Do More Than Be A Regular On the Job Boards
I’m sure we all remember “Cheers.” When good old Norm walked into the bar he was serenaded with a resounding, “NORM!” from the patrons. Well, myself and many of my fellow recruiters have our “Norms” when we post our jobs on our websites, or MedReps, or
There’s Doug from the Pacific Northwest. “Hiya Dougie! It’s been three days, how ‘ya been?” There’s Ty from Texas. “Howdy, Ty!” There’s Jimmy from “Bahston.” “How ’bout dem Red Sawx, Jimbo?” And then there’s Ray from just about everywhere. These guys are in the Recruiters’ “Candidate Hall of Fame.” Whenever we post a position, we can count on these guys ( and many more) to respond with the same introduction, the same cover letter, and the same tired old resume. These guys typically spend all day trolling the job boards in the hope that one of us is going to call them with an outstanding opportunity. And that is their only strategy.
Look, I am sure that these people are well meaning people who are just doing the best they can to find a new position. I get that. But what these people are unaware of is the fact that by constantly sending their resume out month after month after month, they are diluting their attractiveness as solid candidates. The constant interaction indicates desperation, and believe me, recruiters and hiring managers do not want to hire desperate people.
I’m not saying to ignore the job boards- far from it. Most recruiters utilize the job boards on a daily basis as a means of finding qualified candidates. But it gets very annoying to post a job in Washington, New York, Denver etc., and hear from Doug, Ty, Jimmy and Ray, no matter where we post the job!
To those four guys, and other members of the Hall of Fame, let me offer some advice. We know you are out there. There is no need to constantly send your resume . Once a quarter is fine. But also, expand your horizons. Subscribe to industry newsletters. Join discussion groups on LinkedIN. Work with your local recruiters, and try sending your resume directly to the hiring managers of medical device companies. Try a different approach. Shake it up a bit. What have you got to lose? If you need our help, please let us know.
Your responses and comments are welcome. Don’t forget to leave a comment below.
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