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Is there any long-term harm or damage to relationships with recruiters if I ignore them for the time-being? Like, will they blacklist me or stop reaching out with opportunities? I'm sure some of this depends on the individual - but is there any general agreement on whether it's bad manners to ignore their cold-calls and emails? Would it be worthwhile to at least acknowledge them reaching out to me? Just don't want to waste my time unless I'm actually looking...

Some additional info: Coming up on the one-year mark as a first-year big law corporate associate. Currently happy where I am, but no reviews yet. My total hours are less than I want them to be, primarily because (1) slow start getting integrated; (2) retaking (and passing) bar exam; (3) getting re-integrated post-bar. Hours have been fine since then (160-200 per month, and likely approx. 1500 at years end).

No. I've never had one recruiter reach out to me with an "opportunity" that fifty four other recruiters didn't also email/call me about.

That said, there are a few good recruiters out there who are good to keep in your graces. But if you just ignore them, nothing bad will come from it. If you get one email from them, you will eventually get another.

Ignore the recruiters and don't worry about it. Recruiters will always want to work with you if they think they have a chance of getting you a job.

I also wouldn't worry too much about your hours being low yet.

I think most people ignore recruiters and most recruiters know they will be ignored.

It's never even occurred to me not to ignore recruiters. I think they'll be there if you ever want them.

I usually try to be nice to them cause it is a hard job and think it pays to be nice to people. But of course feel free to ignore their emails, most are automated anyways.

There's no harm in a brief, cordial message indicating you're unavailable. I usually follow up with a "I'll ask around though." (won't usually follow through unless I know someone off the top of my head who may be interested)

Nebby wrote:There's no harm in a brief, cordial message indicating you're unavailable. I usually follow up with a "I'll ask around though." (won't usually follow through unless I know someone off the top of my head who may be interested)

How many emails do you get that you can respond? I get like 2-3 a day, and almost all of them look like they did a mail merge of my name and practice group. Responding to unsolicited emails seems weird unless it’s diff for non profit.

Mlk&Ckies wrote:

Nebby wrote:There's no harm in a brief, cordial message indicating you're unavailable. I usually follow up with a "I'll ask around though." (won't usually follow through unless I know someone off the top of my head who may be interested)

How many emails do you get that you can respond? I get like 2-3 a day, and almost all of them look like they did a mail merge of my name and practice group. Responding to unsolicited emails seems weird unless it’s diff for non profit.

I get like one a month, haha.

No harm in ignoring any of them, especially the ones who spam you with opportunities that don't fit you and that you received from a dozen others as well. But even the "best" recruiters don't care if you don't respond, they're used to it.

That said, once I identified a couple of competent recruiters, either just by reputation or because they reached out about something that uniquely fit me based on my web bio (my firm has insanely detailed web bios), I've kept in touch. I've been up front about the fact that I'm not really looking but that I'd be happy to hear about X, Y, and Z opportunities. In a couple of instances I've had coffee with those recruiters just to shoot the shit about the market and what kinds of opportunities are open to people with my experience. It's been helpful to keep that up even though I still am not planning on making a move.