Tips and Tricks From A Professional Recruiter (formerly an obsessive job-seeker).
You’re going to want a professional email address to reflect a professional application. So, please be sure to avoid submitting an application with an email address that includes any of the following:
I have seen all of these this week. And it’s only Tuesday.
Have your fun email address and username in your social life, but please take 60 seconds to create a free email account that only has your name and a generic number for your job-search!
When being given a realistic job preview of a potential position before your formal interview, never describe the preview as “decent”. There is no better way to seem less interested in a job!
Here’s another job-interview tip: Don’t ask your interviewer how long this interview is going to be. I had a candidate come in for an interview, and as I explained what the interview would consist of he asked, “How long is this going to take because like, I have another commitment at 11am.” It’s just not a good approach to an interview. It makes it seem as though having this job is not a high priority on your list, and that you don’t really care about investing time in this potential employer.
Enjoy your life outside of the job-search, but when it comes time to impress, bring your A-game and show that interview that you’re committed to it – NOT that you have to jet by eleven!
Happy Weekend! Enjoy!
Here’s a quick tidbit of advice: Up and leaving out of an interview is a bad idea.
Today, we had a candidate who needed to complete a computer assessment after their interview. While I had stepped out of the office for a brief moment, this candidate ducked out! No explanation, no excuse, he just up and vanished! This is a BIG no-no. Listen, employers have no problem with you deciding that a potential job is not a good fit! Abandoning an interview is a guaranteed way to burn a bridge with a future employer – word gets out. Being able to provide feedback and being honest with people are important qualities in one’s personal life and in work-life, remember that.
Now if you’ll excuse me…
I had an applicant come in today who thought she was coming in for a “cleaning position”. I assure you, our online ad, as well as the in-depth 10-15 minute conversation over the phone made it very clear that we were hiring for a customer service position. After I explained the job to her, and read the hesitance on her face, I suggested she take some time to think about if this was a job she desired. She followed up by asking “Is the job easy?” Dear readers, please never ask a Hiring Manager if the job you’re applying for is “easy” – it makes you sound like a slacker who is not up for a challenge. I explained to her the job expectations, and how it required a lot of attention to detail, multi-tasking and continuous learning. Again I suggested that she take some time to think about the job, to which she replied,
“Well my grandpa drove me all the way here, and he told me that I better not mess this up.”
The Lesson: Always walk in to an interview with confidence, and demonstrate that YOU want the job – never make it seems like you’re doing a family member a solid by applying. Oh, and always be sure to know the job title of the job for which you’re being interviewed.
It’s been a hot minute since you last heard from us, and we’re back and ready to reboot! While we’ve been enjoying the summer and taking time to relax, we feel that with September just around the corner, it’s naturally time to get back into routine! What better way to do that than roll out those blog posts once again?!
Earlier this year, we talked a lot about becoming interview-ready, resume-prep and job-searching. We’ve found that there are a ton of resources online and in books and magazines that can lead you to resume tips, strategies, best practices etc., and we’re not here to re-invent the wheel. Moving forward, we’re going to bring you specific examples from our own interactions with job-applicants, and even from our own job-searches and career development, so that you can learn from others mistakes and successes. Don’t worry – names will be changed to protect all parties!
Sound good? Good! We can’t wait to start-up again!
As a Recruiter, one of my biggest pet peeves (and a BIG red flag) is when I receive an application that has clearly been created for a completely different job! I highly advise people tailor their resume to the specific job that they have found a posting for. You can have the same general information in all of your resumes and cover letters, but you really want to make each application as specific as possible.
Look at it this way: You care about getting this job, and your resume should reflect that. So, make your potential employee feel important by taking the time to apply specifically for “their job”.
Tailoring the cover letter and application might sound like a lot of work, but it’s easier when you know exactly what to do. So let’s get started:
Start by gaining an understanding of the job that has been posted. Highlight (maybe even literally!) the important points, and those that speak specifically to your experience and skills. Most important, make note of the specific job title and incorporate that title into your cover letter.
Once you have gained a solid understanding of the position, determine what experience you have that is most relevant, and rework your application so that it is at the top of your resume. This way, it’s one of the first things that the Hiring Manager sees and will keep their focus. Whatever your related strength is, make it the first section of your resume so your potential new employer can’t miss it!
Remember, your resume does not necessarily have to be a chronological list of past job titles with a brief description of each past job. Tailoring your resume means finding what is most relevant, creating a section for it, and filling it up with experience or qualifications that will catch a hiring manager’s eye. Earlier in my career, I had a series of short-term contracts, many of which had the same responsibilities just with different companies and titles. Creating a skills-based resume allowed me to share my vast experience in different categories, without the annoying repetition of skills under each job heading.
Once you’ve tailored, take a look at your resume and ask yourself: Does the job-posting match with the resume and cover letter that I have created? Is the same type of language used? Are terms and lingo that appear in the job-posting showing up in your document? Is it worth putting in an objective statement at the top to make your goals perfectly clear? Does this application make sense? If not, revise!
And always edit! Take a break from your resume re-working session and look at it later with fresh eyes – or have someone you trust look it over. Check the “little things” like the proper spelling of names, the correct capitalization of words, the correct date, accurate job titles, double-checking formatting and spacing. Little mistakes can be very telling, and this important document is your first impression – show that you are detail oriented and put some care in to your resume! It will take extra work, but it’s worth it to be that much more memorable, and show your level of dedication.
Editing, re-formatting, and tailoring your resume can be stressful (my stomach still gets in a knot every time I do it). Be sure to give yourself a lot of time – tailoring resumes almost always takes longer than the half-hour I initially set aside! Be honest in your presentation of yourself and good luck!
Last week I promised a post on how to present ourselves on social media while we’re job-searching – and even once we’ve landed the job. Again, this is all a matter of opinion. In my research, I found this really interesting article by Meghan Casserly that was published by Forbes. Rather than re-invent the wheel, I thought I’d share it with you all instead. Find it here:
Social Media & the Job Hunt: Squeaky Clean Facebook Profiles
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
One question I am often asked, and am sometimes presented with, is “Should I include my picture on my resume?” My short answer is “No”. But this is considered a resume “grey area” so let’s discuss:
Traditionally, the reason for omitting pictures on resumes has been to protect employers and job candidates from allegations and/or discrimination based on race, age, weight, gender, and general appearance.
But in this modern world. we can find a picture of someone with a simple Google search (or let’s face it, a quick creep on Facebook). Potential employers can learn a whole lot more than just what you look with the click of a few simple buttons, rather than a photo that you may or may not include on your resume.
Alison Doyle, an aficionado in the art of the job search, suggests looking into adding your picture to LinkedIn instead – a professional social network widely utilized by candidates in their job search and by recruiters sourcing talent. “If you believe your appearance would be an asset for your target job, incorporating a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume is a safe and acceptable way to showcase your looks. Though a certain appearance is essential for actors and models, an attractive, trustworthy or approachable appearance can also be an asset in many other fields. Sales representatives, receptionists, bartenders, financial planners, public relations representatives, recruiters and many other service providers can benefit from projecting a certain image.”
If a job posting explicitly asks for you to provide a photograph, it’s important to ask yourself “Why is my picture important to this employer?” As an employer myself, I believe that hiring decisions should be based upon skills and experience as opposed to an excellent picture. “It’s important to consider what value a picture will add” Doyle explains. As I said before, a resourceful hiring manager will likely be able to find one with a quick online search – so next time, let’s discuss our social media presence when job-searching, shall we?
Want to learn more resume tips? Check out Alison Doyle at https://www.thebalance.com/alison-doyle-2058389
It’s been a wild week over here, and with a New Moon in our sky tonight, it’s a perfect time to plan for success! I stumbled upon this beautiful graphic made by daydesigner.com and just needed to share – talk about perfect timing! How do you set up for success?
Recruiter Confidant 