Making a long-term connection is all about finding common ground. If you're unable to fit a candidate to your current career openings, it's even more important to discover a topic you're both interested in. This need not be work related; in fact, it's better if it isn't. Work is the default, and if you stay on this topic alone, they'll move on when it's clear that you're not able to place them right away. Focus your strategy instead on things like hobbies. Sports is a great one, but don't limit yourself. Pop culture, music, and even more arcane topics like rock collecting are valuable, because they'll set you apart from other recruiters embracing a similar technique. Once you've established a connection based around a theme, use it to check in every so often. But be sure to remain genuine. Don't force it. It should feel like a friendship above all else. Use varying mediums to reach out, not just email. A quick post on a candidate's social media page, for example, feels natural and casual.
When it comes to building long-term relationships with candidates, honesty is key. In fact, at Perpetual Talent Solutions, we pride ourselves on telling the hard truths immediately. So many other recruiting firms think that flattery and hand-holding is a better strategy, but that's underestimating candidate's savviness. Top talent knows that their skills are both impressive and niche. They're ok waiting for the right offer to come along, but bristle at recruiters who promise the moon and don't deliver. Sometimes the right role takes months to arrive. I'm not going to send them a bunch of misfit postings in the meantime; rather, I'll take that time to be upfront about what's on the line, what might open up in the future, and what's truly happening in the market. This includes briefs on jobs I didn't send, as well as updates on their competitors. This transparency is key to maintaining a strong relationship with candidates long-term.
Building long term relationships with candidates, even if they are not the right fit at the moment, is crucial. One key strategy I use is maintaining consistent, value driven communication. Rather than just reaching out when there is a job opening, I stay in touch by sharing relevant industry insights, tips, or opportunities for growth. This keeps the relationship active and shows I am genuinely invested in their long term success. By focusing on what is beneficial to them, not just the business, I create a strong foundation for future potential. When the right opportunity arises, these candidates already trust and know you, which makes the transition seamless.
Communication is the only key to relationship building with anyone, if you want to keep a relationship for a long-term period. Even if the candidate isn't a perfect fit for current opportunity, I am open to dicuss with them their strenghts and areas where they excel. I keep a folder saved with all those profiles who applied but couldn't make make their way to gain the position. And then whenever there is a position opened, i revisited the list of profiles and contact them if anything matches with their skill set to ask if they are still on the lookout for the job.