"ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR "A" GAME???"
The Yankees are in the post season...the Giants season has begun...and all seems right with the world...except the RESUME, ATTITUDE, INTERVIEW STYLE of many of the candidates I have been meeting.
I believe that because of the robust economy and the volume of job openings listed on corporate websites and HotJobs, Careerbuilder, Monster & Craigslist...there seems to be a "laid back " approach by many jobseekers to their search.
Do not be fooled into thinking that because there appears to be so many jobs out there... or the fact that you are getting many interviews, that either of these guarantee you landing a new position.
You have to remember that you are continuing to compete with other jobseekers whose education, experience, interpersonal skills, resume structure are as good, if not better than your own!!! Candidates need to assume that there are at least three other QUALITY candidates the employer is comparing them to in every hiring decision!!!
This is where "bringing your "A" game comes into play!
I define someone's "A" game by their ability to appear to be the complete package!
This begins with the resume you are using as your "marketing tool" or means of introduction. There is no reason on earth with spellcheck, that you should be sending a resume that has spelling errors out to anyone!!!! This is true if you are sending it to a Recruiter or to the HR department of a company.
Candidates need to remember that HR professionals and Recruiters examine hundreds of resumes on a daily/weekly basis. Therefore, your resume needs to be concise, easy to read & highlight the experience that you feel pertains to the position you are applying for.
Resume structure and content is a subjective thing. However, I can tell you most of my clients share my preference for a bullet point resume. This format is easy to read and tends to enable whomever is reviewing it, come to a quick decision as to whether your credentials appear compelling or appropriate for the spot they are looking to fill. 5-7 bullet points for any experience you are listing is plenty!!! Remember to place the duties, accomplishments, expertise you want someone to notice in the top 3-5 bullets. It is human nature to try to glance at the resume to extract keywords, titles, tasks that appear to MATCH their needs. So, be sure to sell ONLY the experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
OBJECTIVES: I do not think they are necessary - if you do choose to list an objective, it should be "general" or "broad" in nature.
EDUCATION: Must be listed...however should only appear atop your resume if you are a new grad. Why??? Because employers are will be focused on the caliber of company and the value or relevance of your experience - your professional history should be listed first...in chronological order - dates of employment should include months & years!!!
BULLET POINTS: They need to demonstrate/highlight experience & expertise that you feel set you apart & relate directly to the position you are applying for!!! For example, if you are an Executive Assistant, the fact that you planned the company holiday party will have much less importance than illustrating your ability to support a senior executive. THIS GOES BACK TO SELLING EMPLOYERS WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO BUY!!!
OTHER INFO I FEEL IS NOT NECESSARY: Hobbies/Personal Interests, information relating to activities that relate to religious or political organizations/affiliations (people, in general have VERY STRONG views on both...and until you know someone, I feel this is personal information that need not be broadcast on your resume) - skills you are NOT proficient in (if you have only used PowerPoint once...DO NOT LIST THIS AS A SKILL!!!)
Enough with the resume stuff!!!
One of the keys to any Recruiter being a successful Agent for a jobseeker is for them to have a clear idea of what you are seeking. This relates to industry, title, scope of responsibility, compensation & many other factors.
I can't tell you how many times I still hear from candidates at all levels; "I am just looking for something more CREATIVE"!!! Well, that is a good start, but everyone's idea of what is creative is different. Some of the most CREATIVE people I have met were designing marketing campaigns for foot fungus medication or credit card renewals.
Do your homework!!! Have some sense of the size of the organization you are seeking, the role, compensation you can generally expect, etc.
Too many candidates come in and tell me they want MARKETING, ADVERTISING, EVENT PLANNING OR FASHION. This is not helpful or being flexible. Instead, it illustrates a lack of direction and understanding of where their background could fit or would be valued. Then...if I ask a candidate why they want to go into any of the fields I listed, their answer is generally based not on professional experience I can market...but instead on person interests & consumer behavior. You need to know who the leaders are in the industry you are seeking, what type of role someone with your background may occupy, what the growth path is, etc.
Don't get me wrong...it is cool to have a "wish list"...but Recruiters get paid to introduce a candidate that will have immediate impact on the manner in which they conduct business - based upon their previous experience & education. Employers do not pay for POTENTIAL or the POSSIBILITY you could be good in a role unrelated to anything you have done.
Do your homework - speak to people that work for companies that seem like ones you want to target - know who their competitors are - show a sense that you are basing your search on facts you have gathered rather than what you think may be what is out there.
ATTITUDE...
This is the most important part of the search/interview process and is overlooked far too often!!!
I am seeing far too many ATTRACTIVE, BRIGHT, EXPERIENCED candidates with STELLAR EDUCATIONAL backgrounds not making it past the first round of interviews. This is because they are NOT bringing the right attitude to the process. I tend to refer to these candidates as having an "OVER-INFLATED SENSE OF SELF WORTH"!
Far too many qualified candidates forget they are in the most competitive marketplace in the country!!! There are dozens of "competitors" for these jobs who may be better looking, have superior interpersonal skills, worked for a more highly regarded company, went to a better school, etc.
You need to bring a balance of confidence and humility!!! Hiring Managers are people - people want to work with people thay see as a "cultural fit" and that they genuinely like!!! If you come in with a casual attitude, not having done your homework, not smiling, not expressing a strong desire to work at the company you are interviewing...and instead are relying on the fact that "in the past I got every job I interviewed for" or come to an interview process COCKY...you WILL NOT MAKE IT PAST THE FIRST INTERVIEW!!!!
Be the COMPLETE PACKAGE...it's fantastic if you have a superior educational background & have been fortunate to work for highly respected organizations...but express gratitude, flexibility, a desire to learn more...those things will get you further.
Companies are looking for that perfect balance of business acumen...analytical skills...attention to detail...pride in the quality of work you produce...a proactive nature...an ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast paced environment...the ability to function with autonomy & the desire to be part of a TEAM...and lastly is the CREATIVE, OUTSIDE-THE-BOX thinking that may set you apart.
Concentrate on communicating and illustrating COMPLETE PACKAGE qualifications and less on superficial "BS" things!!!
Even though the market is still HOT...YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR "A" GAME!!!
FOR ZS
" Treated you with respect, even like a brother...you were living high on the hog...you disrespected & embarrased...now you will be a slave to a page on my blog!!!"
I believe that because of the robust economy and the volume of job openings listed on corporate websites and HotJobs, Careerbuilder, Monster & Craigslist...there seems to be a "laid back " approach by many jobseekers to their search.
Do not be fooled into thinking that because there appears to be so many jobs out there... or the fact that you are getting many interviews, that either of these guarantee you landing a new position.
You have to remember that you are continuing to compete with other jobseekers whose education, experience, interpersonal skills, resume structure are as good, if not better than your own!!! Candidates need to assume that there are at least three other QUALITY candidates the employer is comparing them to in every hiring decision!!!
This is where "bringing your "A" game comes into play!
I define someone's "A" game by their ability to appear to be the complete package!
This begins with the resume you are using as your "marketing tool" or means of introduction. There is no reason on earth with spellcheck, that you should be sending a resume that has spelling errors out to anyone!!!! This is true if you are sending it to a Recruiter or to the HR department of a company.
Candidates need to remember that HR professionals and Recruiters examine hundreds of resumes on a daily/weekly basis. Therefore, your resume needs to be concise, easy to read & highlight the experience that you feel pertains to the position you are applying for.
Resume structure and content is a subjective thing. However, I can tell you most of my clients share my preference for a bullet point resume. This format is easy to read and tends to enable whomever is reviewing it, come to a quick decision as to whether your credentials appear compelling or appropriate for the spot they are looking to fill. 5-7 bullet points for any experience you are listing is plenty!!! Remember to place the duties, accomplishments, expertise you want someone to notice in the top 3-5 bullets. It is human nature to try to glance at the resume to extract keywords, titles, tasks that appear to MATCH their needs. So, be sure to sell ONLY the experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
OBJECTIVES: I do not think they are necessary - if you do choose to list an objective, it should be "general" or "broad" in nature.
EDUCATION: Must be listed...however should only appear atop your resume if you are a new grad. Why??? Because employers are will be focused on the caliber of company and the value or relevance of your experience - your professional history should be listed first...in chronological order - dates of employment should include months & years!!!
BULLET POINTS: They need to demonstrate/highlight experience & expertise that you feel set you apart & relate directly to the position you are applying for!!! For example, if you are an Executive Assistant, the fact that you planned the company holiday party will have much less importance than illustrating your ability to support a senior executive. THIS GOES BACK TO SELLING EMPLOYERS WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO BUY!!!
OTHER INFO I FEEL IS NOT NECESSARY: Hobbies/Personal Interests, information relating to activities that relate to religious or political organizations/affiliations (people, in general have VERY STRONG views on both...and until you know someone, I feel this is personal information that need not be broadcast on your resume) - skills you are NOT proficient in (if you have only used PowerPoint once...DO NOT LIST THIS AS A SKILL!!!)
Enough with the resume stuff!!!
One of the keys to any Recruiter being a successful Agent for a jobseeker is for them to have a clear idea of what you are seeking. This relates to industry, title, scope of responsibility, compensation & many other factors.
I can't tell you how many times I still hear from candidates at all levels; "I am just looking for something more CREATIVE"!!! Well, that is a good start, but everyone's idea of what is creative is different. Some of the most CREATIVE people I have met were designing marketing campaigns for foot fungus medication or credit card renewals.
Do your homework!!! Have some sense of the size of the organization you are seeking, the role, compensation you can generally expect, etc.
Too many candidates come in and tell me they want MARKETING, ADVERTISING, EVENT PLANNING OR FASHION. This is not helpful or being flexible. Instead, it illustrates a lack of direction and understanding of where their background could fit or would be valued. Then...if I ask a candidate why they want to go into any of the fields I listed, their answer is generally based not on professional experience I can market...but instead on person interests & consumer behavior. You need to know who the leaders are in the industry you are seeking, what type of role someone with your background may occupy, what the growth path is, etc.
Don't get me wrong...it is cool to have a "wish list"...but Recruiters get paid to introduce a candidate that will have immediate impact on the manner in which they conduct business - based upon their previous experience & education. Employers do not pay for POTENTIAL or the POSSIBILITY you could be good in a role unrelated to anything you have done.
Do your homework - speak to people that work for companies that seem like ones you want to target - know who their competitors are - show a sense that you are basing your search on facts you have gathered rather than what you think may be what is out there.
ATTITUDE...
This is the most important part of the search/interview process and is overlooked far too often!!!
I am seeing far too many ATTRACTIVE, BRIGHT, EXPERIENCED candidates with STELLAR EDUCATIONAL backgrounds not making it past the first round of interviews. This is because they are NOT bringing the right attitude to the process. I tend to refer to these candidates as having an "OVER-INFLATED SENSE OF SELF WORTH"!
Far too many qualified candidates forget they are in the most competitive marketplace in the country!!! There are dozens of "competitors" for these jobs who may be better looking, have superior interpersonal skills, worked for a more highly regarded company, went to a better school, etc.
You need to bring a balance of confidence and humility!!! Hiring Managers are people - people want to work with people thay see as a "cultural fit" and that they genuinely like!!! If you come in with a casual attitude, not having done your homework, not smiling, not expressing a strong desire to work at the company you are interviewing...and instead are relying on the fact that "in the past I got every job I interviewed for" or come to an interview process COCKY...you WILL NOT MAKE IT PAST THE FIRST INTERVIEW!!!!
Be the COMPLETE PACKAGE...it's fantastic if you have a superior educational background & have been fortunate to work for highly respected organizations...but express gratitude, flexibility, a desire to learn more...those things will get you further.
Companies are looking for that perfect balance of business acumen...analytical skills...attention to detail...pride in the quality of work you produce...a proactive nature...an ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast paced environment...the ability to function with autonomy & the desire to be part of a TEAM...and lastly is the CREATIVE, OUTSIDE-THE-BOX thinking that may set you apart.
Concentrate on communicating and illustrating COMPLETE PACKAGE qualifications and less on superficial "BS" things!!!
Even though the market is still HOT...YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR "A" GAME!!!
FOR ZS
" Treated you with respect, even like a brother...you were living high on the hog...you disrespected & embarrased...now you will be a slave to a page on my blog!!!"
