LinkedIn is flooding my inbox with opportunities I might like. I’m still getting calls from jobs to which I have long since applied. Just now, I received an email from a company that ran across my resume online. Reminds me, I need to take it down.

That’s what’s happening out there for candidates. We have options.

 You can call me a millennial. Or if you prefer, call this insight. But the reality is, I’m giving you very little time to make this worth my while.

So even though I can’t tell you how to do your job, I might help you get our attention. Because like most young professionals, I find myself considering career moves, regularly. Not out of necessity, but because everything out there is telling me I should.

But I’m perfectly happy.

So when a recruiter approaches me these days, I don’t sweat it. I’m employed. I learn quickly, have cross-functional experience, and an advanced degree.

If I don’t know how to do it, it’s easier for me to figure it out with that thing called the internet.

There’s more confidence there. What I’m not sure about, is you. The recruiter. I have questions.

Are you sincere? Do you just want to place me somewhere just so you can cash in? I’m not sure. Please make this quick.

But when it comes down to it, on the other end of that channel, what I’m really wondering is if I need to be speaking to you. So be cool.

The Approach

If you’re calling me and I don’t recognize the number, which is happening too often, I’m not going to pick up. That’s just a fact and I’ve asked around, we all feel the same.

Straight to voicemail you go.

Maybe I’ll check it, maybe I won’t. Long voicemails are another inconvenience for me. My iphone is now transcribing these messages, cutting your chances in half.

Try shooting me a text.

The gig economy has created an entire workforce that prefers this. It’s just easier. Less committal. I’m receiving social media updates, bill notifications, dinner reservations. Even my dog’s vet is texting me to follow up on that last visit. It’s not weird. Get that SMS going. Brush up on the art of texting appropriately.

My voicemail inbox is the last place I want to be.

But if you insists, keep this in mind: the messages I’m deleting immediately, have the wrong tone. Don’t be too formal. But be professional. Keep it casual, but don’t act like you’re my best friend. Yet.

Think of it like a first date, or a pick-up line. Better yet, do you use dating apps?

If that first hello is lame. I’ll keep swiping left.