Let’s be real – if you’re hunting for an executive role, simply submitting resumes online won’t cut it. Unfortunately, many professionals don’t know this and waste hours online applying with nothing to show for it.
What they should be doing instead is finding and connecting with executive recruiters who can open the right doors for them. But that’s where the real challenge lies – finding the right agents who specialize in your industry. That’s what our C-level CV writers who work for our executive resume writing service know how to do.
In this guide, we’ll discuss proven LinkedIn strategies to help you locate and engage with the recruiters you’re looking for.
Need help with LinkedIn Profile Writing?
Learn how to find executive recruiters today.
TL;DR
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
What if we tell you a fully completed LinkedIn profile gets 30% more views weekly? Sounds good, yeah? Let’s show you how to do it –
1. Update Your Headline to Reflect Your Expertise and Executive-Level Experience
Jane Deehan believes you shouldn’t limit yourself to the headline field. According to her, use it to talk about how you see your role, what you do, and what makes you tick. Here are a few steps on what to do here:
- Clearly state your role or expertise. For example, “Chief Marketing Officer | Driving Global Brand Growth” instead of “Experienced Marketing Executive.”
- Talk about your notable accomplishments or unique value propositions.
- Use vertical bars to make this section more readable.
2. Create a Compelling Summary That Displays Your Achievements and Leadership Skills
Your summary is like an elevator pitch; you have to make it engaging. Here’s how you can do that:
- Open strong – Begin with a powerful statement that captures your professional brand or career highlights.
- Tell your story – Narrate your career journey with emphasis on the leadership roles, significant projects, and impact you’ve made.
- Use media – Add videos, articles, and presentations to showcase your work.
- End it with a call to action – Conclude your “summary” section by inviting agents to connect and learn more about your work.
3. Use Relevant Industry Keywords to Appear in Recruiter Searches
Do you want to be found by recruiters? Speak their language.
- Identify target keywords – Research commonly used terms in your industry and target roles.
- Insert them naturally – Use these keywords in your headline, summary, and experience sections.
- Avoid keyword stuffing – Don’t overload your profile with keywords to keep it readable and authentic.
4. Update Your Work Experience, Skills, and Recommendations
- You should briefly describe your responsibilities, followed by bullet points highlighting your achievements. In this part, use action verbs and measurable results.
- You should seek endorsements for your skills from colleagues, supervisors, and clients who can vouch for your leadership and expertise.
- Include relevant volunteer work and certifications to showcase a well-rounded profile.
Make your LinkedIn profile a sight for sore eyes.
Use LinkedIn Search Effectively
You must master LinkedIn’s search tools to make any headway in finding the right executive recruiters. Oh, and it’s a simple process. You just have to follow these steps to get it done –
- Use targeted keywords – When you go to the search bar, type “Executive Recruiter” or “Executive Headhunter” and add your industry or location. Preferably, it should be both for a more refined search—for example, Executive Recruiter Healthcare New York.
- Apply Boolean search – Use AND, OR, and NOT to tweak search results. Let’s say you want to find executive recruiters that specialize in the tech industry in the Bay Area; use “Executive Recruiter’ AND “Technology” AND “San Francisco.”
- Filter by connections – To identify recruiters in your extended network, select “People > 2nd or 3rd-degree connections.”
- Engage before reaching out – Check their activity, posts, and mutual connections to know how best to personalize your approach.
Refine your search for executive recruiters today.
Explore LinkedIn Recruiter Directories & Groups
There’s a world of discovery in LinkedIn recruiters’ directories or groups. So, finding executive recruiters becomes easier when you know where to look. Without further ado, let’s show you how to explore these places:
- Join relevant LinkedIn groups – When you log in to your LinkedIn account, look for groups like “Executive Search and Recruitment” or “C-Level & Executive Jobs.” Here, you’ll find recruiters and like-minded professionals.
- Look for specialized recruiting firms – Research agencies that focus on your industry. You should also follow their LinkedIn pages to stay informed on opportunities or industry trends.
- Follow executive search firm pages – You should engage with content from top executive search firms to stay updated on market insights and job openings.
Engage and Network with Recruiters
As a career strategist and resume writer, I can say that making it personal by referencing something interesting they posted online or something specific they specialize in. Here’s how to build meaningful connections with recruiters on LinkedIn:
- Send personalized connection requests – You should create messages highlighting mutual interests or specific reasons for connecting. For example, “Hi [Name], I noticed your expertise in [industry] executive searches. I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect and explore potential collaborations.“
- Engage their content – After connecting with them, regularly like, comment on, and share their posts. When you do this, it shows genuine interest and keeps you visible in their network.
- Share thought leadership – You should regularly post insightful content about your field. This will position you as a knowledgeable leader and attract attention from recruiters who are on the hunt for top talent.
Build strong relationships with recruiters that may lead to new executive opportunities.
Use LinkedIn’s Job Feature & Recruiter Insights
What will you say if we tell you that over 49 million people search for jobs on LinkedIn every week? The good news is you can be among the ‘lucky’ ones if you know how to use job features and recruiter insights. Here are a few steps to help with that:
- Search for executive-level positions – You should explore job postings to find roles that align with your career goals. Also, pay close attention to the recruiter who posts these openings; their profiles may have valuable connections.
- Use the “People also Viewed” section – When you visit a recruiter’s profile, check the “People also viewed” sidebar to find other recruiters who may specialize in your industry. Add them to expand your network.
- Enable the ‘Open to Work’ feature – Activate this setting to signal recruiters that you’re available for opportunities subtly. Even better, LinkedIn allows you to configure the visibility of this status so only licensed recruiters will see it.
Increase your visibility to the right recruiters.
Take the Conversation Off LinkedIn
It’s time to take things further after establishing a connection with the recruiter.
- Politely request a quick call to discuss potential opportunities. For example, “I’d love to learn more about how you help executives like me. Would you be open to a brief call?“
- Send a follow-up email – After the call, email your optimized resume.
Final Words
You don’t just find recruiters by looking for them but by building relationships with them. It takes strategy and persistence because you have to engage, personalize, and follow up. Remember – the right recruiters can open doors to life-changing opportunities.
Written by Dua Khan
Dua is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Career Coach. Since 2019, she's dedicated her career to creating ATS-optimized job application materials for a diverse clientele, including Grammy-winning artists, and executives at Fortune 500 companies. Her expertise spans executive-level resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn content, and she holds a successful track record of supporting clients from prestigious organizations such as the CDC, NOAA, NHS, and Johns Hopkins University to achieve their career aspirations.
