Okay, you’ve found a job you think you’re perfect for at a company you love. But before you apply, you want to attempt reaching out to a recruiter. As if the application process wasn’t already stressful enough, now you have to worry about how to go about finding who to contact, actually contacting them, and trying to make that connection early on.

To help you navigate this process, we’ve created our 10 do’s and don’ts for how to contact recruiters effectively and to see results.

Don’t contact the wrong person

This tip should speak for itself. Recruiters aren’t a grab bag for any and all positions you’re searching for. Much like each job seeker specializes in certain fields, roles, or industries, recruiters also specialize in these disciplines. If you are looking for a job within engineering, you don’t want to contact a recruiter who works with marketers.

LinkedIn is a great tool when researching recruiters. After all, 90% of recruiters actively use LinkedIn as a means for contacting potential leads. With those numbers, your odds of finding a recruiter that aligns with what you’re looking for are pretty high. You can also use contact email finding tools such as Aeroleads for more help.

Don’t blindly forward them your resume

Again, you have to do your research. Once you’ve figured out who you should be connecting with, don’t simply send them a copy and paste message with your resume. I assure you that if this is your strategy, you will not have much luck.

Instead, personalize every message you send using the information you’ve learned from your research. You shouldn’t simply be contacting these recruiters with no intentions; work to create a relationship. This may come in handy later on.

Here’s an example:

Hi [Recruiter Name],

My name is [Your Name]. I realize we have not met previously, but I have heard great things about [Name of Their Company]. If you know of any job openings for [Your Desired Role], I would love the opportunity to speak with you on my qualifications for this role. I would also appreciate the chance to ask you a few questions regarding [Your Desired Industry]. I look forward to hearing from you and have a great day!

Don’t exaggerate your experiences

You shouldn’t lie on your resume and contacting recruiters is not a different story. Additionally, if you do try and exaggerate any of your experiences or qualifications, a good recruiter will know right away. Recruiters also conduct research of their own on you once you reach out, and it will be easy enough for them to find your LinkedIn profile to fact-check what you’ve told them. Once you get caught in that lie, there’s no fixing that relationship.

Don’t contact multiple recruiters over the same position

The more the merrier, right? Not in this case. People network with those in similar positions as them, which includes recruiters. If you think they won’t learn that you are trying to catch all of their attention, you’re wrong. Pulling tricks such as this one is more likely to get you blacklisted rather than get you a job.

We aren’t saying you can’t contact multiple recruiters. You should be reaching out to as many as you can. However, don’t attempt to target the same job listing with different recruiters.

Don’t be rude if you don’t land the position

Nobody likes a sore loser. It isn’t becoming and makes you seem immature. If anything, it just further affirms to the recruiters that they made the right decision in picking a different candidate.

If you aren’t chosen for the position, stay cordial. Your response to their decision will make its own mark. If you handle the situation with poise and kindness, they will be more likely to keep you in mind for further opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask for candid feedback either. To gain constructive feedback, ask the recruiter why another candidate was chosen and apply this information in future endeavors.

Do understand that they don’t work for you

Recruiters can be a great resource to help you in your job search. However, don’t forget that it’s companies that sign their paychecks, not you. Use recruiters as a source of information, but understand that they cannot share with you any information that they wouldn’t also share with other job seekers. This means they won’t share with you any insight that could jeopardize their credibility or the decisions happening behind closed doors in the hiring process.

Do contact recruiters within your industry

A recruiter within your industry will be an exponentially better contact for you to have than recruiters who specialize in different fields. Use this factor to your advantage. Ask them questions about their experience in your shared industry. They will have more connections to connect you to within that industry and more knowledge on the job requirements.

Once you’ve established contact, build a relationship with your recruiter. Imagine if you were being contacted by hundreds of job seekers every day. You’d have a pretty hard time keeping track of everyone too. To stay within their radar, aim to contact your recruiter regularly every two weeks.

Do attend networking events to meet recruiters in person

Networking platforms such as LinkedIn can be great sources for connecting with others in your industry. However, having the opportunity to speak with recruiters prior to connecting with them on LinkedIn is even more beneficial. Sites like Eventbrite and Meetup are also great resources to use when looking for networking opportunities and events. Be sure to frequently check-in on these sites to ensure you don’t miss any opportunities.

As always, it is important to make a good first impression with recruiters during these types of events. Networking can be a stressful but necessary occurrence, which is why we outlined more tips on networking here.

Do be upfront about what you’re looking for

As much as you are trying to create a strong relationship with these recruiters, you also want to be sure to get to your point when communicating with them. Their time is just as valuable as yours, so don’t beat around the bush.

For more tips on how to draft these messages, read this article on connecting with recruiters on LinkedIn.

Do stay in contact

As we mentioned previously, you’ll want to maintain strong relationships with these recruiters regardless of if you received the job offer. Having that connection can be a great resource for future job offers. To make things easier for both you and your recruiter, kindly let them know when you have received any promotions, awards, and certifications.

Let them also know if you decide to make a career change. They may have connections of their own that they can connect you with to get you started. Recruiters see hundreds to thousands of employee profiles on a regular basis, so stay relevant and stay friendly. We promise it’ll pay off in the long run.

Our final bonus tip: DO SEND THANK YOU EMAILS. Once you’ve successfully covered all of these bases, you cannot forget to send that follow-up email. For more on how to do that, check out our article here. What are some of your do’s and don’ts for contacting recruiters? Leave comments below and remember to check in every Tuesday and Thursday for more tips from BrandResumes!