Courting The Company

About 30% of the resumes I see have a Skills section.  This may be of benefit if they relate to the position you are applying for.  Personally I like a Summary of Qualifications at the top of the page but that is my opinion.

The main issue is that most people include their skills even if they do not relate to the position.  This is one of the biggest pains in the keister of the job search.  You should take the time to tweak your resume for each position each time you apply.  Yes, I know the online application already takes an hour, now I want you to spend another 30 minutes to an hour changing your resume.  OK, you don’t have to, unless you want to increase your odds of actually getting a call back this time.

If you are applying for a Director level position but you include “10 Key” under you skills section I will probably stop reading.  Why?  Because 10 Key speaks to a lower level position.  Also, be sure that if you include “attention to detail” that you don’t have ANY spelling or grammatical mistakes on your resume.  Speaking of that, I would leave “detail oriented” off your resume and come up with a quantifiable way to show that skill.  Maybe something like “99% accuracy rate on…”

Keep in mind that there is not just ONE right way to do a resume, but there are definitely quite a few wrong ways.

The Man

Spelling is difficoult chalanging hard.
Unknown

Please do not make your resume a reading comprehension test!  Paragraphs are good in a cover letter and can be used sparingly in a resume but you really need to call out the important stuff, which usually means a bulleted list.  For instance, take a look at the following examples:

Reading Comprehension Test:

In this position I was promoted three times. I also maintained confidentiality of bank records and client information while coordinating daily cash reconciliation at a high volume location.  I maintained balancing record with 99% rate of accuracy.  Processed monthly Vault and ATM audits with a zero error rate.  Maintained friendly and professional customer interactions.  Opened bank accounts and investment accounts for customers with complete Patriot Act knowledge.  Executed wire transfers, stop payments, foreign currency exchanges and account transfers.  Answered telephone inquiries on banking products including checking, savings, loans and lines of credit.  Advised clients on mortgage, educational and personal loans.

Scan it:

• Maintained confidentiality of bank records and client information.
• Zero processing error rate on monthly Vault and ATM audits.
• 99% balancing record accuracy while coordinating daily cash reconciliation at a high-volume location.
• Executed wire transfers, stop payments, foreign currency exchanges and account transfers.
• Answered telephone inquiries on banking products including checking, savings, loans and lines of credit.
• Advised clients on mortgage, educational and personal loans.
• Maintained friendly and professional customer interactions.
• Opened bank accounts and investment accounts for customers with complete Patriot Act knowledge.

I don’t know about you but the second one sure it a lot easier to read and pull out facts about you.

The Man

Let’s eat grandma!  Let’s eat, grandma!
Punctuation saves lives!

One of the best things you can do is to create FOMO in anything you do, including your job search.  Think of it as if you are pitching an Angel Investor on your start-up, you.  Listen to this episode of StartUP from Gimlet.

Many candidates are like Alex when he was talking with Chris Sacca.  They fumble around with their pitch or what many call your “elevator speech.”  You need to write this out and practice it.  You never know when you need to or be able to use it, so be ready.

How to create FOMO:

Be unforgettable, in a good way.  You want the people that meet you to remember you.

Professionalism.  You can be casual and professional at the same time.

Limited availability.  Be sure you ask them about their timeline for the interview process / filling the position.  If the recruiter asks you about your timeline that is a buying sign.

Show interest.  This is a tricky one.  You don’t want to pull the “you don’t mean crap to me” thing you do in dating where you ignore someone to make someone interested but you don’t want to be a stalker either.

Get EVERYONE on your side.  Remember, be nice to everyone you meet.  Many a receptionist or admin assistant has swayed a hiring manager’s decision.

Persistence.  Stay with it.  Don’t forget to follow up with people.  Be sure to do what you tell them you will do.

Keep in mind that your job search is a marathon, not a sprint race.

The Man

My work is a very serious game.
M. C. Escher

One thing that I think a lot of people miss in the job search process is that they need to continue to grow professionally and personal while searching for a job.  One question that we regularly ask is “How do you improve?”  You need to be able to speak to what you are reading, what podcast you listen to or how you network to stay on top of your field.

Look at it this way, if you are not getting better than you are getting left behind.  You need to have something that you do to stay up with trends in your industry or profession.  Not sure what to read?  Stop by your public library or check out Amazon.  Don’t like reading? Try audio books or podcasts.  Here is my shortlist:

• Work Rules!
• Do Great Things
• 99% Invisible
• Start Up – Gimlet
• Planet Money
• Unbelievable?
• Pop Culture Happy Hour
• Invisibilia
• Freakonomics Radio
• TED Radio Hour
• How To Do Everything

The other thing this will do is make you better at small talk, AKA networking.

The Man

Great minds discuss ideas.  Average minds discuss events.  Small discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt

One of the things I have noticed of late is that most people are caught in a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.  How bad is job hopping?  The short answer is “it depends.”

A lot of it depends on why you left each of your past positions and how long we want you in the position we are recruiting for.  Believe it or not, some companies still want their people to stick around.  While others are OK with and may even want their people to leave every 2-5 years.

If your resume looks like you have been playing spin-the-bottle with jobs then you may have some work to do.  One thing is to put why you left each position.  Keep it positive, “Because my boss was a jerk” is not a valid reason.  If you have job-hopped a lot you will probably need to work a little harder to make things happen.

It is like going out on a date with someone only to find out that they only date people for three months and then they dump them.  Would you really put a lot of effort into that relationship if wanted to find someone to marry?

The Man

If you don’t want anyone to find out, don’t do it.
Chinese Proverb

Feedback in the interview process is great right?  Maybe, it all depends on how you react to it.  One of the things I tell clients to do is to ask for feedback during and after the interview process.   This can be helpful for a few reasons, if they are willing to share.  Many do not because they are either worried of getting sued or they want to avoid an argument.  Yes, candidates do argue with recruiters and / or hiring managers.  Here are a couple of reasons you might hear with a suggestion on how to handle them:

We really need someone with more experience.  Ask if they have any lower level positions that could lead to this position or what type of position you would be qualified for.

You are overqualified.  What they really mean is that you won’t stay in that position.  You will either quit or immediately start looking at other opportunities.  You can either try to reassure them that this is the position you want and why, or you can ask if there are any other positions that they feel you would be a better match for.

We don’t feel that you are a good fit.  Ask if there is something specifically that they feel is an issue and / or if they know of a different position or department that may be a better fit.

The short answer is that if they give you ANY reason you should do a couple of things.

• Don’t dismiss their feedback, even if you think it is stupid.
• If you disagree it is OK to have a rebuttal that starts something like “I can understand your concern with that but…”
• Stay positive and don’t get angry.
• Still follow-up with a thank you email and work on staying in touch.

Even if they won’t hire you maybe they can become a resource for you. I have on more than one occasion helped out people outside of work.  Smart recruiters are also looking to expand their networks and you want to stay in touch with them.

The Man

If someone doesn’t hire you, then you are unqualified.  It is impossible to be unqualified and overqualified at the same time.
Al Pollard

I have often times said that an idiot can do most jobs, it is when things go wrong that you find out what people are made of.  I am not saying that you should make something go wrong but if it does you need to know how to handle it.  One of the best podcasts available, 99% Invisible, did an episode on this issue, Children of the Magenta.  If you do not prepare for the worst then things can go REALLY wrong.

I am not saying that a bad interview is as bad as a plane crash but for the candidate, it can be life altering.  I have previously hired 1% of candidates that applied.  So if a candidate had a mishap in the interview that has a big impact on them and the recruiter.

You get to the interview and realize you left your jacket at home.  You have done your homework and you know they expect a suit.  Do you turn around and arrive late or keep going?  Keep going!  Now I am not saying that you should lie, but you definitely don’t want to ignore it.  You can either tell them up front that you were halfway to their office when you realized that you left it hanging in hallway or you could tell them about how you spilled gas on it that morning on the way in.  Your call but don’t act like you don’t realize it’s an issue.

You notice a mistake on your resume while sitting in the lobby.  Tell them upfront if and when they ask for your resume.  You don’t have to be self deprecating but when they ask “How are you doing today?” just say something like “I was great till I just noticed a mistake on my resume…”  Tell them what it is and move on, don’t dwell on it.

You get the feeling that the interview is ending way too quickly.  It depends on how you handle feedback.  If you can handle negative feedback well then when they ask if you have questions you can say “I know we have only had about 15 minutes together but do you feel I could be a good match for the position and your company?”  If they voice any concerns be sure to handle them correctly.

On your way home you you start wondering if you did your best.  Be sure to write thank you emails to everyone you interviewed with.  You did get their contact information, right?

Your nerves start getting the best of you.  Take a breath and just admit that you are a bit nervous then move on.

Just remember, things happen.  All you can do is your best and learn from any mistakes you make.

The Man

Doing a common thing uncommonly well brings success.
Henry John Heinz

Many times it is not what you say but how you say it that matters.  Actually, if you believe the TED Talk from Amy Cuddy it can matter a lot even before the interview starts.  It seems that body language not only conveys things to other people but also to ourselves.  It might be a power pose you take before your interview or just being sure you smile.

Keep in mind that what you wear and your hygiene, or lack of it also plays into how others perceive you.  But here are a few things to keep in mind…

Sitting forward a little in the chair: This shows that you are interested and engaged.

Don’t put your hands in your pockets: Not only does this you look dorky but it can make people think you are not telling the truth.

Try not to fidget:  This can be distracting to the interviewer.

Be sure not to cross your arms or put them behind you: It shows that you are closed off.

Make good eye contact but do not stare:  This is a fine line and I understand that it is cultural.  Ask people you know and trust if you make good eye contact.

Have a good handshake:  You can’t help it if the other person has a bad handshake but try to keep yours slightly firm with only one or two pumps.

Walk with confidence: Wear shoes that are comfortable and appropriate.  If they squeak just say something like “sorry about the squeak, I guess my shoes need an alignment.”  It will help keep you calm.

To figure out if you do any of these things it is a good idea to do a mock interview and video it.  But the tough part is watching the video to critique yourself.  I don’t tell you all of these things to make you a nervous wreck but rather to make you a little more self-aware.

The Man

Let people feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it.
John Eldridge

 

 

 

Very few people like doing interviews.  This includes the hiring manager and the recruiter.  It sucks for everyone but most of all for the candidate.  As a candidate you are walking into a world where the rules are different and can change on a dime.  That being said, there are not many times in this world where someone wants you talk about yourself.

You do realize by now that this is a game, right?  There are rules and every company, job and interviewer has different rules but I think there are a few that almost everyone will agree on:

Accuracy matters: Please, please, please be sure to check your resume and cover letter for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes.  Have one or two other people also look at them.

Timeliness matters: If you are not going to on-time for the interview, will you show up on-time 8 months later when the honeymoon is over?

Attire matters: Unfortunately there is not one dress code anymore so this is a little tougher.  There are a few general rules though.  First, have good hygiene.  Seriously, some people skip this step.  Also, no vulgar or offensive sayings on your shirt or bumper stickers on your car.  I love the Chive as much as the next person but there are a few of their shirts that are inappropriate for interviews, unless it is with them.

Body language: Are you sitting up and leaning forward a little to show that you are engaged?  Did you just doze off?  Please do not shake my hand like I am your grandmother or make eye contact like I am Medusa.

Be prepared: Bring extra copies of your resume and have questions written down.  If you ask questions it is also a good idea to write a few notes down when they answer them.  Also, be sure to bring two writing instruments.  Pen or pencil might be a company culture thing.

Write thank you notes: No, you do not have to write thank you CARDS but I would at least write a thank you email to each person you meet with.  This is a great way to reiterate why you are a great match and the company / position is perfect for you.

This is the BEST you: Just like with a first date, this is the best you they are going to see.  If you are not confident, act like you are.

HR might have more legalistic rules:  There you are joking around with the HR guy after the interview about your last vacation to Vegas and you mention how “hot” the girls are there.  Why don’t you just wear a sign that says “I am the reason that companies do sexual harassment training.”

Some people are idiots and some companies are full of them: If you run into one knucklehead in the interview process that asks an illegal question or you have sized up to be a SIB (to be covered in a later post) you might want to cut them some slack.  Maybe no one told them that we are out of the 1900’s now.  But if run into a few people like this it might just be the tip of the iceberg.

In the end interviewing is like any other game, it can be fun.  I know there is a lot riding on it but just ask a SEC football fan… ALL games are important.  They would rather lose a job opportunity than have their team lose a game.  You need to tell yourself over and over that you want the RIGHT job and company, not just ANY job or company.

The Man

It’s a slow process, but quitting won’t speed it up.
Giant Sports

You may have heard the quote from Dave Barry: “If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person.”  This is especially true in the interview process.  A sales candidate just the other day failed this test.  They were in their interview with a hiring manager when another employee interrupted them.  The other employee introduced themselves but the candidate did not stand up and they were not engaging.  Bad move.  Now I am not going to say whether or not I think this interaction was planned but it did have the desired effect.  The hiring manager got to see how the candidate handles things.  Fair?  No.  Since when did you think an interview was supposed to be fair.

One of the things I have seen in interview processes is that they are sometimes organized in such a way as to test a candidate:

• Not giving you directions to the interview: Maybe they forgot or maybe they want to see if you plan ahead.
• Changing plans:  Sometimes things come up or they might want to see if you freak out when last-minute things happen.
• Using a new or different technology:  Yes, technology is cool but it can also be frustrating.  Do you get frustrated easily?
• Leave you in the lobby, break room or another place where employees frequent:  They may be getting things ready for the interview or they may be seeing how you handle new situations.  The employees that pass by can be your ally or your downfall.

It is relatively easy to see how people handle themselves, you just need to be observant.  This is just to remind you that the interview really begins before the beginning.

The Man

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
William Shakespeare