A while back I attended an event at which three recruiters from large companies told us what they look for in job candidates. It was interesting to get “the inside scoop” on the hiring process. VERY interesting! Here are some of the things I learned [peppered with my own HINTS]:

1) When a company posts an opening they usually get 500 or more applications. The ONLY way they can sort through that kind of volume is to use a piece of software to do it for them. Guess what means to you.  If your resume doesn’t exactly fit the key words for the specific job posting it probably won’t make it through the initial screening. [HINT: If you are going to apply for an online posting, be sure your resume fits as closely as possible with the job description in the posting -- and NEVER lie about your experience!]

2) Recruiters KNOW that this process screens out dozens of candidates who are more qualified than the ones they are actually interviewing, but they simply have no choice. [HINT: Get to the recruiter BEFORE they put the posting online -- we have some helpful ways to do that!]

3) Recruiters would rather view their job as a strategic effort of the organization, than simply a “position filling” service. In that regard, the BEST recruiters are looking to fill positions down the line as well as the one in front of them. [HINT: Upsell yourself by helping the recruiter see your potential to get promoted through the ranks of their organization. That way you will help them fill both the current job for which they are interviewing AND the one they will need to fill in a year or two.]

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when working with recruiters is that less than 15% of people find their job this way.  You can increase your odds by treating the recruiter as a networking partner.  Follow the rules of networking, and recruiters can become a helpful tool for helping you find a job.

Happy Hunting!

Related Posts

• How To Work With A Recruiter In Your Job Search
• Are You Ready To Get Hired?
• Are You Sick And Tired of Being Sick and Tired?
• What is a Personal Brand and Why Do You Need One?
• 7 Key Ways to Promote Your Personal Brand

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“How much did they pay you to give up on your dreams?”

That’s a direct quote from George Clooney in the movie Up In The Air. My wife and I saw it yesterday, and it really made an impact on me.  One, because this is some of the work I have been doing for the last 16 months – not the firing part, but the part about helping people move past the job loss on to a new opportunity.  Two, because it deals with an issue that more that 20% of us have had to face in the last 12-18 months — losing a job and its affect on our career, family, psyche and life.

I won’t spoil the movie for you. You should really go see it.

Now read this next part carefully, because if you don’t you may think I’m saying that working isn’t important.  I’m not saying that at all.  Our jobs allow us to exchange time for money.  Money allows us to purchase the things we want and need — i.e. food, clothing shelter, and cool stuff like iPhones and computers.  The problem is that too many of us take a job to pay the bills then end up settling for something less than we really want.  We work our jobs and they consume us.  We get tired and worn out.  Something has to give, so we settle.  We HAVE to have a job, so we give up on the one thing that really matters to us . . . our dreams.

If you have lost your job recently you have been forced into something that you didn’t want and which doesn’t feel very comfortable.  The good news is that the time you have been given may just be the ticket you need to re-focus on what really matters to you. I hope you will take the time to do that, even though it may be uncomfortable (or even a bit painful).

When our clients are evaluating their next career position we coach them to look at 4 things:

1. Job Satisfaction
2. Growth Opportunities
3. Proper Environment
4. Compensation ($$$)

When you evaluate your next position you should look for a balance of these 4 things.  If you don’t, you will probably have an opportunity to do it again within 18 months.  That’s because studies show that more than 50% of all employees are dissatisfied with their current job.  Nearly half of them state that they are looking for a new position. I assure you, that will be YOU if you don’t try to balance job satisfaction, growth opportunities, proper environment and compensation within your next position.

You don’t have to settle.  You don’t have to take a position that will suck the life out of you. You don’t have to give up on your dreams…and I hope you don’t, because life is just too short!

Happy Hunting!

If you liked this post, you might also like . . .

“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.”   Sun-Tsu, The Art of War

24 centuries ago Sun-tzu taught his generals that winning involves two things: knowledge of one’s self and knowledge of one’s opponent.  This advice is still true today — especially for job seekers going on an interview. (I know the interviewer is not your “opponent” per se, but you must admit that sometimes it feels that way!) Understanding who you are interviewing with and what their objectives are for a particular interview will give you a leg up on your real competition . . . other candidates for the job.

In today’s post I outline the 5 basic types of job interviews in which you, as a job seeker, will participate. It’s important to know what your interviewer (i.e. your “opponent”) wants to get out of the interview, so you can move on to the next step where the position and salary are finally negotiated.

1) Phone Screening

• Formal interview to see if you match “the description”
• Often by phone
• Usually conducted by internal recruiters or HR

What is the purpose from the standpoint of THIS interviewer?

• screen OUT candidates
• narrow a long list
• send a few ‘qualified’ candidates on to hiring manager

2) Recruiter

• External (usually)
• Experienced at screening candidates
• Makes quick judgments
• Likes a concise, clear resume that fits exactly
• May be rather direct, even abrupt (“jilted lover”)
• Knows their client’s culture

What is the purpose from the standpoint of THIS interviewer?

• Gets paid for the right match — wants to avoid a mismatch.
• Send the right candidates forward (look good!)

3) Hiring Manager

• Wants to know if you can solve problems and get the job done
• Sometimes has to sell you (and the position) to Sr. Management
• Concerned about fit with the team
• May rely on input from others

What is the purpose from the standpoint of THIS interviewer?

• Doing the right thing
• Not looking bad to their superiors

4) Peers/Team Members/Direct Reports

• See how your skills compare with others in the group
• Ascertain competencies
• Make recommendations to decision-maker
• May see candidate as a competitive threat

What is the purpose from the standpoint of THIS interviewer?

• “Will you fit-in here?”

5) Senior Executives/President/Founder

• Conceptual thinkers – sees the big picture
• “Don’t waste my time!”
• Concerned how you will fit into the culture
• May want you to be a change agent (“Danger, Will Robinson…”
• May want to brag (tell how he or she built the business)

What is the purpose from the standpoint of THIS interviewer?

• Has a problem and wants to know if YOU can solve it.

Knowing who you are interviewing and understanding THEIR needs is critical to taking the next step in the interview process. There is a lot more information on interviewing and negotiating in the Careers 2.0 membership site.  Sign up now for free access.  Good luck and happy hunting.

Job Interviews / Interviewing Related Posts

• Want to Ace the Behavioral Interview?
• How To Conduct An Informational Interview
• Interviewing Tips – a Video Montage
• 101 Job Interview Questions
• How to Nail The Job Interview

So you are looking for a job.  Well, sooner or later someone is going to suggest you find a recruiter (sometimes called a head hunter, or a job placement agency).  It’s not a bad idea, but it’s not a panacea either.  If you are going to work with a recruiter, there are some things you should know.

1)    Recruiters do NOT work for you.  It’s NOT their job to find you a job.  Recruiters are paid by a company to find candidates. As such, you are part of their inventory.  Nothing more and nothing less. This may sound “cold”, but understanding that fact up front will save you heartache and time.  It will also help you work more effectively with recruiters.
2)    A recruiter will not pass your name along to a company if they don’t feel you are a perfect fit for the position.  If they pass along a candidate that is determined to be “unqualified” they risk their reputation with the hiring company.  If you feel you are a great fit, you need to work with your recruiter to understand the needs of the position and re-tool your resume to fit it exactly.  If you can’t, you should not force the issue.
3)    Remember that recruiters are people.  They have specific needs for accomplishing their goals so they can make a living. Recruiters are busy people.  They work long hours and are pulled in many directions. They may not get back to you as quick as you would like.  They may not be “tactful” in their responses to you. . . in fact many recruiters I know pride themselves on being “brutally honest.” As such, it’s in your best interest to develop a relationship with a recruiter.  Don’t try to “use” them in your job search.  Nobody likes to be “used.” If you don’t have thick skin, working with a recruiter may not be for you.
4)    Treat your recruiter as a networking partner. Nearly every recruiter I talk to tells me that they have trouble finding qualified candidates for the positions they are trying to fill.  They are overwhelmed with people who do not fit their needs, and this can cause them to become a bit cynical.  You can overcome this problem by proving to be a valuable networking resource to them. Since you are networking with other job seekers, you know who is out there looking and you know what their strengths and weaknesses are.  Help your recruiter discover hard to find candidates and they will remember you when they come across a job requisition that’s right for you!
5)    Remember, only about 10-12% of jobs are ever filled by a recruiter.  Working with a recruiter may be right for you, but don’t limit your job search to just one method.  If you decide to work with a recruiter, you should also be out searching for opportunities for yourself. Many opportunities will never cross the recruiter’s desk, so don’t put all of your eggs in that one basket.

Working with a recruiter can help accelerate your job search, but it isn’t right for everyone.  If you remember these 5 tips for working with a recruiter, your experience will be more productive and pleasant for all involved.

Join us tomorrow as we explore the question, “Should You Have A Video Resume?”  In the meantime, happy hunting!

I hear it all the time. Unemployed people tell me that because of the current economy they are willing to take any job just to get by. They write their resume to fit every job posting that comes along. They are willing to expand their job search to cast the widest net possible. They search the Internet for ”fast hiring jobs” and “free resume examples” to copy what others have done, believing that they will increase their luck by increasing the volume of resumes they send out.

Let me offer a bit of free career advice as to why this is a BAD IDEA!

If your resume looks like everyone else’s you increase your competition. If a hiring manager sees 15 (or 50 or 500) resumes that all look the same, then his/her hiring decision becomes a lottery. Make your resume stand out by emphasizing solid accomplishments from your past.

Narrow the target of your job search. It’s a bit counter-intuitive, and most people don’t want to rule out any job opportunity. But, narrowing your job search is actually a good thing. By narrowing your job search target you will be able to rely more on your network of friends, family and former colleagues to pass along specific opportunities. If your job search target is too broad, they won’t be able to help you.

Rely on your network to find job opportunities for you. At least 60% of all jobs are found through some form of network connection. Most jobs are never posted online (i.e. Monster.com, or CareerBuilder.com). In fact only about 5-7% of people ever get a job this way. By letting your network know exactly what kind of new job you are looking for, you will allow them to help you find it.

So the next time you are asked what kind of job you are looking for, don’t say, “any job will do.” Be specific about what kind of job you are looking for and let your network help you find your next career opportunity.