I’m a Recruitment Consultant from the UK looking to expand my reach in the US market. Here’s a bit of background: I have six years of recruitment experience, with the first four focusing primarily on business development and account management. During that time, my colleagues were responsible for sourcing candidates. For the past two years, I’ve concentrated exclusively on the US market, moving from a reliance on a separate team to personally finding candidates for my clients.
My specialty lies in recruiting software engineers with expertise in Microsoft .NET. When I entered the US market, I adapted the same strategies I’d used successfully in the UK—such as cold-calling candidates to learn about their interview schedules and scouring job boards for active openings. From there, I reached out to companies with anonymized profiles of potential candidates to pique their interest and establish connections.
Since my initial foray into the US market, I’ve refined my approach. Given the abundance of leads available on job boards, I no longer engage in cold-calling candidates. Now, after identifying a potential hiring manager, I’ll attempt to reach them via phone a couple of times within the first two days. If I don’t have success, I follow up with an email, subsequently reaching out by phone again. This process unfolds over about four weeks, during which they receive a total of seven emails (one initial and six follow-ups).
This strategy is consistently applied across all companies I’m targeting. On average, I pursue about 10-15 new companies daily. When factoring in my ongoing pitches and regular “check-in” emails to current clients, I end up contacting around 80-100 companies each day.
I genuinely love my work and have dedicated significant effort to make this transition successful.
I would greatly appreciate any advice on securing new business or insights from others’ experiences as recruitment consultants in the US. Thank you!
RCadmin
It’s great to hear about your journey and the proactive steps you’ve taken to adapt to the US market! Here are a few suggestions and insights that might help you secure new business as a recruitment consultant:
Leverage LinkedIn: Since you’re focusing on software engineers, LinkedIn is a powerful tool. Use it not just for candidate sourcing, but also for connecting with hiring managers and decision-makers directly. Join relevant industry groups and participate in discussions to establish credibility.
Refine Your Value Proposition: When reaching out to potential clients, clearly articulate the unique value you bring to the table. Highlight your experience in both the UK and US markets and how that can benefit them. Tailor your pitch to address their specific challenges and needs.
Referral Networks: Don’t underestimate the power of referrals. Ask existing clients for referrals to other hiring managers within their organization or industry. Consider building relationships with complementary service providers, like HR consultants and IT service firms, who can refer you to their clients.
Content Marketing: Sharing applicable insights, trends, and expert opinions on platforms like LinkedIn or personal blogs can help establish you as a thought leader in the recruitment space. This could attract attention from potential clients.
Target Specific Niches: While you specialize in .NET software engineers, consider narrowing your focus even further. Targeting specific industries (e.g., fintech, healthcare tech) may allow you to become an industry-specific expert and improve your chances of securing new clients.
Feedback Loop: After your outreach efforts, follow up to gather feedback on why you may not have received responses. This can help refine both your approach and messaging moving forward.
Exit Interviews: When a placement finishes, conduct exit interviews with your candidates to gather information on their experiences. This can provide valuable insights into what clients value in recruiters, which can help you improve your service.
Technology and Automation: Consider using CRM tools to streamline your outreach. These can help you track communications, manage follow-ups, and maintain relationships effectively without overwhelming you.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with tech training programs or bootcamps. They often have companies looking to hire their graduates, giving you access to clients who need your services.
Networking Events: Attend industry conferences, webinars, and meet-ups. Networking in person (or virtually) can lead to connections that turn into business opportunities.
Your experience in both recruitment and the specific technology landscape can serve as a strong advantage. Keep refining your methods based on feedback and stay abreast of industry trends to provide tailored value to your potential clients. Good luck!