Courting The Company

One of the many types of punctuation that is frequently overly and incorrectly used on resumes or in cover letters are quotes.  In my opinion quotation marks should not be uses for emphasis.

Here is a guide on when to use quotes from wikiHow.  But I did not see the way I really like to see the use of quotes… When someone is indicating irony.  Here are a few examples from the web:

See what I mean?  To call attention to words in your resume or cover letter I would suggest using italics or bold.  If you are quoting someone directly then use quotes.  I totally admit that this is my issue and might not be yours.  I also admit that I am not perfect and I almost failed 7th grade english so my writing may not be up to snuff but I try to speak good.  That is a joke by the way, I know it should be “I speak well.” 

Al

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Miles Kington

 

Most people on LinkedIn have a profile picture and almost everyone on Facebook and Twitter does.  Do me a favor… get out of the car before you take the picture!  Better yet, ask someone else to take it.  If you really want to go the extra mile, dress professionally and don’t act like you are flirting with the camera.

You don’t have to go all out and pay for a professional photographer.  If you do pay PLEASE do not do anything that screams glamorshots.  Your smartyphone will do OK, a SLR will be better and someone who actually knows what they are doing can be best.  Just ask around.  I bet one of your co-workers or friends has an interest in taking pictures.

Also, try to resist cutting yourself out of that group shot.  I know your hair looked really good that day but it would be better if you take a picture specifically for your head shot.

While I cannot guarantee that a good profile picture will land you your dream job, I have seen social media play a part in hiring decisions.  Remember, you only need one job.

Al

Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

In business we call it blocking and tackling.  If you don’t get the basics right then nothing else matters.  Instructions to candidates are usually viewed the same way.

This could be as simple as what time your phone interview is, what format to submit your resume in, or how long your presentation in the interview should be.  As a recruiter I am very clear with my instructions.  I let people pick their own day and time for the phone interview through Acuity Scheduling.  They then get an email confirming the day and time of the phone interview.  Finally, I email them the day before reminding them of the interview.  Not only do I do that but I also include a four page document on the position they are interviewing for.  Lastly, I even tell them the first question I will ask them and that I want them to go over their resume and walk me through it including why the left each position.  But guess what?… Many people are still caught off-guard.

Look at it this way, what if you invited someone on a date to an Auburn vs. LSU game and they wore their Alabama jersey?  You would think they so idiot.  Or how about if you invite them to a nice restaurant and they show up in a tank-top, shorts and running shoes.  I would start to think that they are lacking the plastic thingy to keep their six-pack together or they really didn’t give much of a crap about me.  Same way with interviews.

You know who doesn’t follow the rules?  Selfish people.  They think rules are for other lesser-minded, less-educated or lower-skilled people.  Here is a shocker… most people would rather not work with some narcissistic tool, so we try to screen them out in the interview process.

Al

Passive inactivity, because you have not been given specific instructions to do this or to do that, is a serious deficiency.
George C. Marshall

 

I hear people all the time talk about work-life balance but there is little agreement on what that means.

Balance is not static.  What is considered work-life balance today may be different tomorrow, next week, next month or next year.  You may put in 60+ hours for a while then wham!  You get cancer.  It will then look different, trust me.  Or how about if you go from a two income household to a one income?  Either of those scenarios will change the balance.

Everyone’s definition is different.  This if very important when you are talking to other people or internalizing work-life balance.  Just because Sam wants to only work 40 hours a week it does not mean that you have to.  Nor do you need to do 60 hours a week just because Sally does.

Most people lie about it.  People either tout all their time off and conveniently forget to mention the two Sunday afternoon conference calls they had or they brag about their long hours and neglect to mention that ten hours of those every week it at a restaurant.  It is difficult to get a good read on what people really do with their time.

So when you are interviewing with a company don’t just ask “what does the work-life balance look like here,” but do ask questions that will give you that answer:

• What is an average day and week look like for you?
• Tell me about the toughest week you have had here.
• Does everyone keep the same hours?
• If I have a project I am working on is it alright to take it home, come in early or stay late to complete it?

You want to ask everyone you interview with some of these questions to get a sense of the culture around work-life balance.  Maybe you get to bring your dog to work because they would die from neglect if they were left at home.

Al

Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through my conscious thoughts.
Tony Robbins

I have heard from some people voicemail is going away.  Verizon says that about a third of their new business clients are not adding voicemail.  Personally I think that is not a good idea as not everyone has text or email yet and sometimes you still want/need to leave a message.  All that to say you need to learn how to leave a message correctly.

I know this sounds stupid but I get voicemails every day that range from terrible to unfortunate.  The terrible one are the ones where someone does not do a good job of communicating the necessary information in a clear and concise manner with the listener in mind.  Here are a few tips.

Speak clearly, distinctly and with a measured cadence.  Accents are one thing but many people speak WAY to quickly on voicemail.

• Leave your name, number and any other important identifiers (account number, etc…) at the beginning of the message and at the end.
• Be sure you leave a couple of ways to contact you.
• Be sure your voicemail is not full.
• Did you set your voicemail up on your cell phone?
• Is there background noise?
• Do you have a good signal?
• Organize your thoughts so you know what you want to communicate.

This might sound like overkill but I oftentimes have to replay the message to get the name and number.  Our stupid voicemail does not let me back it up a few seconds, I have to start it over so if I missed the number at the end I have to start all over.  I try to get the information I need to call you back twice, maybe three times, that’s it.  After that you just wasted your time and mine.

It is VERY frustrating when I call someone back, who told me to call them only to hear “this subscriber has not set up their voicemail” or “you cannot leave a message because their mailbox is full.”  The next frustrating thing is when I call you and you say “oh, I can’t talk right now, can you call back?”  REALLY!?  Do not answer the phone if you cannot talk, take a message or schedule a time to call me back.  Sure, I “can” call you back….

All this might sound trivial but companies take all this into consideration when hiring someone.  If you do this poorly then how will you be at work?  Remember, this is dating and once you’re married people get lazy, I mean comfortable.

Good things come to those who wait work their asses off and never give up.
Your Mama

 

 

 

I usually ask a softball question first in a first interview: “Why are you interested in this position and working for our company?”  Some people say: “Well, I’m open to anything.”  To quote a song “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

This is NOT a good answer.  Think of it from the dating perspective.  What if someone asks you out and you ask them “why do you want to go out with me?”  and they answer “oh, I’m not picky, I’ll date anyone.”  Boy, doesn’t that make you feel as special as a public toilet.  Seriously!  Do people ever listen to the words that come out of their mouths?

OK, so what if the truth is that you are not picky.  So what, just don’t tell the interviewer that.  I can hear you now “but I thought you wanted honesty!”  You DO NOT need to be little kid honest!  If you are not that interested you have two choices: don’t apply or fake it till you make it!  Seriously, that’s it… two choices.  Pick one and move on.

The Man

Some people just need a high-five
In the face
With a chair

Social media these days is everywhere!  If you are reading this you probably have a few different accounts.  But is that helping or hurting you?

Recruiters are also getting on social media to recruit people.  Keep in mind that they are usually doing what we call “passive recruiting” where we try to get people who are already happily employed interested in working for us.

Most people who are “hurt” by their social media accounts are just “exercising their rights” as citizens of ‘merica.  I hear it a lot in HR “I have the right to…” or “This is ‘merica, I can say what I want.”  All of that is true.  But since this is America a company can also decide that they no longer want you as an employee.  Many people are under the misconceived notion that a company cannot fire you without a good reason.  That just is not true.  Now there are sometimes union agreements that layout how people are terminated and companies have policies about it but generally speaking, a company can fire you because they want to, period.  Just look at Amazon.

So, if your tweets, posts, videos, vines, etc are deemed as having a negative impact on the business or might have a negative impact you might not have an impact at all because you will not be there.  You are entitled to your rights but rights come at a price and that price might be your current or future job.

The Man

The problem with quotes found on the internet is that they are often not true.
Abraham Lincoln

There is a veritable plethora of interview clichés that people say.  One I hear again just the other day is “to be completely honest.”

Anyone want to guess what my first thought is when I hear this?  Depending on my mood I have one of a few.  I have to resist saying one of the following statements:

• Oh, I don’t want that… lie to me.
• So, you haven’t been honest so far?
• Define completely.
• Wait, say that again.

I know that after saying many people immediately recognize the idiocy in the statement.  I am not saying they are an idiot but that phrase is.  I know it is because I have said it and right after the words come out of my mouth I think… you so idiot.

If you find yourself saying “to be completely honest” a lot, stop it!  No really, stop it!

The Man

I think self awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.
Billie Jean King

 

There are a few basic types of resumes:

• Chronological
• Reverse Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
• Targeted

I will cover each of these in future posts in detail but the worst one to use is the functional resume.  Keep in mind that this is my opinion.  I have heard some recruiters say they like this type of resume but in my experience they are the exception rather than the rule.

The functional resume has sections that look something like this:

SKILLS SUMMARY

LEADERSHIP

• Trusted with greater responsibility that job level.
• Promoted to Branch Manager in three months.
• Accomplish tasks with minimal supervision.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

• High EQ with the ability to adapt to any situation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Social media experience including leveraging cross-platform marketing.

Lisa Rangel said it best in an on-line executive resume training session:  “when a recruiter sees a functional resume their first thought is what are you hiding?”  So if you are trying to hide something, then a functional resume is the way to go.  Again, not all recruiters feel this way but the majority of us do.

The Man

If you fall, I’ll be there.
Floor

I rarely see this but it is worth mentioning.  The other day I received a resume with no dates on it.  Seriously, no dates of employment.  Not even years!  Did I mention we do drug test cause you must be HIGH if you think I will call someone with no dates.

Years only are bad enough.  If I see 2014 – 2015 I read it as 12/31/2014 – 1/1/2015.  Call me a cynic if you want but you really do need to put dates on your resume.  I don’t think you need to put the actual date but I need month and year for each position.

Now when it comes to education you need to judge for yourself if it will help you.  The date of your graduation usually tells people how old you are.  Again, this could be good or bad.

The Man

Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
Bob Monkhouse