In the past, candidates could self-submit their resume to job postings, post a resume on a job board or just wait for the phone to ring. A small percentage would actually try to network their way into a new job -- which is the single best way to land a new gig. Well here are some tips for you to be able to target hiring managers and therefore allow you to network and even send a resume to them directly. My goal is to help you locate key Human Resource professionals, recruiters and hiring managers at targeted companies within your industry, and at third-party recruiting firms. You want to be able to find leads to emerging opportunities and place your resume with your best prospects, and one of the only ways to do so is to have the hiring manager's contact information to begin self-targeted resume submissions, so you can increase visibility and enhance chances of obtaining employment.
Become the first to get into a company and become more competitive by accessing daily information pertaining to your industry and in your metro. Set up Google news and Yahoo news alerts for the words "relocating" or "relocation" and your city's or near-city's name to find companies who are relocating to your area. Set up alerts for "expansion" and "growth" to identify growth companies and emerging opportunities for you to seek out hiring decision makers and recruiters at those companies. I had a client that was set on being in one particular city, so her chances of receiving new employment were lower than if she would have been tolerable with relocation. Well once her husband was laid off and they were open to relocation, she requested some pointers to find new employment over 200 miles away. I showed her this process of setting up alerts, and her first interview came from a hiring manager whom was mentioned in a Google News article. My client tracked down this hiring manager she read about, submitted her resume and landed a job post-interview.
Review leading online and published newspapers like Forbes and The Wall Street Journal (and your local paper) to keep up on those growth industries. This also allows you to be fully- informed on what is going on in your market. Be an expert!
Obviously you cannot get a job unless you put yourself out there. You must answer ads, contact recruiters at staffing companies, network, post resumes on niche and general job boards and employer websites. There is still more you can do! Research growing companies that hire your job description. Connect with hiring managers and decision makers on outlets like LinkedIn. Cover all your bases!
Making Contact
Hiring personnel get annoyed very easily. Do not be overly pushy and take yourself out of the running before the race even starts. If the hiring managers and recruiters can find a job for you, trust me, they will! They want to hire a qualified candidate as fast as possible, but they know what they want and hopefully (if you market yourself correctly) they know what you can bring to the company. If it is a match, great! If it is not, let it go and move on. I once had a candidate that contacted our recruiting office numerous times a week and applied to every single job that every single recruiter posted, he became blacklisted from any future opportunities. It was not the fact that he was eager, but the fact that he then would lie to each of the recruiters and create tension between the office. It was company policy to document every conversation, so thus he was not eligible for any future opportunities with our company.
Great ways to search for hiring contacts:
- Looking up resumes posted online and searching through references on a resume. This can provide direct contact with managers and can be a good way to begin a networking campaign.
- Contacting associations and respected leaders in a certain industry and finding out who they know does the hiring at various companies.
- Communicating with college instructors or career service personnel who can provide contact information of employers who have performed on-site speeches during a class or attended a career fair.
- Networking with past colleagues and managers to find out if they know of anyone looking to add talent. Sometimes a past reference might be looking to hire someone of your skill-set again.
Another trick is to utilize the Google search command to find email addresses of your targeted hiring managers. Find the hiring manager's name either by using sites like LinkedIn, on the company's website, a professional forum or even in a job posting. Then search the company's email format. By that I mean search how the company sets up their email address for the employees. For instance, Google's might be setup like "John.Doe@google.com". So now you know that the hiring manager at Google, Jane Doe, whom you are targeting will be "Jane.Doe@google.com". Now you have the direct email address and therefore can initiate contact and even send a resume.
The goal again is to get your credentials in front of the people making the hiring decisions. Sometimes it can be Human Resources, but most of the time it is a departmental person who will physically be making the decision because that will be your new boss. So get yourself out there and work the networking route for a higher number of interviews and thus, a higher chance of interview success.
Showing posts with label podcast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label podcast. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Subscribe to the MJW Careers' Jobstickers Podcast on iTunes
Subscribe to the MJW Careers' Jobstickers Podcast on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jobstickers/id444188047
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jobstickers/id444188047
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Now that You Got the Interview, Don't Mess it Up!
In a good interview, there are a lot of reasons you get the job because of what you said and did. You can also get the job because of what you do not say and do! Follow these tips for a successful interview and make sure you don't make the same mistakes that have hindered so many for a chance to earn a livelihood.
1. Don't ask about time off and salary up front! Wait to find out about salary when they bring it up and wait to hear about perks once they present the compensation package to you. Asking about medical benefits is acceptable though.
2. Don't ask about what the company does! You should've researched that info so don't waste their time (and yours)! I once worked with a hiring manager that grilled candidates about the company and the current state of the company and industry. He wanted to make sure he only had passionate people working on his team.
3. Don't get too casual. I once had a job interview with a highly respected insurance company that I felt real cozy in because I knew the human resources professional. Well, one slip up and it cost me big time. I accidentally used an explicit word because we got a little personal between each other. Later the hiring manager told me I did not get the job due to that fact. Casual only gets you to a place where you lose focus on what you're doing there in the first place. Unfortunately, that's when things may come out of your mouth that shouldn't unless you're with your buddies at happy hour.
4. Don't bash your previous or current employer! It can show that you aren't very loyal and that you don't respect those that aren't on your current radar screen. Hiring managers don't want you to do that to them in case you leave and they certainly don't want anyone who uses and abuses to get ahead. Just because you aren't happy with your previous employer does not mean you have the right to express your true feelings about it to a stranger.
5. Always dress one level up! Just because you might be a tradesman and your job dictates you wear jeans and a shirt to work does not mean you should be wearing that to your interview! Wear one outfit above the job you are interviewing for so in this case, the tradesman would wear a collared shirt and slacks. A salesperson would wear a suit and tie.
Stay positive and show that you really want the job throughout the interview. Asking about salary and perks shows that you don't care about anything else. Research the company before you go. Don't speak negatively about anything, especially your previous jobs. Dress to impress. Practice these simple acts and watch the offers start rolling in!
1. Don't ask about time off and salary up front! Wait to find out about salary when they bring it up and wait to hear about perks once they present the compensation package to you. Asking about medical benefits is acceptable though.
2. Don't ask about what the company does! You should've researched that info so don't waste their time (and yours)! I once worked with a hiring manager that grilled candidates about the company and the current state of the company and industry. He wanted to make sure he only had passionate people working on his team.
3. Don't get too casual. I once had a job interview with a highly respected insurance company that I felt real cozy in because I knew the human resources professional. Well, one slip up and it cost me big time. I accidentally used an explicit word because we got a little personal between each other. Later the hiring manager told me I did not get the job due to that fact. Casual only gets you to a place where you lose focus on what you're doing there in the first place. Unfortunately, that's when things may come out of your mouth that shouldn't unless you're with your buddies at happy hour.
4. Don't bash your previous or current employer! It can show that you aren't very loyal and that you don't respect those that aren't on your current radar screen. Hiring managers don't want you to do that to them in case you leave and they certainly don't want anyone who uses and abuses to get ahead. Just because you aren't happy with your previous employer does not mean you have the right to express your true feelings about it to a stranger.
5. Always dress one level up! Just because you might be a tradesman and your job dictates you wear jeans and a shirt to work does not mean you should be wearing that to your interview! Wear one outfit above the job you are interviewing for so in this case, the tradesman would wear a collared shirt and slacks. A salesperson would wear a suit and tie.
Stay positive and show that you really want the job throughout the interview. Asking about salary and perks shows that you don't care about anything else. Research the company before you go. Don't speak negatively about anything, especially your previous jobs. Dress to impress. Practice these simple acts and watch the offers start rolling in!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Surefire Resume Killers That Will Murder Your Career
As a former human resources recruiter with over 10 years experience, I would commonly go through hundreds of resumes for any one particular position. And while it became tedious to sift through the same inadequate pieces of paper over and over, there was always a diamond in the rough.
A resume that stands out can create a sense of urgency for a recruiter to present it to the hiring manager without even calling the candidate first. Of course, that isn't the reality, because we do have to pause and track down the one with the "golden eggsume." Recruiters investigate all candidates to see if they really do match up with the opening.
Now you're asking, "what did that person have on his or her resume to make them stand out?" Simple... they can do the job and the resume reflects that. As much as I would like to just spend time on top candidates, I still want to help the rest of the fold, should they ask why they didn't get chosen. With that, I give you five surefire resume killers that can become deal breakers, in no particular order.
Get Rid of the Fluff - People tend to use too many adjectives (i.e., "fast learner", "hard working") when describing themselves or their experience. Do not be one of those people! Anyone can say they are a "team player". These descriptions are subjective and cannot be proven. We also don't need to know how you helped Bill get to work for a week when his van broke down.
It Isn't a Novel - You do not need to write a paragraph for each job description. I once had a candidate send me a summary of his work experience, as opposed to a nicely formatted section including employment dates, employer, location and title. My hiring manager told me it had to be cleaned up before he would even review it, so I passed the memo along to the candidate and apparently he was too lazy (or offended) to make any edits. Even though he was a fit for our opening, it was on to the next candidate!
Lack of Depth - Write tangible descriptions relating to your skills and duties. Provide numbers or results you produced and quantify the statement with that information. Anything is better than broad statements. They are annoying and a major turn-off for HR people and managers. Data and numbers showcasing your ability to impact the bottom line is what they want to see. So find out how you were able to increase revenue or decrease expenditures for your previous employers and make it known on your resume.
One Title, One Resume - Tailor your resume to the job you are attempting to land and market yourself specifically for this job. Hiring managers are focused on what they need and expect your resume to be geared towards that need. If you are interested in multiple job titles, create multiple versions of your resume. Make sure they are based on the company's job descriptions/titles you apply to and tailor them towards those openings.
Not Enough Buzzwords - Use words from the job posting to customize your resume each time you send it out. If the job posting says "project management," use that same term in your resume as it relates to your experience. Most recruiters are not experts on every single facet of every single opening, so they constantly are seeking out information from actual candidates to further their knowledge about the openings. With that said, try to help them out and put buzzwords onto your resume so they can see that you actually have comparable skills to that job posting. Plus, when recruiters search databases to find your resumes, most of the time they use those same buzzwords.
A superior resume displays your marketable or transferable skills and experience and "pre-sells" you. Not to only gain an interview, but make it so that when you walk in, the interviewer's reaction is: "I've read your resume, and I'm really looking forward to meeting with you." A superior resume puts you ahead of the ever-increasing competition, so you can be confident that you get noticed over the hundreds of other people applying.
A resume that stands out can create a sense of urgency for a recruiter to present it to the hiring manager without even calling the candidate first. Of course, that isn't the reality, because we do have to pause and track down the one with the "golden eggsume." Recruiters investigate all candidates to see if they really do match up with the opening.
Now you're asking, "what did that person have on his or her resume to make them stand out?" Simple... they can do the job and the resume reflects that. As much as I would like to just spend time on top candidates, I still want to help the rest of the fold, should they ask why they didn't get chosen. With that, I give you five surefire resume killers that can become deal breakers, in no particular order.
Get Rid of the Fluff - People tend to use too many adjectives (i.e., "fast learner", "hard working") when describing themselves or their experience. Do not be one of those people! Anyone can say they are a "team player". These descriptions are subjective and cannot be proven. We also don't need to know how you helped Bill get to work for a week when his van broke down.
It Isn't a Novel - You do not need to write a paragraph for each job description. I once had a candidate send me a summary of his work experience, as opposed to a nicely formatted section including employment dates, employer, location and title. My hiring manager told me it had to be cleaned up before he would even review it, so I passed the memo along to the candidate and apparently he was too lazy (or offended) to make any edits. Even though he was a fit for our opening, it was on to the next candidate!
Lack of Depth - Write tangible descriptions relating to your skills and duties. Provide numbers or results you produced and quantify the statement with that information. Anything is better than broad statements. They are annoying and a major turn-off for HR people and managers. Data and numbers showcasing your ability to impact the bottom line is what they want to see. So find out how you were able to increase revenue or decrease expenditures for your previous employers and make it known on your resume.
One Title, One Resume - Tailor your resume to the job you are attempting to land and market yourself specifically for this job. Hiring managers are focused on what they need and expect your resume to be geared towards that need. If you are interested in multiple job titles, create multiple versions of your resume. Make sure they are based on the company's job descriptions/titles you apply to and tailor them towards those openings.
Not Enough Buzzwords - Use words from the job posting to customize your resume each time you send it out. If the job posting says "project management," use that same term in your resume as it relates to your experience. Most recruiters are not experts on every single facet of every single opening, so they constantly are seeking out information from actual candidates to further their knowledge about the openings. With that said, try to help them out and put buzzwords onto your resume so they can see that you actually have comparable skills to that job posting. Plus, when recruiters search databases to find your resumes, most of the time they use those same buzzwords.
A superior resume displays your marketable or transferable skills and experience and "pre-sells" you. Not to only gain an interview, but make it so that when you walk in, the interviewer's reaction is: "I've read your resume, and I'm really looking forward to meeting with you." A superior resume puts you ahead of the ever-increasing competition, so you can be confident that you get noticed over the hundreds of other people applying.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #3: Quick Internet Tips to Help Find a Job
LISTEN:
Welcome to the 3rd installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast! This week we will be discussing some quick internet tips to help you get started (or continue) your job search.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Welcome to the 3rd installment of the MJW Careers' JobSticker's podcast! This week we will be discussing some quick internet tips to help you get started (or continue) your job search.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our Free Resume contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Sunday, January 23, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #2: You've Been Laid Off! Now What?!?!
DOWNLOAD:
LISTEN:
Welcome to the 2nd official MJW Careers podcast! This week we will be discussing what to do immediately following a layoff.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our “Free Resume” contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
LISTEN:
Welcome to the 2nd official MJW Careers podcast! This week we will be discussing what to do immediately following a layoff.
On the show, we discussed some tips and don't forget about our “Free Resume” contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
Friday, January 14, 2011
JobStickers Podcast #1: WAZO 107.5 Wilmington 01-13-11 Radio Show Interview
DOWNLOAD:
LISTEN:
Welcome to the 1st official MJW Careers podcast! To set things off, I will be sharing my morning radio show interview with Foz and Jocelyn over at WAZO Z107.5 in Wilmington.
On the show, we discussed some resume tips as well as our “Free Resume” contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
LISTEN:
Welcome to the 1st official MJW Careers podcast! To set things off, I will be sharing my morning radio show interview with Foz and Jocelyn over at WAZO Z107.5 in Wilmington.
On the show, we discussed some resume tips as well as our “Free Resume” contest. For more info about these and other great job hunting tips, please visit www.jobstickers.com or our website www.mjwcareers.com.
For more information on the "Free Resume" contest, check out http://mjwcareers.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-free-resume-contest.html
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