Category: Resume

Applicant Tracking Systems – what not to do when you apply online

We all do it… we see what looks like a really cool job and we think “why not apply?” Then the pain begins… You start the online application process. Here are a few don’ts to pay attention to in the process.

Don’t skip steps: Most ATSs ask (require) you to create a profile. The guise is you can be notified of future openings. The real reason is so they can screen you out or in for this and possibly future openings. I am not saying this is a bad thing, just that you need to pay attention from the beginning because one slip-up and the recruiter never sees your information.

Don’t rush through it: Yes, I realize that it takes upwards of an hour to fill out just one online application. But remember, the ATS is created for the employer, not for you. Be sure you fill out all the areas. Pay close attention to spelling and grammar. Some people still think that a spelling error is a sign of a bad candidate/employee.

Don’t apply angry: While you are completing an online application you will probably utter these words: “why do I need to type this in again? I just uploaded my resume that includes that!” Again, remember, the ATS is created for the employer, not for you. That is why most ATSs want a separate field for each job (they can measure your tenure at each position), education, skills, etc… It makes it easier for the Big Data people to turn your information in to 1s and 0s to be analyzed. I do find it funny that the word “anal” is in analyzed 🙂

Don’t forget to save often: If you are able to periodically save your work then do so. If you think you are frustrated filling out an online application just wait till you get a power flash or you get a 404 error. Then you get the pleasure of starting all over again. Another trick is to type the information in Word and then paste it into the ATS.

Don’t trust spellcheck: At the very least read everything you write out loud. It is also a good idea to have someone else spellcheck it.

Don’t just apply and pray: You want to network and try to get in front of the hiring manager or HR person at that company. The only thing better than having your information show up in a company’s ATS search is to have the hiring manager or recruiter go looking for your information by name. Most companies LOVE employee referrals, so try to connect to their employees directly or through social media.

It is true that only about 20% of people find their jobs through applying online. But if you are part of that 20% do you really care? Just allocate your job search time effectively. Only spend about 20% of your time on job boards.

The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.
Charles R. Swindoll

Speak Greek? Fraternities and Sororities on your resume

In the spirit of full disclosure I was in a fraternity in college. I cannot imagine my college years without being in the fraternity and I am not sure who I would be today without it. But I also realize that a lot of negatives come out of fraternities so I realize that membership has its issues. One of those come into play in your job search. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to put your Greek associations on your resume:

Did you hold an office? If you were one of the leaders in your organization then it may benefit you to list it on your resume. If you were just a dues paying member, maybe not.

Do you have other examples of leadership? Resumes are all about relevancy and recency. If you can show the same KSAs in other ways you may want to leave it off.

Has it been a few years? I you are like me and you have lived more years after college than you did before college then all of your college organizations loose relevancy and they are not very recent, you probably want to leave it off.

Research who you will be interviewing with. If they were in a Greek organization, especially if it was yours, list it. It may not be right but there is a certain bond that lingers long after graduation, use it to your advantage.

Just remember that Fraternities and Sororities have gotten a bad reputation. But so have bankers and I don’t see people leaving that off their resume.

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
Benjamin Franklin

Do you have access to your resume… Right now!

Networking should be an ongoing process. Because of that you should keep your resume handy. We are lucky. Not that many years ago that would mean carrying around a hard copy with you. Today you just need access to your Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, etc… That is IF your resume is there AND it is up to date.

Keep it up to date. Recently I have interviewed several candidates with outdated resumes. I usually start off the phone interview going over their resume with them. I even tell candidates my first two questions ahead of time! It is not uncommon for the most recent part of their resume to be a little out of date. I hear “Oh, I am no longer there” a lot. I can handle that, although for many employers that is a BIG RED FLAG. But, like I have said before, I am flexible.

What is less excusable is two weeks and two interviews later when we have our final interview, the exact same resume is provided with the same incorrect information. I tell candidates to bring an updated version of their resume with them to the interview. About 60% of the people who come to the final interview bring their resume with them. Of those, about 50% of them have changed their resume.

Your resume should be a living thing. You should update it regularly just as you do your LinkedIn profile. You should also be able to access it and send it to someone when you need to. Come to think of it, mine needs a little more work, if I can find it. 🙂

I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.
Mohandas Gandhi

What’s in a name?

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” does not apply to your job search. Unfortunately your name does matter. I have said this before and I will say it again; do not lie on your resume. That being said, you get to choose the name on your resume. When I first graduated from college I put my FULL name on my resume. Never mind that it in no way resembles the name I go by.

There have been studies done that show your name actually does matter when looking for a job. This may be a conscious decision or an unconscious bias on the part of the recruiter but as a candidate you need to keep this in mind.

I encourage people to use the name they go by in everyday professional settings. But if you go by “Dog” do not put that on your resume. Yes, I have seen it. Remember, the resume is not some legal document. So if your name is Elanor April Downing but you go by Eady (for the initials E.A.D.) then I would say put Eady Downing on your resume. It is also less confusing when I call and get your voicemail when the outgoing message says “Eady” and I was calling Elanor.

This also goes for email addresses, Twitter handles, etc… Fartboy420 might be funny when you are a freshman but when you apply to a company the laughing stops. Up to 93% of recruiters use social media in their search for candidates and guess what, yep, it matters. Companies are more conscious of their corporate brand than ever! Just ask Carly McKinney, the people involved in the PyCon public shaming or Mike Bacsik. All of them lost their jobs because of social media. Sometimes it was just one Tweet! That sucks!

All I am saying is that branding is VERY important and you need to worry about your personal brand, starting with your name.

A professional headshot in front of a bookshelf says you’re an intellectual. A professional headshot peeking though a bookshelf says you’re probably under a restraining order.
Ryan Lilly

Education on your resume

I see a lot of resumes. I see very few that are nice to read and even fewer that are nice to read AND contain the information I want. Part of the issue is that many people just apply for anything. I have written about objectives before and how they are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. If you do not get that joke then you need more help then I am willing to give:) At best, resume objectives do nothing, at worst they are what we call a “gross negative qualifier.” That is corporate speak for NOT passing Go and NOT getting $200.

I currently recruit sales people. Of the applicants who still insist on using an objective on their resume I would say that 10% or less have an objective with the word “sales” in it. That is usually a deal killer. Why? How about if you are a large, short person and someone walks up to you and says “Want to go out? I love tall skinny people.” You would be thinking what I do… you so idiot!

I see room for improvement in a similar area, your education. Or as I say: “your edjumacation.” Here are some rules that I suggest you follow when it comes to how you got learned:

GED: If this is your highest level of education and you do not have a significant amount of related experience.

High School: If that is your highest degree or if you applying with a recruiter/hiring manager that you KNOW also went to the same high school.

Certifications: If they are directly related to the position.

Training Classes: If they are directly related to the position.

2-year degree: If that is your highest degree or directly related to the position you are applying for. For instance, you apply at a hospital and you have a 2-year medical related degree in addition to a higher degree.

4-year degree: If it is your highest degree.

Major: If it is related to the position, company,. profession or industry you are applying with.

Minor: If it is related to the position, company, profession or industry you are applying with.

Master’s: If it is related to the position, company, profession or industry you are applying with or you need to account for a time gap.

PhD: If it is related to the position, company, profession or industry you are applying with or you need to account for a time gap.

Be sure to list your education if it is a requirement in the job posting. Yes, an advanced degree can be bad for your employment search. If you apply for a management trainee position but I see that you recently received or you are pursuing a Master’s in music that brings up a lot of questions. No, I do not think these are lies of omission. Remember, you do not have to be little-kid honest 🙂

On a side-note, do not list that you are a minister unless it is related to the position, company, profession or industry you are applying with.

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.
Robert Frost

It’s all in the name

I see a lot of resumes and they all have a name on them but not necessarily the right name. This may seem like a simple thing but you want to avoid any confusion in your job search. If you name is John but your nickname is Jack (I still don’t get that) then put Jack on your resume. If you put John then when a recruiter does call and your voicemail says Jack they may not leave a message because they think it is a wrong number. Or better yet… when I ask for John I get hung up on or you say “WHO IS THIS?” thinking I am a telemarketer. Not a good start.

All that being said you want to keep it professional. If your nickname is Dog or The Dog DO NOT put that on your resume. You may be laughing but I see it all the time.

Al

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.
W. C. Fields