All too often, we have a positive, high energy meeting with a recruiter and then … hear nothing. The average recruiter may see 10 to 20 candidates a day. The challenge for a job candidate is staying in front.

Networking skills are in high demand when managing your relationship with recruiters. To remain top-of-mind with a recruiter, it is important to make regular contact. Each communication should add value. Avoid singling out the recruiter for lunch or coffee. A recruiter has a lot of matchmaking to do in a day. An invite to an industry event where she can ply her trade will be of more value to her.

Invite the recruiter to an exclusive industry lunch or cocktail
Share industry news, networks and contacts with the recruiter
Introduce the recruiter to a new social networking tool for the recruitment industry
Speak and attend industry events and invite the recruiter as your guest

My final tip for building relationships with recruiters may not come naturally for everyone. Refer the best person in the world for your job to the recruiter. It may be your ex-colleague, for example, who you always played second rank to in sales. Super Sales Lady may get placed before you but the job may have gone to someone else anyways. More importantly, the magnanimous gesture will provide you with a career-long relationship with the recruiter. You will not only be a consummate professional in her eyes but also someone who creates business opportunities for her.