The best way to work with a recruiter is to be approached by one. That's great news for those people who are constantly getting calls from recruiters trying to pry them from their current jobs. But what can job seekers do to be on the receiving end of a recruiter's call? Here are several tips on how to get noticed and what to do once you have a recruiter's attention.

"Job seekers need to keep in mind that recruiters are the gatekeepers to their clients," says Gina Arinyanontakoon, a recruiter for The CARA Group, Inc. in Oakbrook, Illinois. Recruiters are paid to recruit the best candidates. They do that by matching the skill sets and experience of candidates to the open position.

It's OK to send an unsolicited resume. If you are "cold calling" a recruiter, an e-mail is better than a phone call. "An e-mail with a resume or bio attached is usually preferred if it's an initial contact. Be sure to introduce yourself and explain how you heard of the recruiter's organization," says Arinyanontakoon. Then you can follow up with a call.

Get connected. Recruiters actively seek out job candidates. Most recruiters will have a network of potential candidates and individuals they've placed previously. They'll go back to these people for referrals, hoping to make connections with other "insiders" as prime candidates. If you know someone who has been contacted by or placed by a recruiter, let him or her know you would appreciate help in facilitating an introduction.

State your purpose. Good recruiters will have hundreds, even thousands, of names in their database. Don't be vague or say you will take anything. If recruiters don't know what you're looking for, they'll move on to other potential candidates whom they know will be a good match.

You deserve more than one page. Corporate recruiter Mary Pierce, SPHR, says she appreciates getting a resume that includes a summary page that not only highlights specific skills, but also defines the type of job and field of work in which a candidate is interested. Pierce notes, "I see so many resumes that try to squeeze all the information into a single page, with eight-point type and skinny margins. Most of those get tossed." She says experienced candidates need a well-crafted, two-page resume and a detailed cover letter so recruiters can identify your strengths and interests.

Convey your experiences in a clear and concise manner. "Recruiters need to understand your qualifications in order to align your expertise with the positions and projects they have available," says Arinyanontakoon. Both recruiters encourage candidates to share a portfolio of their work to help demonstrate and clarify capabilities.

Avoid overexposure. Don't post your resume everywhere or for every job you see. "I go through lots of resumes to find four or five candidates to 'screen in' for possible placement. Job seekers don't want to be the person who is always screened out," notes Pierce.

Socialize your search. A growing number of recruiters are using social media tools like LinkedIn to identify potential candidates. Be sure you're using the professional experience, goals and specialties areas to highlight your particular expertise. And always keep your public profile professional.

Treat recruiters as professional. "While you want to make a connection with the recruiter, sometimes a job seeker will become too casual and share a piece of personal information that may seem harmless but could be taken out of context or leave a negative impression on the recruiter," says Arinyanontakoon.