At a recent workshop, I received a number of questions on inquiring if a recruiter on an open source platform like LinkedIn was actually real, and not a bot or nefarious actor.
My response was easy: “Tell them to message you on their ClearanceJobs account.”
Security clearance holders and our secret squirrel community as a whole tries to maintain cyber hygiene, so as a recruiter, you will want to avoid making yourself look like a security threat.
One cleared candidate wrote to me (recruiters: don’t send messages like this to candidates):
“…(a question) I am still confused about is how to use ClearanceJobs to verify the credentials of recruiters that reach out directly to me after allegedly finding my resume on LinkedIn or ClearanceJobs. For example, I got a rather provocative email from a [REDACTED] recruiter last week, with all sorts of unusual lettering and colors and a large signing bonus. The offer almost made it seem like a phishing scam. I couldn’t find the recruiter’s name on ClearanceJobs, but I found a job posting by the company, contacted the lead recruiter, got confirmation that the email was legitimate, emailed the original recruiter back, and actually had my first interview.”
three things you can do to avoid looking like a scam
To avoid the time-wasting situation above, here are three things you can do to avoid looking like a scam:
1. Message candidates on ClearanceJobs.
Messaging a cleared candidate directly on ClearanceJobs showcases that you are a verified, vetted recruiter with a cleared staffing company, defense contractor, or federal agency. You don’t have to give up your other platforms and guilty pleasures, but make sure you’re reaching out to candidates where they can see you’re part of the system.
2. Ensure your grammar and spelling are correct.
Sure, this is a no-brainer, and sometimes when we work fast, we make mistakes. Slow down, proofread, and make sure your message makes sense. Multiple colors to catch a candidate’s attention? From the inquiry above, maybe it doesn’t make sense to change coloring. It might catch someone’s eye, but not always in the right way.
3. Check that your ClearanceJobs profile is public.
Sometimes it makes sense to remain anonymous, but in today’s market, it rarely benefits you to fly under the radar. Give interested candidates the ability to reach out to you if they have questions about your company or openings. You could be preventing a very qualified candidate for a hard to fill role from inquiring!
THE CLEARED RECRUITING CHRONICLES: YOUR WEEKLY DoD RECRUITING TIPS TO OUT COMPETE THE NEXT NATIONAL SECURITY STAFFER.
