Today's competitive job market requires you to use a variety of strategies in your job search. One strong strategy is to partner with a recruiter to build upon and maximize your efforts. It's never too late to start building effective relationships with recruiters. But before you jump out there and start calling or emailing every recruiter listed on the Internet (or sending your bio to every recruiter on TheLadders.com!), here are some quick facts you should know about recruiters and their daily job responsibilities:

• They spend about four to five hours a day on the phone
• They make contact with about 500 people every week
• They receive anywhere from 500 to 1,000 emails every day
• They rely on their network for current industry information and market trends
• They are compensated for finding the right candidate for their client (companies)

Now that you have a mental picture of a recruiter's daily challenges, here are some tactics to get recruiters' attention.

Have Specific Job Targets

Recruiters are usually specialized by industry and/or function. For example, a recruiter may only work with healthcare professionals while another may specialize in placing only very high-level executives in all industries. A recruiter's primary goal is to make a placement, so if you are unclear about your job targets or are not sure what you want, a recruiter will probably not want to take you on.

Have a Well-Defined Message

Whether your first contact with a recruiter is by telephone or by e-mail, you must be able to quickly articulate your core competencies and qualifications, describe the value you bring to the table, and provide evidence of your career achievements. Prepare and practice your 30-second elevator pitch.

Develop a Comprehensive Resume

Regardless of what highs and lows your career progression may have taken, recruiters need to know the details about every position you held – even the ones that only lasted three months. While you may choose to minimize employment gaps on the resume you send directly to employers, you need to be upfront and honest about everything with the recruiter. Your resume should have the dates for every position (starting and ending), and the graduation years in the education section (throw your age concerns out the door). Top tier degrees should be listed on the first page of the resume, and use a bulleted format to highlight your quantifiable accomplishments. Tip: If you're concerned about revealing too much, you can create a separate resume that is just for recruiters and another just for prospective employers.

Use a Table in the Cover Letter

When responding to a listed advertisement, inserting a table with two columns in a cover letter will allow the recruiter to quickly scan the document and decide whether you are a match. Use one column to list the job's required experience and qualifications and list your corresponding qualifications in the second column. With over 500 candidates competing for the recruiter's attention, don't leave anything to chance.

Develop a Compelling Subject Line

A compelling subject line message will increase your chances of getting the recruiter to open your e-mail right away. Use something to make an immediate connection - if you were referred by someone or met the recruiter recently at a networking event, put that in the subject line.

Think Twice about E-mail Blasts

Technology can be both your friend and enemy. The high volume of email received by recruiters has prompted high levels of email filtering and bulk mail settings. While you may have the opportunity to send your resume and cover letter to 500 recruiters, there is no guarantee that it will be seen. In addition, there are some recruiters who may choose to ignore resumes sent through bulk mail, as they view those candidates as unfocused.

Be Honest

There are consequences in misrepresenting yourself to a recruiter. A majority of recruiters use Google, LinkedIn, ZoomInfo and other business and social networking sites to learn more about candidates. Consequently, being dishonest and hiding critical facts are the fastest ways to ruin a relationship with a recruiter.

Have Something to Offer

A relationship with a recruiter is like any other relationship: there needs to be equal give and take. If you have qualified contacts, industry insights, or current market news that the recruiter can use, be the first one to offer a helping hand - you will reap the benefits in the long run.