Required vs Preferred - Getting beyond the job description

I’m a little late this week but really excited to write this post as it’s a request from an old friend but also a REALLY great topic that I think people really struggle with during a job search.

The topic is how do you navigate around having all of the “required” skills an employer looks for versus stressing the skills you do have that are “preferred”.  Figuring out how to do this is the difference between getting a job...and not.  With that, here are a few ways to show off your skills to a potential employer and navigating your way through what they require or prefer.

1)  Customize your resume for the job - Right?  Honestly, why send the same resume to a hundred jobs and see what sticks.  Bad idea jeans (anyone get that reference?).  If you see a job and it looks really cool, write a customized resume that speaks to the description and greatly increases the odds you’ll get an interview.

2) Get the interview, no matter what - Here’s the deal.  Employers get hundreds (even thoughts) of resumes for most roles.  Thinking you’ll apply and magically get an interview? Probably won’t happen.  So, what you need to do is get the interview at all costs.   Find a referral?  Meet someone at a career fair?  Use LinkedIn for a connection?  Do an informational interview?  Whatever, you need to talk to someone, anyone who can help.  Getting yourself to be more than a piece of paper will allow you to get the interview and then answer questions....in person.  FTW!

3)  Focus on your skills - Ok, so you've customized your resume and have the interview.  Perfect. Now, when you get asked a question where the answer immediately seems like “no”... you've got to find a way to focus on what you've done and how it relates to the job.  Let me show you and example:

Question - “Jeff, give me an example of when you built a car and how it worked.”
Answer 1 - “Um.....I can’t even change my oil”

Not good....here’s a better try

Answer 2 - “Well, although I've never built a car.  Last summer I did fix my lawn mower engine.  We had an issue with the fuel line and my neighbor and I took it apart and fixed the line.  I think with this experience I’ll be able to pretty quickly come up to speed on fixing cars”

Better right?  Clearly, the goal here is simple. Rather than just seize up and give a one word answer.  You want to take a deep breath and give an answer that shows you've got the core skills that the company is looking for even if you don’t have everything that’s “preferred” or “required” on the job description.

Happy hunting out there this week, ping me if you need any advice and I’ll get back ASAP

Welcome to 2013...use your ATS system!

It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog specifically targeted to recruiters but this one has been lingering on me for a bit.  It’s about the importance of your applicant tracking system (ATS).  Most recruiters I know HATE using an ATS and resist it as much as they can....here’s a news flash, if you are really a great recruiter you are using your ATS, using it well and driving your business from the data in your system.

Let me explain

1) Data rules - It’s 2013 people, data driven recruiting is the way of future.  Your ATS is the way you can capture and report your activity...without needing to make manual reports.  You need data to understand what works and what does not work with your strategy.  If you aren’t tracking this, you’re shooting from the him....aka guessing.  Don’t guess, track your work and analyze the data.

2) Setting expectations - Ever feel like recruiting is always being shot at by the business?  No one in the organization “gets it”?  Well, data will help you show them the way and set expectations properly.  For example, does a manager need 15 onsites to make an offer?  Well, news flash....that’s a problem and the only way to explain the situation is if you can present the data and recommend a solution.

3) Your lawyer will thank you - Um, how do I say this nicely?  If you ever get audited or sued and you aren’t using your ATS.......you’re screwed.  Imagine having to justify hiring or NOT hiring someone to a judge (and jury!) with a bunch of emails and random crap from your inbox or spreadsheets.....nightmare.  Whereas, if you are using your ATS and can pull every applicant for a role with their disposition you’ll be in a much happier place.

So there you go recruiting friends.....I’m sure a bunch of you hate using an ATS....but trust me you should. And those of you saying “my system sucks”....well, make it better spend the time and even the money to make work for you and the show the business what you do.

More soon.....keep it real out this this week!

Tell me who are you!

Alright, another blog topic that came in as a special request...this one from my buddy Greg Marsh (@gmarsh17) for those of you looking for some interesting tweets.....so, here we go...oh and if you don’t know the musical reference in the title....it’s “The Who”...

As you know, I’m a huge proponent of networking.  I saw a statistic the other day that said seven of every ten jobs filled are filled via networking.  So, if you’re not networking you’re not REALLY looking for a job.  As such, you should be talking to as many people as you can and really learn about as many roles as you can.

Now picture this, you’re out there networking....and you forget to REALLY introduce yourself to the person you’re contacting.  Didn’t tell them why you should talk.  Didn’t tell them what you do.  Didn’t do anything.  #networkingfail

Here are a few tips on how to let the person know “who” you are so you’ll be a bit more effective with your networking:

Include your resume - um, amazing advice I know....but you’d be surprised how many people forget this.  Job search 101 people...send a resume when you’re networking for a job.

Reference your LinkedIn profile - By now your have your LinkedIn profile looking good right?  So why not just put a link at the end of your email as part of your signature.  Name, phone number and LinkedIn profile.......short, sweet and professional.

Link to your blog or personal site - Lots of people have personal websites or online portfolio.  Adding a link to reference your work and show a glimpse of your skills is a great way to make the introduction for networking.

Attach an article - If you’d done a few publications or articles you can send them along with a note explaining your background/expertise and use that to open the door.  Publications give you credibility and the best way to network is to establish your credibility and start talking.

Ok, so there you go...when networking or speaking with someone about a job....introduce yourself.  Establish “why” the person should speak with you and do your best to find a great role.

Good luck out there!

Lessons from the Scott Thompson story

Usually I avoid talking too much about “current events” in recruiting but I think I’ll start doing more blogs that give my views on such things.  So, here we go...first try.

By now you should all know the story of Scott Thompson, the former CEO of Yahoo who resigned because of a discrepancy on his resume.  If not, you can read about it here.  Crazy story, but honestly I think there are a lot of lessons for anyone either looking for a job or involved in hiring.  In no particular order:

Don’t lie on your resume - OBVIOUSLY!!!  Come on man, don’t like on your resume!!!  This is like being a decent human 101.  And while I’m at it...lying about the kind of degree you have?  Really?  I mean, come on people this stuff isn’t hard....

Blaming the recruiter is for jerks - Apparently Thompson blamed the recruiting agency who placed him for the discrepancy...please!  This whole part of the story makes me sick.  Seriously, this kind of thing gives recruiters a bad name and it shouldn’t.  If you get busted doing something shady, suck it up and admit it.

Background checks matter - I’m pretty horrified that neither Yahoo nor Heidrick & Struggles did a background check to confirm degrees on Thompson.  Frankly, what was Ebay doing too?  Now, some of my Exec Search friends might chime in with a “finding a CEO is different” response but I’m sorry...if you’re going to do a background check on a $35K a year entry level hire you’d better be doing it for C-level hires too.

Know your candidates - If you’re a recruiter out there reading this, you have to know your candidates.  Spend the time to check references from when they were in school and get to know them.  Companies are going to pay you big bucks for the service, do them right and take the time to know your candidates.

Admit it - Thompson was outed by AllthingsD.com and then proptly went all Watergate and tried to blame everyone involved....rather than take the blame.  The moral as always here, the coverup is frequently worse than the crime.  When busted, suck it up and admit you were wrong.  People love a comeback and are likely to forgive you.  No one like a lying jerk who digs a deeper hole.

That’s it, sitting here I feel like this could be a REALLY long blog so I’ll cut it short.  Now, I don’t know all the facts (clearly) but from what I’ve read (see the link to the WSJ story) we can all learn a ton from this story about recruiting, HR, a job search and working with an external agency.

Use a customized resume!

Quick job search tip this week.  Make a customized resume!  When you  are applying for a job make sure the resume is relevant.

For example.  Applying for a job at Wal-Mart you'd want to make sure your "Objective" says something like "To obtain a job as a sales professional at Wal-Mart".  Even better...you are sending that to a recruiter at Wal-Mart (call him Jeff) and you'd want to send an email/cover letter that actually addresses "Dear Jeff" with that customized resume you make specifically for Wal-Mart.

Finally, make sure your resume speaks to the job.  If the job requires a certain skill that you have...make sure you MENTION that skill in your resume. Never assume people will think it's there.  Assume they won't, and put it into works.

You'd be surprised how many "To Whom It May Concern" letters I see with a resume that states something like "To get a cool job that grows my skills".  Lame, lamer and lamest.....take five minutes to do a good job an send in a resume that shows you care.

Good luck this week!

Jeff