The Resume Reconstruction Part I - Get rid of your Objective

Ok, so it’s been ages since I’ve blogged but honestly, it’s been a great 6 month break.  Much needed.  I feel refresh and energized to start blogging again so I hope you’re ready.  I’ve got a bunch of content lined up so it should be fun again...which is always important for me.

Quick update on me before this weeks topic….we are settled quite nicely out here in CA.  It’s farking expensive but the weather, availability of most everything and live at the Mothership it’s hard to complain.   I’m still a boy of the 603 but the 408 isn’t so bad.

With that, I’ve been talking to a lot of recruiter friends (nod to referrer!) and have come to a conclusion...it’s time for a resume revolution.  The whole state of resumes is terrible.  The entire thing is just messed up.  Most of them don’t tell the right story and get good candidates rejected without any conversation.  So, for me, that tells me it’s time to just nuke the whole approach and start fresh.  Let’s start at the top and take a look at the “Objective”.

Honestly, I’ve probably read about a million of these things and for the most part they all suck.  The objective of your resume is to get you a job (or the job).  Period.  End of story.  The objective really isn’t to get you a rewarding and challenging position that blah blah blah blah blah…..it’s to get you the job.

True story, I’ve received SEVERAL resumes where the objective has resulted in an instant reject.  I mean, instant.  Sending a recruiter that says “To find a role at WRONG COMPANY” will get you rejected immediately.  Last one I saw was looking for a role at Amazon….that’s great, I love Amazon but um, I don’t work there.  Trash.

Alright...so I’m not a big fan of just complaining so in lieu of an Objective what should you do?  Here are a few options.

1) Don’t stress it.  Start your resume with your best attribute (Education or Experience) so when a recruiter or manager sees your resume it JUMPS to their attention.  This is always my preference on a resume.

2) Start with a summary of skills or experiences.  I don’t love this to be honest but if you’ve got a bunch of skills/experiences that an employer will really value than sum them up, show them off and then dig into the details later in your resume.

Make sense?  I hope so, my big issue with resumes right now is that they are filled with junk and don’t truly show off what makes a person exceptional….so over the next few posts we’ll blow it up.  I leave on vacation this week but will be posting from parts unknown….until then, enjoy the week

Guest Blog!! Common Sense Rules for Recruiters!!

I'm excited to have a guest blogger this week!  My dear friend Nell, she pretty much rules and is a ton of fun.  Like I said last week, I'm hoping to have more guest posts and this is the first.  With that, I'll let Nell tell you about a few basic rules for recruiters....needless to say, I love the last two.  Enjoy!

 

Common Sense Rules for Recruiters

One of the advantages to being a “senior” member of a recruiting team is that I have a lot of years (i.e. I’ve been doing this for a LONG time) from which to glean my knowledge and experience. I also recognize that the means with which we can now do our job has changed drastically and will continue to evolve as technology improves (sidenote: I remember when a former boss finally agreed to fore go the Rolodex for a desktop computer for each of us and watching her point her mouse at the screen like a garage door opener) but common sense and basics of how we do our job and conduct ourselves as recruiters should not.  

Far too often I hear stories from candidates and hiring managers about recruiters who more closely resemble used car salesmen or glorified paper pushers than professional recruiters and it absolutely makes my skin crawl.  Here are just a few of the common sense/basic rules that we should all be following:

• You are often the first impression a candidate has of the company. Just like you are passing judgment on their skill set and experience, a candidate is assessing if the way you treat them is indicative of how employees are treated within your organization.  So regardless of their qualifications, always be respectful. Always.
  
  
• When you are interviewing (phone or in-person) pay attention to THEM.  Don’t multi-task just because they can’t see you, and don’t check your email or take a call while they are sitting in front of you.  Ever.
  
  
• If a co-worker or hiring manager isn't returning an email or if you are going back and forth over email and not getting anything resolved, pick up the damn phone and call them OR walk to their office and actually talk to them.  It’s amazing how well TALKING to someone actually works.  Technology is awesome but not always the best means to communicate.
  
  
• Follow through with your candidates and hiring managers. If you say you are going to do X, then do it. Duh.
  
  

• Pay it forward. Every week you should do something or help someone else find a job or make the one they’re in better.  When I was unemployed several years ago I was shocked at the number of people who went out of their way to help me. I was equally as shocked by the number of fellow recruiters who didn't return my calls or emails. 
  
  

and last but not least…

• If you don’t enjoy recruiting or being a recruiter, then get a new job -- you’re making those of us who love it, look bad.

Find me at google.com/+NellThayerHeisner11 or on Twitter @nellthayer

My take on creative job search tactics

I’ve been hearing a lot of stories lately of people using unique and interesting ways to get recruiters attention.  I figured I’d take a little time to talk about them and give you my take.  I’ll be honest, I’m not really a big fan of this kind of stuff but I’ll try to be impartial.  Anyone who knows me, will tell you I’m more of an old school networker.  I like chatting on the phone or having a beer via G+ Hangout…..get beyond that and honestly I start to twitch.

Anyway, this isn’t about me...this is about you using some off the grid unique ways to get noticed by recruiters or hiring managers.  With that...here we go:

Running ads with your name on them -  This one was pretty popular a few years back and there were a ton of examples.  Apparently this worked and it became pretty popular but I never really understood the appeal.  It’s a little too shotgun approach for me, although optimizing and targeting the ads definitely helps.  The example I posted cost $150 which if you think about it is a great deal.  I don’t hate this approach, but when I see ads like this targeted towards me I always think they are spam and I just ignore them.

Making your resume look like a product or web page - This one has been popular for a while and will probably continue to be popular.  This particular post is a great example if you’re looking for one.  From my perspective, this is a good idea if you’re early in your career or in the market for a creative job.  A few candidates through the years have sent this kind of resume to me and I always enjoy checking the creativity.

Video Resume - I’m a sucker for the video blog, especially this one.  They haven’t really taken off but some places ask for them and there are a lot of good examples out there as well.  Done right, a video resume is a great way to show off your skills and personality for a potential employer.  You want to make sure use good quality video and have a well scripted plan to develop a professional video.

Creating personal action figures - Ok, last one. A coworker sent me this blog last week and I have to admit I love the idea.  I looked into making “Jeff Moore - Recruiter” action figures but kind the cost scared me off….I’ll keep researching.  Anyway, I think this is a cool idea but is potentially pretty expensive.  If you are in the toy industry or another creative role, this could really get you a great job.  For me, I just think having my own action figure would be fun :)

Alright, so there are a few thoughts...obviously, I’m only one data point and every recruiter is different.  Doing something creative can be a great way to get noticed but you’ve got to make sure whatever you do reflects your personality and your voice.

Good luck out there and if you find another other examples please share as I’ve love to see other examples.

Avoiding the awkward "Thank You" letter

I’ve been blasted this week hence the lack of tweets and blogs…...but here I am!  This weeks topic is kind of a funny one but really if you’re looking for a job it’s not funny at all.  It’s about the awkward interview or meeting follow up.

Now, before I get into this….NONE of these examples are from people who’ve interviewed w/ me recently.  Been talking to a lot of people and it’s not cool to talk out of school.  Ok?  Ok.

We all know that the post interview follow up is really important.  To me, it doesn’t really matter if it’s email or a written letter...you’ve gotta follow up and say thank you for the interview.  No brainer right?  Well...unless you send a really uncomfortable follow up.  What does that mean?  Here are a few examples:

Spelling the persons name wrong - Do I need to even say anything else here?  Right

Using the wrong pronoun - Um yeah.  Referring to a he as a she, she as a he….whatever, not the kind of thing you want to screw up.  I’ve seen it.  #fail

Emailing the wrong address - Nothing takes the wow factor away than having someone else forward you the “thank you” note.  If you’re going to email, make sure it’s to the correct address

Assuming you’ll get the offer - Confidence is great, arrogance is annoying.  Your thank you note is just a thank you….that’s it, nothing more.  Don’t assume anything just be nice.

There are a million other things you can do wrong here so just play it safe.  Send a polite and timely follow up….nothing more, nothing less and wait to hear about next steps.

More soon, I’ll try to pick up the pace.  And, as always good luck out there...

Living on a Prayer - Recruiting Advice from Bon Jovi

Alright, hope everyone is doing well.  As some of you know...I’m on vacation back east.  Spending a bunch of time off the grid in Maine or New Hampshire.  We did however venture out to see Bon Jovi in concert.  It was pretty awesome, nevermind the fact that the J. Giles Band opened....it was great to see Bon Jovi and relive my 80’s metal days.  As such, I wanted to write a quick blog with a few recruiting/career inspiration from Bon Jovi.  Now, before you make fun of me....most of the lyrics are from older tunes in the catalog...what can I say, I’m getting old.

Ok, here you go....

Rainy night and the worked all day, We both got jobs cause there’s bills to play, We got something they can’t take away, Our love, our lives - Born to Be My Baby

We’ve all had these days right?  Rainy day?  Daylight Savings Time?   Let’s face it, everyone has a day that just sucks.  But at the end of the day, remember.....work to live, not live to work.  It’s really important to walk away, get home and enjoy life.  If you can’t do that...its time for a new job.  Trust me, it’s happened to me and I’m a better man for it.

Take you higher than you’ve ever known - In and Out of Love

I’m pretty sure this lyric is about sex in the original song....but that’s not the topic here.  This line really makes me think of mentors....at your job or externally a great mentor will help you get higher than you every dreamed in your career.  Don’t have a mentor?  Find a few immediately....

Faith: you know you’re gonna live thru the rain

Lord you got to keep the faith

Faith: don’t let your love turn to hate

Right now we got to...Keep the faith - Keep the Faith

Pretty simple message here....through the tough times and rough days...keep the faith and focus on getting your job done.  If you can’t....maybe it’s time to look around for something better.

Right now the rules we made are meant for breaking - Lay your hands on me

This line is definitely about sex but I guess this is what I get for a Bon Jovi themed blog....honestly though..this is a great line.   Rules are meant for breaking....sometimes, not all the time.  The key is knowing when to ask for forgiveness or permission.....great employees bend rules or break rules when the need to do the right thing for the business.....just think twice :)

Tommy used to work on the docks

Union’s been on strike, He’s down on his luck...it’s tough, so tough

Gina works the diner all day, Working for her man, she brings home her pay

For love - for love - Living on a Prayer

Obviously a great song, one of the best.  The moral here?  You’ll have ups and downs through your career but you’ve got to keep working to bring home the bacon for the family (or retirement, or whatever)

Never say goodbye, never say goodbye

You and me and my old friends

Hoping it would never end - Never Say Goodbye

Insert “Jeff Moore always tells me to network in his blog” comments here......

Well now that we’re together

Show me what you can do - Raise your hands

Great line here, and a great moral for your career.  Once you get the job...you’re like 10% done.  Once you are there, you’ve got to produce.  Get it done.

It’s all the same, only the names will change

Everyday it seems we’re wasting away

Another place where the faces are so cold

I’d drive all night just to get back home - Wanted Dead or Alive

My favorite Bon Jovi tune by far, so good.  This one made me think of having a long commute.  Man, nothing sucks more than a long commute.  I’ve got a short one now so I’m spoiled but meh....I’d drive all night to get home.  Think of that next time you take a job, go on an interview or transfer locations....a crappy commute can ruin your job.

Ok, that’s it for tonight.....I might write a few more this week, we’ll see.....lots of ideas the question will be motivation!

Good luck out there

Don't be Costanza.....Interview Inspration from George Costanza

 

My first week in California is almost done, lots of time watching bad TV....but I’ve been catching up on a ton of old Seinfeld reruns....which got me thinking.  They talk a lot about hiring and interviewing on the show...usually it’s George who’s having issues.  I saw a couple of episodes this week that made me think....we can learn something there.  So, here we go:

George is interviewing for a job with the Yankees...Cushman is the hiring manager.

Cushman: Why don't you tell me about some of your previous job experience?

George Costanza: Alrighty. My last job was in publishing. I got fired for having sex in my office with the cleaning woman.

Cushman: Go on.

George Costanza: All right. Before that, I was in real estate. I quit because the boss wouldn't let me use his private bathroom. That was it.

Cushman: Do you talk to everybody like this?

George Costanza: Of course.

Cushman: My niece told me you were different.

George Costanza: I am different, yeah.

So, a few things....don’t sleep with people in the office (obviously) and the whole private bathroom thing is just weird.  What’s interesting to me, is that different can be and in many cases IS good when it comes to interviewing.  You can don’t want to be Costanza different.  When you’re interviewing you want to show off why you are exceptional and what makes you different from the rest of the candidates.  Got it?

Ok, later in the interview George gets to meet Mr. Steinbrenner...

Cushman: I gotta tell you, you are the complete opposite of every applicant we've seen. Mr. Steinbrenner, sir. There's someone here I'd like you to meet. This is Mr. Costanza. He is one of the applicants.

George Steinbrenner: Nice to meet you.

George Costanza: Well, I wish I could say the same, but I must say, with all due respect, I find it very hard to see the logic behind some of the moves you have made with this fine organization. In the past twenty years, you have caused myself, and the city of New York, a good deal of distress as we have watched you take our beloved Yankees and reduced them to a laughing stock, all for the glorification of your massive ego.

George Steinbrenner: Hire this man!

One thing you want to do in interviews is speak your mind.  Tell the truth and then really answer questions as truthfully and honestly as you can.  No doubt.  However, George pretty much attacks Steinbrenner here.  It’s honestly a hysterical exchange if you have the chance to see the show.  Very rarely will someone say “Hire this man” after being assaulted verbally like this.  Answer truthfully, be direct and if you’re the right fit....someone will want to hire you.

More soon, I’m trying to write a ton and as always good luck out there....having a great career isn’t easy

The importance of speaking out!

Ok, just a few posts left this year but this is one that I’ve been thinking about for a while.  You hear a lot about the importance of speaking your mind and speaking up in meetings....what’s just as important is taking time to occasionally speak OUT at events.  I recently spoke at a few events here in Boston and it really reminded me of how important is to do if you have the opportunity.  Here’s why:

1) Share your expertise - Speaking out gives you a chance to share your experiences and help other people advance their career.  Sharing what you know is the ultimate experience in my opinion as you get to collaborate and share with other folks in the industry.

2)  Networking on Steroids - That’s right, speaking out at an event is like networking on steroids.  Think about it.  People are there to year YOU speak and listen to YOUR experiences....so, it’s a great chance to meet other folks and do some serious networking.  You can’t go wrong here, seriously, makes networking so easy to do.

3) Public Speaking are GREAT skills - The ability to present to a group or speak publicly are skills that every employer wants.  Most people are afraid of speaking publicly and really stress out when they have to do it.  So...practice makes perfect.  Take the opportunity, get good at it and turn it into another skill in your skillset that you can leverage in your professional life.

4) It’s fun - I love speaking out, think it’s a blast and really have a lot of fun doing it.  So, give it a try and I think you’ll like it too

That’s it this week, I’ll try to get another post out this week but if not....have a great holiday and we’ll keep the conversation going in 2013!

Good luck out there, tough time of year but LOTS of hiring going on.....

All job searches are not created equally...

I found a pretty interesting article I wanted to share on Indeed.com.  It talks about which cities have the most job openings per “unemployed” worker.  Not sure there are any massive insights to be drawn from this but it got me thinking about one thing in particular.....

When you are interviewing for a job or looking for a new job....you’ve got to really understand the market.  Check out the article, but think about it.

If you’re looking for a job in Miami, there are 5 people looking for a job for every posting....pretty tight competition.  Honestly, from an employer standpoint it’s a buyers market.  Meanwhile, your’e looking in San Jose and there is an opening for every person looking for a job right now.....WOW, talk about opportunity right?

There are a bunch of implications for this too right?  If you are in Miami and get a job offer....you probably should think long and hard about declining the offer.  There are just not that many opportunities out there and everyone is interviewing for those few roles.  In San Jose....different story.  Take your time and find the right gig.  If you don’t like an offer, the market is stong enough for you to be picky.

I’ve pasted the link below so check it out, and remember not all job markets are created equally...and your job search can’t be created equally either.

http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/unemployment

Recruiting thoughts from the London Olympics

Ok, so by now we’ve all gotten started watching the Olympics and it got me thinking...as recruiters, hiring managers or candidates we can all learn a TON from the Olympics.  With that...a few thoughts:

Practice is golden - I was reading a thing on Michael Phelps and what really stuck me was how much that dude practices.  He works out 6 hours a day, 6 days a week.  Holy crap!  No wonder he’ll likely go down as the greatest Olympian of all time.  So, to be the best you need to practice.  Why when it comes to recruiting do we think we can just show up and ace the interview? Or pick the best people with no training?  Blows my mind....practice people!

You don’t need to be a powerhouse - Ever heard of Venuste Niyongabo?  Probably not.  He’s the only gold metal winner from Burundi.  Crazy to think about but pretty cool.  The moral?  You don’t have to be at some powerhouse company (or country) to do amazing things.  You can “win gold” at any organization or on any team.  Channel your inner Niyongabo and rock it.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Ok, work with me here....I’ve been fascinated by some random Olympic events...specifically cycling.  I mean, really, I could care less about dudes on bikes but it’s been pretty compelling.  How does this relate to a job search?  Easy.  Something that might seem boring to me....might be the greatest job on earth to you.  Totally depends on your perspective but really it’s true.  Don’t worry about what other folks have to say, if you think a job or projects sounds good....go for it.

Ok, that’s it.  I start my new job this week so we’ll see how much time I have for blogging but hopefully I can find time to put something out there.

Good luck this week, the economy seems be to slowing so be extra diligent.

My thoughts on “The 2-Hour Job Search” by Steve Dalton

I don’t know Steve (@Dalton_Steve) but if I’m ever down by Duke University I’m going to look him up because this book rocks.  So good.  Honestly, this is probably the best book I’ve read for someone who’s looking for a new job.  I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a job.  With that, here are a few of my thoughts on the book:

The Resume Black Hole -  On page 3, Steve talks about a student named Becca who’s been applying for tons of jobs....with no luck.  I talk about this a lot and this paragraph stresses the point.  Applying online is inefficient and unlikely to result in a new job.  You have to do it...but don’t get your hopes up in amazing results.

LinkedIn Start-up - There is a great, quick start-up guide to getting your LinkedIn profile working for you on page 14.  This page is really all you need to get up and running.  Great stuff and as loyal readers know....LinkedIn is critical to your job search.

The LAMP Methodology - The real meat of the book is the LAMP methodology that Steve recommends.  It’s FANTASTIC.  Very similar to some of the advice I give but broken down into a very easy to understand format.  I won’t go into a massive amount of detail (buy the book!) but this is exactly the kind of thing job seekers need to be doing in order to successfully find a job...and a great job at that.

The 99.9% - Great statistic on page 16, there are 27.5 million businesses in the US, only .1% of them have over 500 employees.  Think about that for just a minute.  99.9% of businesses in the US have less than 500 people.........that means, for every big company you know is hiring there are literally hundreds of companies you’ve never heard of hiring too......wow!

Quick Start Guide - The last few pages of the book are literally a quick start guide on how to get the LAMP method working for you.  It’s great.  If you are looking for a job, this is exactly what you need.  Check it out.

Ok, that’s it.  This is a great book...not good, GREAT.  I’m going to recommend this book to anyone I know who’s looking for a job.  Great stuff, and Steve if you ever read this and are in Boston...coffee is on me.

Good luck out there this week everyone, enjoy the summer....it won’t last forever.

Job Tip of the Week - Have a plan

I realized that it's been a while since I've done a "Tip of the Week"....talk about a slacker.  Thankfully, I've got one this week.  I hope it helps.

One of the most important things you can do during your job search or career really....is have plan.  Now, I'm not talking about having your life scripted out so you much that you feel like the Truman Show but you've got direction.  During an active job search this especially important so you can not only keep making progress but keep motivation.

Wonder what a "plan" would look like?  Here's an idea:

- Submit 3 resumes a week online
- Contact 1 (or 2) former colleagues or classmates a week for networking
- Contact 1 person OUTSIDE of your network a week for networking
- Attend 1 networking event a week (month?) to meet additional people
- Meet with 1 recruiter a month to develop a network of people looking at roles for you
- Find a mentor who can help advise you on your search

Now, this is pretty aggressive but  if you think about it....this is what, eight hours of work?  If you're looking for a job or between jobs eight hours is nothing.  Get it done.

Good luck out there!

How to navigate a job fair

Ok, so this post is via special request....it is awesome to have ideas coming in from people so if you have one...let me know.

The idea of going to a job fair can be pretty intimidating.  Honestly, they are like huge speed dating events for people and companies looking for work.  Scary stuff. You know me, I'm a believer that your job search should be about 90% networking and 10% applying online...however, a job fair can be an important tool in your search.  With that, here are a few tips on how to be successful:

Don’t be “that guy” - What does that mean you ask?  Well, “that guy” is the dude in a 3 piece suit, the guy who looks like he just rolled out of bed and also the dude who kinda smells like peppermint schnapps.  Don’t be that guy.  Show up dressed professionally (not in a suit unless you are TOLD to wear one), well rested and ready to speak with people.

Have a plan - So, these things can be huge right?  I’ve seen job fairs with over 200 companies....if you have no plan, you have no hope. Figure out your “must” companies and be sure to stop by their booths.  Have another list of “yeah, maybe” companies that you want to hit but if you miss a few you’ll survive.  Finally, have a list of “no way” companies so yo know that you don’t want to stop by and be sucked in by their cool schwag.

Elevator pitch - You absolutely, positively need to have your little pitch down.  What you want to do is walk up to the booth, and boom, drop your elevator pitch on people to explain clearly and succinctly what you are looking for in a role.  Show up with a rambling answer and the recruiters in the booth will immediately tune you out, they have 100 other people to talk to and you just horrified them.

Follow up - It’s unlikely that you will just get a job or an interview on the spot at a job fair...so, your follow up is critical to your success.  Get the card of the person you spoke with and if you haven’t heard back from them in a few days...send an email to follow up and express your interest in the role.

That’s about it, the speed dating reference is actually a good one. You’re looking for work and the companies at this event are looking for workers...so you need to be networking and building relationships with people.  Keep at it, and eventually you’ll score a new job.

Good luck!

Oh yeah, we'll keep your resume on file....

Ok, so by now most of my readers realize this is my personal blog and not that of my employer.  Right?  Ok, got it?  Because this post is absolutely positively 100% Jeff here...nothing more.

With that shameless C-Y-A...I will now discuss the famous (infamous?) “We’ll keep your resume on file” line you hear from many recruiters.  A lot of people assume that means it’s off to the trash...not entirely true.  It’s actually pretty complicated so I’ll address the potential outcomes for you when a recruiter tells you that they’ll keep you on file.

1) They actually do and they call you - I’ve done this SEVERAL times.  Meet a candidate and for some reason the timing is off so we have to pass....for now.  I’ll usually tell the person “I’m not just saying this, we’ll call you back.  I might not be for two years but we’ll call back”.  So, obviously this is the best outcome and it does happen.

2)  They like you but don’t know where you fit - Again, this happens all the time to recruiters and they are keeping the door open for you.  Now they might not be thinking their current company or even an unnamed future company but they want to keep in touch.  Take it for what it is, and hope for the best.

3) They have a really good ATS - Some companies have awesome Applicant Tracking Software...as such, they have great databases of candidates and when they say “we’ll keep you on file”  they mean it.  A new job opens up and the FIRST thing the recruiter does is search the database and call people.  Don’t I always tell you to apply online?  This is why.

4)  They don’t know what else to say - Another common one.  Lots of recruiters hate conflict and don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.  So, rather than just giving you the straight dope and telling you it’s not a fit they come up w/ some lame excuse that ends with keeping you on file.  It sucks, but it happens.

There you go, next time a recruiter tells you they’ll keep you on file ask if you can connect on LinkedIn.  That way you can build a connection beyond the resume, network a bit and maybe if you are lucky move from #4 to getting #1.......