RESUME READY TO GO

Always Have Your Resume Ready To Go

Our Search Firm will source candidates using various methods.  We will use job boards, we will run ads, we will partner with other recruiters, and we will do what many search firms have stopped doing – recruit  productive, qualified, and happy candidates who are not necessarily looking for a position.  When we do speak with those people we generally ask for a resume.  The typical response is,” Well Pete, this really sounds interesting but I’m not necessarily looking, and I have to dig up my old resume and update it.  It’s going to take a couple of days.”  What typically happens is either they forget to send it or the one they do send looks like it had been thrown together at the last minute.  Not a good idea.

We have said many times that a resume gives an initial first impression. And even though our clients expect us to pre screen our candidates, many of them base their decision not only on our recommendation, but on the resume as well.   If the resume is outdated, or sloppy, or looks like it was thrown together the night before, chances are that manager will pass on that candidate no matter how hard we push for that candidate.  And it could very well be that this particular opportunity would have been a career changing position, and the candidate will not get a chance to interview because he/ she did not have a resume on the ready.

Great career opportunities come out of the blue.  You never know when you are going to get a phone call from a recruiter or a manager from another company.  You never know when you may stumble across a position that can absolutely make a difference in your life/ career. You should be constantly updating your resume with new accomplishments every year- just in case you get that call or see an ad for a great opportunity.  You certainly do not want to be left out in the cold, or let somebody else get YOUR job!  Always have an updated resume ready to go!

We will be happy to help you revise your resume.  Please let us know how we can help, and your comments and questions are always welcome.

candidates do a great job of researching the company that they will be interviewing with.  Good candidates will have a prepared list of questions to ask the interviewer. Some will have a Power Point presentation or brag book.  Many will role play with someone to practice answers to very tough questions.  But what many people fail to do is to prepare for a very important segment of the interview- objections.

It is often said that the sale begins when the buyer says no.  There are going to be situations where an interviewer is going to raise a concern- whether it be your lack of overall experience, lack of specific experience, too many jobs, too much time at one job ( yes), your location,, your age ( illegal, but it happens), your income, your lack of formalized sales training- whatever. How you handle objections is a critical key to selling yourself.  In effect, the interviewer is saying no.  Now it is your time to sell yourself

The trick is to anticipate objections before you interview, and have a proper response ready before your interview.  Rehearse your responses over and over so that they become a reflex action.   Over the next few weeks, we will examine the most common objections to a candidate’s background, and how to deal with those objections.

Let’s start with this one:

I’m concerned that you have been with your company too long.  Why haven’t you moved on? Why haven’t you moved up in the company?

Here is a suggested response:

“Natalie, I totally understand your concern.  You know, it’s interesting that people get penalized for having too many jobs, yet they also have concerns about my job history.  Let me just say that I value loyalty to my manager, my company and to my position.  You can’t put a price tag on that.  I also value challenges. This position has afforded me a comfortable lifestyle, I am able to provide for my family, I am happy, and this job is still demanding, exciting, and up to now- challenging.  Given that, there was no need to look at another position or promotion. I’m finding now that I have achieved all that I have set out to achieve in this territory, the challenges have diminished, and I’m now looking to be challenged again.  I guess I’m just a victim of my own success. Have I answered your concern?”

Who can argue with that?

Your comments and questions are always welcome.  Please check back for more updates.