Category: Career Advice

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live the life of a recruiter? Well maybe not. But I’m sure most of us have wondered what a recruiter will think of our resume. After all, the resume is often our ticket through the gate to employment. The resume can make or break us when it comes to getting to the next step. Finding a job can be an overwhelming, daunting experience – where to look, how to apply, what to avoid, and how exactly to write that darn resume! Trust me, I feel for you. I have written hundreds of resumes for friends, family and various individuals needing guidance on the art of the resume. Unless you’ve lived the life of a recruiter or hiring manager, knowing how to write a resume is not common knowledge.

I’ve written posts about what to include in your resume, which you can read here. However, you can include all the great formatting and content you want, but if you include something that drives a recruiter bananas, all that hard work may go down the drain – right alongside your hopes of employment.

No fears! I’m here to help. I’ve asked several of our top recruiters to provide some of their personal pet peeves they see in resumes so I could share it all with you.

Here are the top ten resume pet peeves recruiters want you to avoid.

1. Spelling and grammatical errors. I listed this one first because this is one of my top pet peeves as well. I am a self-proclaimed grammar police. This title doesn’t gain me any friends – sometimes probably does the opposite. But I can’t help it. It’s ingrained in me as much as my need to wipe my kids’ runny noses. If it’s running, it will get wiped. Same goes with grammar – if I see grammatical errors, I will make a mental note of it. And if at all possible, I will point it out so that it gets corrected. Same goes for recruiters. They will hone in on spelling and grammatical errors faster than they will your Employee of the Year Award. There is just absolutely no excuse for errors on a resume or cover letter. And if you’re not a self-proclaimed grammar police like me, have a friend or family member review it for you – the more eyes, the better to catch any potential issues.
2. Long, wordy resumes. In contrast to what you may think, recruiters don’t have a lot of time to read through your entire life history. In fact, according to a study done by The Ladders, recruiters spend approximately six seconds scanning a resume. And about 80% of their time is spent on a person’s name, current and previous titles/companies, current and previous start and end dates, and education. Recruiters want to know pretty quickly if you’re a fit for what they’re looking for – so don’t make them work for it. If they have to spend time finding out if you’re the perfect candidate, then you’re not; they won’t spend the time to figure it out. Include the pertinent information for the particular job you’re applying to, and don’t include unnecessary information recruiters don’t need to know.
3. Confusing or complicated formatting. Again, don’t make a recruiter work to find what you have to offer. Let’s assume you are perfect for this job; your resume needs to showcase to the recruiter in an easy to read and aesthetically pleasing format you are exactly that. You should have consistent fonts throughout, use bullets to pull out pertinent information that matches the job description, and keep it as simple as possible. Pretend you’re a recruiter for a moment – can you glance at your resume and find out what you need to know within six seconds? If not, spend some time on reformatting it so that it’s clean and easy to read.
4. Wrong or disconnected phone numbers. I mean, this may seem like an unnecessary thing to point out. It’s not like recruiters want to have to mention that this is a pet peeve, but unfortunately, it is. I couldn’t begin to speculate why this happens – and why it happens often enough for it to become something that riles recruiters up. Maybe it’s a typo (see pet peeve #1 to remedy that), maybe they forgot to update their resume with their new number, or maybe they just simply forgot to pay their bill. Whatever the reason, you can throw away your chances of getting a job with that cell phone bill you didn’t pay.
5. Cover letter or summary is written for an entirely different job. Again, here we go with the obvious. When this happens, I can only assume it’s done in complete error. Obviously, no one would intentionally submit a cover letter or resume for another job on purpose, right? Whatever the reason, it most likely cost you a job. You may have a forgiving recruiter who can look past it, but chances aren’t in your favor. Even if it was in error, it’s indicative of someone who seemingly doesn’t place importance on making sure everything is in order to impress a potential employer.
6. Too much personal information. It used to be more acceptable to include more personal information on resumes than it is today. A big reason for this is identity theft, but it’s also partly due to technology being what it is. Recruiters need very little personal information in order to contact you. I recommend only listing your name, phone #, email and LinkedIn URL. And to be honest, recruiters are very resourceful; they’ll track you down with only a name. You don’t want to include hobbies, photos – and most importantly – never list your social security number.
7. Inconsistent employment dates listed on your resume, job application and LinkedIn profile. Recruiters pay attention to employment dates. Your employment dates are indicative of your work history pattern and how long you stay at each employer. It’s essential that your dates be accurate and consistent anywhere they’re listed. If the dates you list on your resume don’t match what you have on your LinkedIn profile, it immediately sends red flags to recruiters. Plus, if an employer wants to make you an offer, they will most likely confirm your dates of employment with your previous employers, so you want to make sure what you list matches with what will be confirmed.
8. Listing jobs without employment dates. Along the same lines as above, if a recruiter receives a resume without dates of employment, it sends major red flags – more than if the dates are inconsistent. The immediate thought is that the candidate is hiding something: short stints at each employer, possibly lying about working somewhere, or not taking the time (lazy) to find out their dates so they don’t list them. Whatever the reason, you can almost guarantee they won’t move forward with that candidate.
9. Resumes not sent as a Word or PDF file. If you’re job searching, you need to have your resume in a format that is widely accepted. The two most common formats are Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you have another word processing program, you’ll need to make the investment and purchase one of these programs. Imagine being the perfect candidate with the perfectly written resume with no grammatical or spelling errors, and when the recruiter goes to open your resume they instead receive an error message stating their computer does not support the format they are attempting to open. Bye, bye perfect candidate.
10. Resume is too general. This one is probably one of the biggest, right up there with grammatical and spelling errors. Too many job seekers think resumes are one size fits all. This is absolutely a detrimental assumption to make when applying for jobs. As I touched on above, cover letters and resumes need to be tailored to every job you apply to. If you’re applying for a very specific position, the variations will be minimal. However, each job description written had a lot of thought put into it. Employers list specific details in the job description for a reason – especially in the required and desired requirements. Your resume should mirror as much as possible what they are listing in the job description. Don’t let a recruiter assume you have a certain skill set or background – tell them! If you take the time to tailor your resume each time, you will be starting your first day on the job in no time.

Again, I know how stressful it can be writing an interview-worthy resume. Hopefully reading some of these pet peeves will help you avoid some of the resume writing pitfalls recruiters see. You’re just one beautifully formatted resume away from your next dream job!

Good luck job hunting.

Here are a few attainable goals that every job seeker can use to start their search.

1. Create a list of companies

Having a targeted list of businesses that you want to work for can effectively narrow down your job search. Randomly applying to anything and everything that you could remotely be qualified for means you aren’t doing your research. The best way to stand out as a candidate is to tailor your application and resume to fit the position you’re interested in and the company you’re applying at.

Goal: Sit down for one hour and create a list of companies that have your dream job or a job that will get you to your dream. Start researching each company and the current positions that are open. Then, begin tailoring your resume and cover letter for those roles.

2. Network 

Networking means developing a list of contacts – people that you’ve met through different business and social functions, and connecting with them when looking for a job. Contacts in your network may be able to give you job leads, put in a good word for you in their company, offer advice about an industry or introduce you to others and expand your network.

Goal: List out your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors, and create a plan to reach out to each one on the list. To make it more efficient, draft a list of talking points that highlight your career accomplishments and goals. The list should include work experience and job-related duties, your ideal job title and function and a list of dream companies. Next, draft an email explaining that you’re looking for a new job and that you’re asking for their help. Include these talking points for more information on you as a candidate along with your resume. Your friends and family may know a lot of this information about you already, but your email may get passed along to other individuals.

3. Create a branded website or blog and update your social media profiles

Your final goal should be to update and create a web presence. Your resume may land you the interview, but your online presence could make or break whether you get the job. Your website does not need to be overtly flashy or design-intensive unless you’re looking for jobs as a web developer or graphic designer. You want your site to reflect your skills and show employers what to expect from you. Along with creating a website, update your social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to reflect a positive image of yourself as a job candidate.

Goal: Create a working website in one week. Your website should include your portfolio so when employers google your name, your curated website is what appears. A website tailored to your skills can be built easily, without any knowledge of coding. Many online platforms such as WordPress and Squarespace provide a template that’s user-friendly – you just fill in the blanks.

Finding a new job takes much more than just sitting at your computer, sending off resumes and cover letters and using job search engines like Indeed or CareerBuilder. You need to get out, network, meet people and talk about your goals and ambitions. Keep moving forward, and your efforts will pay off.

When you’re in the market for a new job, the first steps in the process we usually think of are updating our resume and LinkedIn profile, what job board sites we’ll target, and preparing for interviews that we’ll hopefully be on soon. These are all necessary and important things to consider. But I think all too often we place so much importance on preparing for the key aspects of job searching that sometimes we forget about a major influence on getting that new job – etiquette.

Being in the recruiting industry, and a former recruiter myself, I can tell you that etiquette is something that we wished more people would focus on. From little things like addressing someone formally and professionally to following up after an email or phone call from a hiring manager or recruiter in a timely manner. These little things add up and can make the difference between you being offered the job, and someone else.

Here are seven job searching etiquette tips to help you land your next job.

1. Be polite. First and foremost, always be polite. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many times I’ve interviewed someone who, frankly, isn’t that nice. I know we all have differing levels of enthusiasm, but under no circumstances should you not be polite to the person you’re interviewing with. “Please,” “thank you,” and “Sir” and “Ma’am” should be part of your vocabulary and used throughout the job interview process.
2. Respond to emails and voicemails promptly. If you are actively looking for a job, you should be checking your emails and voicemails frequently. If it takes you several days to get back to a recruiter or hiring manager with the excuse that you were camping for several days, that won’t reflect well on you. You need to make employers who are interested in you a priority.
3. Do your research. You want to go into a job interview knowledgeable on the company’s mission, vision, values and anything else you can find. You want that employer to know that you’ve done a bit of stalking. It’s not creepy, I promise you. They want to know that you are interested in them and you took the time to get to know what they’re all about. Trust me, they’re doing the same thing of you – it’s all part of the process. Both parties want to know whether this is a good match.
4. Dress for success. You want to dress as professional as possible. This means power suits, jackets, ties – whatever you can find that emanates the utmost professionalism is what you should wear to your interviews. An interview is not the time to take fashion risks or try out a new trendy outfit.
5. Listen. I probably should have listed this first because this is one of the biggest conversational faux pas that people make. Being a good conversationalist requires very little talking. One of my favorite quotes is by Stephen R. Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. He said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” You gain so much understanding when you listen to understand. Not only will it make a positive difference with the people you interview with, but it will also change most of your relationships for the better. Trust me.
6. Turn off electronics. Whether you’re interviewing over the phone or in person, make sure all electronic devices are turned off. Turning off electronics is especially important in-person. But even if you are interviewing over the phone, there should be no background noises including phones, televisions, or anything else for that matter.
7. Send thank you email or letter. Sending a thank you note after talking to someone at a job fair or interview has been a long-standing custom, and has not changed. When I was recruiting, I was always surprised at how many times someone did not send me a thank you note after interviewing. With technology and the ability to obtain someone’s email address fairly easily on either LinkedIn or their company website, there’s no excuse. It’s also a good idea to ask someone for their business card after interviewing or meeting them at a job fair so that you have all their contact information. Additionally, it is important to respond politely and thank them even if you get that dreaded thanks-but-no-thanks email. Another job opportunity could arise with the same company that you may be a fit for. You never want to burn a bridge.

As you can see with these seven tips, it doesn’t take much to keep up on your job searching etiquette. But it could cost you a job if you don’t.

Happy job searching! And “thank you” for reading my post.

Almost all large companies now employ what is called Behavioral Interviewing (aka Structured Interviewing), which is a specifically geared question requiring a behaviorally-based answer.  What that means, is that employers want you to answer a pointed question such as ‘Tell me about a time when…’ with an answer that is based on the actions you took – or what you actually did in a given situation.  The answer is based on what is called the STAR method – which requires your answer to have the following 3 components in your response where you must state:

ST –What is the SITUATION you were in and the TASK you were doing.

You explain where you were and what you were doing when the event took place:  An example:

“I was at a convenience store as a new manager working behind the counter when I observed two of my employees starting to argue in the store aisle”.

This type of answer lets you set the stage for the people doing the interview so they can clearly picture where you were – what your duties were and where the issue took place.

A – What ACTION did you take to resolve the situation?

What did you do to address what was happening? Focusing on the steps taken to help fix what had gone wrong is the key they are looking for to see if you are an effective problem solver and at what level you approach conflict.  A sample answer would be:

“I approached the two employees and asked them what they were arguing about – they stated they both thought they were in charge of stocking the same isle with snacks.  I looked at the assignment roster and discovered one of them was actually in charge of the freezer section and clarified their duties.  I thanked them both for their hard work and asked them to check in with me every morning first to assign duties”.

This is an example of a misunderstanding cleared up, shows employee respect and proactive interaction when handling the situation.  It essentially provides a concrete resolution to the conflict.

R – What RESULT occurred from your actions?

The result is important because it shows that your solution was effective and had not only short reaching consequences but was a chance to create a positive and extended outcome for all involved.  A sample result is:

“The result of this altercation was that not only was the conflict solved, but the employees were able to feel they could come to me with their issues – I was approachable as a manager and we developed a better rapport and team environment with clear job descriptions”.

This shows not only a short term solution was effected but also a long term positive benefit for team cohesion was derived.

The type of questions asked by an employer are open-ended and broad-reaching. The interviewee can take a real-life work situation from their own experience and apply it as any answer. When you draw a blank and cannot think of a work-related situation, answers can also come from to volunteering, community interactions and real-life experiences. Always answer all questions as skipping one could lead to not making the cut.

It is helpful to think of some work/life situation and review your resume before the interview to have some examples ready on topics like teamwork, conflict resolution, correcting mistakes, goal setting and problem-solving.   Always answer in the FIRST person using ‘I’, taking responsibility for your own actions – and never answer with ‘WE’ as it takes credit for someone else’s work.  Stay calm and keep positive. Smile and try to enjoy talking with your prospective new employers as an upbeat attitude makes the interview a great experience for both sides.

A perfect job just opened up. You have a great resume and cover letter ready to go, but the company asks for a letter of recommendation. Asking for a letter of recommendation may seem intimidating if you don’t know who to ask. If you’re lucky, maybe you have someone in mind.

To get the most out of your recommendation, make sure you handle the process of asking for one with professionalism. Here are some tips to help push you towards receiving that phenomenal letter to get you that job.

Pick the right person to ask

You may or may not have had someone in mind, but taking careful consideration is important when you are trying to get the best recommendation for the job. Start by making a list of potential people who can write your letter. Make sure the person is someone who you have a good relationship with.

Make sure the person you ask knows enough about you

The person you ask should have a lot of nice things to say about you. When you ask you should start by seeing if they know enough about you. Try asking, “Do you feel you know enough about my abilities and work ethics to write me a letter of recommendation?”.

This will give that person a chance to let you know if they feel comfortable enough to write your letter and if they know enough about your work.

Have supporting documents handy

Provide the writer with an updated resume to reference. They may need a quick refresher about your responsibilities if you haven’t worked with them in a while. They may also want to highlight some of your accomplishments. This makes the process easier for them. If the employer has any special requirements or you want to provide an example, be sure to have that ready. It is easiest to email this information after they agree to write a letter.

Give them plenty of time

Don’t wait until the last minute to request a recommendation letter. You don’t want them to be pressed for time or give them a reason to turn you down. Also, it is helpful to let them know when they need the letter so they can plan their schedule and write it at a time that is convenient.

Send a thank you note

Show your appreciation for a completed recommendation whether you go the job or not. Send a handwritten note or at the very least, a heartfelt email. You never know they may be able to help you again

For those of you who would like for video interviewing to go away, or if you have convinced yourself that it’s just a phase in the world of recruiting, I have some bad news for you – it isn’t going away anytime soon. The benefits to recruiters and companies who use them outweighs your detest for this seemingly evil new way of conducting interviews.

Remember when you were little and you had to go to the doctor knowing you were going to get a shot and you worked yourself up to the point of hysteria at the thought of that tiny needle going into your skin? Video interviews are somewhat like that. The lead up is way worse than the experience itself. Especially if you follow some simple tips that will lessen your anxiety and help prepare you so that you nail that interview. Unlike the nurse who stuck you with that needle, I promise this won’t hurt.

Treat Your Video Interview Like an In-Person Interview

I have seen people’s video interviews and wondered to myself if they realized they were actually on camera. Recruiters and hiring managers treat video interviews exactly like an in-person interview. You will be assessed by how you present yourself – the way you dress, look, and conduct yourself. Additionally, since you will most likely be at home for your interview, you will also be assessed on your surroundings on some level. You’ll want to make sure your surroundings are tidy, somewhat sterile and with minimal distractions. A common area of the house, preferably with a wall as the backdrop, is optimal – avoid bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

Practice Talking to a Video Recorder or Webcam

I’m not sure what it is about a video camera in front of us that causes instant anxiety. Years ago, when I started vlogging, I remember each time the camera turned on and I had to talk I instantly became nervous and stumbled on my words resulting in me having to start over multiple times. However, the more I did it, the more relaxed I became. After a while, it became second nature, and I was completely comfortable in front of the camera. As with anything, practice does help. The more you do it, the better you get and the higher your comfort level becomes.

Prepare for Your Interview

Listen, we all know interviews can be nerve-racking – camera or no camera. Preparing is essential to ensuring a successful interview. The better you feel about how you’ll respond, the more comfortable you will be – especially with the added element of doing it in front of a camera. There are tons of articles and advice out there for preparing for an interview – including some great advice right here on this site! One of my favorite quotes comes from my favorite quarterback, Russell Wilson (Go Hawks!). He said, “The separation is in the preparation.” Do you want to stand out from the competition? Prepare!

Be Aware of Your Posture

Take a moment and drop your shoulders forward and curve your back so that you’re slumped over. How confident do you feel? Not very, I can imagine. Now sit up straight, pull your shoulders back and hold your head up high. Now, how do you feel? Pretty darn confident, right? This is exactly how the person on the other side of the camera is going to perceive you. Make sure you are aware of your posture throughout the interview so that you exude confidence. This goes a long way in making an impression.

Camera Placement and Lighting

Before you start your video interview, you will want to make sure you have the camera placed so the video only shows you from the chest up. This will put the focus on you and what you’re saying, as well as minimize the viewers from seeing any fidgeting that may be going on with your hands or feet. One of the pluses of interviewing on camera as opposed to in-person is being able to control certain aspects of what the interviewer sees. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure the lighting is good. Natural light works best, but you can also strategically place lamps so that you can see your face clearly.

Make Eye Contact With The Camera

The type of video platform the company you’re interviewing with uses will impact your actual experience. Some are set up so you’re able to see yourself in a subset window. Some platforms don’t show yourself, which leaves you to wonder where to look. The answer is simple – look directly into the camera. By looking into the camera, you give the appearance of looking the interviewer directly in their eyes.

Smile

If you follow just one tip, this is the one. Smiling is contagious, shows warmth, social awareness and confidence. Plus, you have a really good reason to smile – you’re going to nail your interview and land the job because you’re prepared!

Before you get that dream job you’ve been searching for, you may find that it is necessary to talk to a lot of recruiters and interviewers over the phone. Some applicants can be nervous about speaking with recruiters over the phone, and often, have not stopped to think about how to make that first impression a good one.  Here are five important steps to follow that will help you create a positive impression with recruiters over the phone.

1. Your focus is important when having a conversation with the person who is trying to match you to a job – you need to be present and fully engaged when you are contacted. Make sure you are in a quiet place with good phone reception; otherwise, have them contact you at a better time, as distractions and background noise can make or break a conversation, weaken the content of your conversation and your ability to focus.
2. First impressions count for a lot, so create a rapport with small talk and keep it friendly. A smile on your face is easily conveyed over the phone, recruiters will pick up on the positive energy. As well, using their first name shows you are interested in them.  Make sure you have good posture, as it can affect your delivery.  Keep the tone of your conversation upbeat, positive and cooperative. Avoid negativity – especially about previous employers. Be ready to discuss why you left a previous employer with a positive tilt such as ‘I was seeking a more upwardly mobile opportunity’ as opposed to ‘I hated my job and found it really boring,’ as this could be misunderstood as you not been the most proactive employee.
3. Phone edict and attitude is especially important. When answering the phone while you are job hunting, answer it professionally, speak clearly, slowly and annunciate your answers – stay away from slurred speech, slang and saying things like ‘hunh?’ when you need something repeated, a better way to reply is – ‘I am sorry, can you please repeat that’. Keeping your answers concise, as opposed to rambling, shows your respect for the recruiter’s time as well.
4. Should the recruiter ask you questions about your previous employers and job duties, keep your resume handy. Make sure it is accurate and up to date with current skill sets, software and timelines. Speaking with a recruiter, have your resume work samples and references ready to present ahead of time so that you can provide what they need while the conversation is still fresh in their mind. Sending this information to them immediately shows that you are ready to hit the ground running. Make sure any online profiles, such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter are up to date and ensure that these pages are clean and free of negativity and poor content.
5. Be ready to talk about the position – do your research ahead of time and learn about the company. Be familiar with the skills and credentials that are required, and make sure you are able to highlight any transferable skills you are bringing over from previous employers. Know the salary level a similar position offers and what you are willing to accept. Find out all that you can about the job duties and where this career path may lead. Let them talk first– save your questions for the end of the conversation so not to interrupt.

How you positively interact with a recruiter is your chance to stand out of the crowd to move forward in the hiring process to a face to face interview, creating a win-win conversation where you can move your career to fresh opportunities by standing out in the crowd.