
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Whatever the state of the economy, people still need to get their car fixed. While people will skip the smaller optional repairs, most auto repairs are mandatory to keep driving safely.
Many people wait to buy a new car and will get their current one repaired instead. Because older cars need plenty of maintenance, auto mechanics will not be bored.
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If you are working in law enforcement, you have a job that won’t stop just because of a downturn. People still want to live in a safe environment, and laws need continuous enforcement. Whether you are a federal agent or a detective, your job will be relatively stable during recessions.
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Corrections professionals like corrections officers and parole boards are great recession-proof jobs. They often don’t see layoffs at all during a recession.
Just as in law enforcement, prisons operate as usual, and everyone involved will need to continue their work.
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When the economy experiences a downturn, everyone that is involved in the justice system stays employed. Whether you are a judge or work in a related service like the court’s security, you will keep working.
Currently, with the pandemic, some courts are closed or postponing services. It is not something related to an economic downturn, but rather to the current global health crisis.
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Whether the economy is crashing or flourishing, funerals and cremations will continue. Certain families may go for the less expensive option, but there will still be enough work during a recession.
While this may not be your dream job, think about it in your search for jobs. If you’re looking for a new job or are unemployed, this field may be an opportunity for you.
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In big cities, public transport workers are always in high demand. People taking public transport to work may even increase during a recession, as some may have to get rid of their car.
Whether you drive the bus or sell train tickets, public transport workers will have relatively high job security when a recession hits.
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The moment a recession hits, people are slowly going to decrease their discretionary spending. They don’t buy things they don’t need, search for no spend ideas and look into at-home date night ideas. They’re staying in more and going out less.
When you cut down on how often you go out to eat, you will do more grocery shopping. While there are some quick tips to save money on groceries, you will still need to get groceries. If you’re looking for a job, a grocery store worker may be more stable than other jobs.
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Just like other healthcare services, pharmacists will see a steady stream of customers. People will still need their sleep medication or antibiotics. With the population aging, this can be one of the best recession-proof jobs for years to come.
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The general population ages, creating more jobs for senior care professionals. People need assistance living in nursing homes and at home, even during a recession. People need quality elder care, unrelated to the current economic situation.
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On the one hand, some people may stop their therapy sessions if their financial status is declining. On the other hand, when a recession occurs, many people are stressed out. It can cause more mental health problems and more marital problems. Some people will develop an anxiety disorder, while others will turn to alcohol.
Mental health professionals are crucial at the time a recession or economic downturn hits.
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As with health care for humans, pets also need health care during recessions. While people do bring their pets to the vet, they do so less regularly. With people having more pets and spending 7% more on pet care every single year, we can conclude it’s a rather recession-proof job.
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Actuaries help with the risk analysis of businesses. In normal economic circumstances, their jobs are necessary for companies to assess risks and hedge for them. In an economic downturn, analyzing risks is even more essential.
Actuaries help companies analyze the areas with high risk, the best places to cut costs, and increase efficiencies. In times of crisis, these are all valuable things to know. Generally speaking, actuaries will keep their jobs during an economic recession.
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Digital or not, marketers have a great shot at keeping their jobs during a recession. Most marketers will increase the investment made by companies. For every dollar companies spend on their marketing budget, they want to see more than that dollar returned.
For example, at my company, we have marketers who will return $1.50 for every $1 invested in the marketing budget. No matter how much money you put into it, you will get more out.
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During recessions, couples won’t stop getting divorced. As financial distress is one of the main reasons for divorce, recessions may increase divorce rates. On the other hand, financial hardship may keep couples together.
If you are a divorce attorney or mediator, you will still have enough work during downturns.
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Why are some jobs recession-proof while others aren’t? Plus, how is your specific job doing when it’s not on the list? Don’t worry. The fact that your job isn’t on the list doesn’t mean that you’ll get fired next week.
There are a couple of things to consider when you want to know if your jobs can survive a recession. Ask yourself:
- Is your job essential for society? For example, without healthcare or public transport workers, there would be chaos quickly.
- Are you filling a need? For example, people want to get their pets healthy again.
- Do you need specialized training or experience? For example, IT professionals or accountants have specific education and experience that is hard to obtain quickly.
If you don’t answer yes to all three questions, don’t worry. There are so many jobs that are crucial to our society and general well-being. We simply weren’t able to list them all.
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While no job is 100% recession-proof, some jobs are more recession-proof than others. That said, recessions are hard and affect our society in many ways.
If you’re worried about layoffs or you already lost your job, go through the list of these best recession-proof jobs again.
See what jobs suit you and start to include those jobs into your job-search. Searching for a new job and job-hunting, in general, can be challenging.
Find career opportunities for a job you enjoy by checking online job boards, (online) job fairs, vacancies, and make sure you connect with recruiters.
Finding a job or finding employment depends on the career path you want to take. Check out the available jobs that are currently trending and looking for staffing. You may find your dream job that is entirely recession-proof!
This article was originally published on RadicalFire.com and syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Look at the Hiring Team
Sometimes, a “meet the hiring team” section will be under a company’s job description on LinkedIn. This team might include the hiring manager and the recruiter.
>>MORE: Hiring Manager vs Recruiter: What’s the Difference?
If you don’t see someone with the title “recruiter,” look for someone with “recruitment,” “talent acquisition,” or “staffing” in their title. These are often alternative titles for recruiters.
Get Savvy With Searches
Find an Internal Recruiter
If you’re looking for an internal recruiter — someone who works for a specific company and hires only for roles within that company — you can search for them on the platform if they’re not in the “hiring team” section. There are a couple of ways you can do this:
- Look under the company’s “people” section. You can search for “recruiter,” “recruitment,” “talent acquisition,” and “staffing” under a company’s people page to find recruiters who work there.
- Use general search and type “recruiter AND company name.” Then, filter your results by people. If you don’t see anyone who matches, try searching for the synonyms “recruitment,” “talent acquisition,” and “staffing” with the company name.
At larger companies, you may find there are dozens of recruiters. As a result, you might need to narrow your search further to find recruiters hiring for specific roles you’re interested in. For example, if you’re looking for software engineering roles, you’ll need to look for a technical recruiter.
Finding Other Recruiters
Not every recruiter works for a specific company. Some recruiters work for recruiting agencies. Companies hire recruiting agencies to outsource their recruiting work; these recruiters aren’t loyal to one company but rather help recruit for roles for multiple companies. This means they might know of open roles in various companies that might be a good fit for you.
To find other recruiters:
- Search for “recruiter OR recruitment OR headhunter OR talent acquisition OR staffing” in your LinkedIn search bar. Searching for these titles ensures you’ll find recruiters who may not have the conventional “recruiter” title.
- Filter for “People.”
- Select “All filters” to narrow your search. You can narrow your search by location, industry, school, and even past and current companies the recruiter has worked for.
Make Yourself Noticeable
Another way to get recruiters’ attention is to have them notice you first. Recruiters often look for candidates on LinkedIn through targeted searches. If your profile matches, they may reach out to you first.
How can you make yourself noticeable? Here are a few ways:
- Add a headline that summarizes your experience and/or career goals
- Choose a professional photo
- Use a professional summary for your “about” section, including keywords in your industry
- Add relevant experience
- Feature relevant certifications or courses
- Add a link to a portfolio or personal website
- Add an “open to work” banner (and select whether you’d like your whole network or only recruiters to see it).
>>MORE: Learn how to upload or add your resume to LinkedIn.
“By optimizing your LinkedIn profile with keywords, your chances of appearing in recruiters’ search results will increase,” Antoine Boquen, CEO and co-founder of Horizons, an HR management platform, says. “They’ll be able to locate you and determine you possess the necessary abilities and expertise for the position. This is the ideal scenario for your job search: instead of you needing to approach recruiters, they’ll come to you.”
How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn
Why Should You Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn?
Unfortunately, reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a leg up in the hiring process. However, the right connection with a recruiter can help you land an interview or help you find another role you’re a great fit for down the line.
What to Say to a Recruiter on LinkedIn
Sending a Connection Request
When reaching out to a recruiter, it’s best to keep it “short and sweet,” Matthew Warzel, certified professional resume writer and former Fortune 500 recruiter, says. “They are busy-bodies, usually juggling multiple openings at a time and speaking with tens, sometimes hundreds of candidates each day!”
You’ll especially need to be short and sweet when asking them to connect on LinkedIn, as you have a 300-character limit. Quickly introduce yourself, share a little about your experience, and express your interest in the roles they’re recruiting for. For example:
After They’ve Accepted Your Connection
Once you’ve connected, you can expand on your experience and interest in a second message.
“I usually recommend avoiding sending messages like ‘hi, can you find me a job?’” Daniela Herrera, director of recruitment operations and ED&I at R/GA, says. “Even if the recruiter would like to help you out, they don’t know anything about you at that stage. It will be very difficult for them to know what’s the best role for you. A better approach would be to send a clear and short note explaining who you are, the role you’re interested in, and the link to the job you’d like to apply for. And if you have a resume or website you’d like them to see, don’t forget to include that too!”
If you’re interested in a specific role, you can ask about discussing that role with them. If you’re looking to build a connection or are interested in multiple positions, you can ask if they have any available roles that fit your experience or if they’d like to speak with you further on the phone. For example:
When you start talking to the recruiter, “be professional and courteous but also savvy – not all recruiters are the same,” Jen Emmons, senior talent strategist at Carex Consulting Group, says. “Ask questions up front to understand what the process is, the organizations they partner with and what to expect. In addition, know what you’re looking for. This helps the recruiter streamline and contact you with the opportunities that most align with your preferences.”
>>MORE: Ace a phone interview with Common Phone Interview Questions (and How to Answer).
When to Follow Up With a Recruiter
Unfortunately, there are times you’ll reach out to a recruiter and won’t hear back. That’s okay — not all recruiters are responsive to every LinkedIn message. Sometimes, they might not have any roles you’re suited for at the time.
If you haven’t heard back after reaching out about a specific position, you can follow up after a few business days to restate your interest. For example:
If you’re looking to make a connection, you can engage with their LinkedIn content (if they post regularly) and make a follow-up request asking to introduce yourself like this:
Regardless of why you’re reaching out to the recruiter, “ensure all your messages are professional and free of typos and grammatical errors,” says Kimberley Tyler-Smith, executive at Resume Worded, a career tech platform that helps job seekers. “This is one case where it pays not only to be professional but also friendly and welcoming — you don’t want them to think of your application as spam!”
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This article originally appeared on Theforage.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Got fired? How to handle your next interview
Some of the best career experts out there claim everyone should get fired at least once. There is some truth to this sentiment — while it can feel awful and terrifying, failure is the best way to learn. However, one of the hardest parts of the ordeal is explaining why you were fired to someone who may be your next boss.
Still, there is a way to do it without ruining your chances of ever finding work again. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of people who have been fired find new jobs, so don’t panic if you have to explain why you lost a job. To help you get through the process, tell your potential employer these five things.
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First things first — you do not have to reveal you were fired in your application. Your resume should simply contain your achievements and job duties, and your cover letter should explain why you’re a perfect fit for the job. Leave the truth for the interview — by revealing too early, you’ll make it too easy to throw your application into the trash.
Optimally, you’ll have the opportunity to explain what happened during an interview, which you’ll want to do in case they call your previous employer. You don’t want to look like you were hiding something.
Also, never lie. Chances are they will find out about the fact you’ve been fired, and lying on an application or during an interview is much worse than any problems that come up in your work history.
When discussing how you were fired, be professional. Take emotion out of the discussion. Tell them what happened, but only the most important details. Avoid getting bogged down, but also be forthcoming and clear about it.
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When discussing a time you were fired, do your best to put the situation in context. In other words, it’s your job to make it seem like it’s not as bad as it sounds.
Essentially, you are trying to explain your getting fired as uncomfortable and unfortunate rather than catastrophic. Put the hiring manager at ease by being concise when explaining what happened and not speaking ill of your previous company.
Mistakes happen (and sometimes you can keep your job when you’ve totally screwed up) so own it and shed light on how it benefitted you in the long run.
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Perhaps the most important thing you can do is convince a hiring manager getting fired was a learning experience. Show them you learned from the situation by discussing where you made mistakes and emphasize how you have grown by recognizing them.
In being so up front about the situation, an interviewer might ask if you think it was all your fault, or your old boss’s fault, or to what degree concerned parties were responsible. If they do, say you share at least some of the blame and leave it at that. The implication is that it isn’t actually all your fault, but you are willing to take responsibility for your role and want to avoid speaking negatively about your previous employer.
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Another angle to take, in addition to having learned so much, is that it actually worked out for the better. Talk about why it was time to move on — sometimes negative conditions accrue organically, and while you could have handled things better, your real mistake was not seeing the signs and leaving your old job sooner.
Furthermore, this is a great opportunity to add a little flattery. Be subtle, but talk about how better opportunities seem to be opening up. You can mention you’ve had callbacks from a few other companies, but also mention the best opportunity seems to be with the company at which you are interviewing.
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Finally, convince the interviewer getting fired was a one-time thing. The truth is, a lot of people have been fired and gone on to do wonderful work. It isn’t the end of the world — you’ve learned from your mistakes, and you’re looking forward and up. If the hiring manager sees this, that whole getting fired thing will hardly be an issue.
Bottomline, avoid overthinking things and realize you’re going to make a great addition to another company, even if it’s not this one. Keep your head up and keep trying, and follow the above advice. If you do, you’ll land somewhere great.
Trying to put a short stay at a job behind you? Here’s some advice on how to handle short stays or gaps on your resume — illustrated by the bigwigs fired from the Trump White House.
This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Featured Image Credit: Prykhodov / iStock.
