Cover letters…

Twice this week I have been asked about cover letters and the value of them.  So here is Susan Recruits’ opinion.  If your resume does not spell out why you are most qualified for a position, a cover letter isn’t going to either.  I RARELY read cover letters that impress me.  So if I do spend my time reading them, it is more to figure out “what are they thinking?”  As a recruiter, a cover letter has never swayed my opinion.  If you are expressing interest through an “apply now” link, don’t waste your time on the letter. 

The exception is if you are sending your resume to a warm lead (directly to a hiring manager) for a job you are interested in and qualified for.  In that instance a cover letter might be to your advantage.  If you do this, use the letter to compare “you need” against “I offer.” 

In summary, my caution is if you chose to use the cover letter, use it as a supporting document to a good resume.  Even then I prefer job seekers spend their time building a quality resume that is customized to their understanding of the job description, requirements and company.

“Sometimes goodbye is a second chance”

For those of you who still visit, I am sorry. I cannot come up with a single excuse as to why I have not published recently.  As we all know “dog ate my homework” doesn’t work with the internet.  So, back to the races we go…

I was driving a while ago and heard a song that I have known for sometime. But, on this particular day it’s main line triggered a thought for job seekers. “Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.” What I mean to say is that when you lose a job or do not get the job that you want, it is NOT the end of the world! You can take it as “this just wasn’t the right job, there are better one’s out there” or take it as “an opportunity”. 

For the second, I mean there are lots of opportunities if you chose to recognize them as such.  They include 1. follow up and send a carefully calculated response to let the manager or hiring team know that you are ready to assist them, 2. ask for helpful feedback as to your performance or your application, 3. create a interim solution for the employer,  4. look at it as a learning opportunity AND/ OR, better, 5. all of the above!   And, I have said it before but I think a huge portion of the process for the job seeker is to stay positive!  Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

Self sabbotage…sound familiar?

Self-sabbotage, sounds so…familiar.  Not sure how and certainly not why but I am seeing trends in my life that I cannot help but explore.  I am crazy cautious with anything new (or challenging).  For example, I am so afraid of falling when I ski that I stick to green and blue runs and weave my way down them on my own time.  And, I have not ever had a really bad spill. I am working on challenging myself though. When I ice skate, I slow myself down before I get going too fast.  Funny, right? Guess what I have not fallen in years.  

But you know this isn’t just about me (and my strange winter sports/exercise patterns).  How often have you looked at a job, known you could do it but walked away because you didn’t want to be rejected?   Why is that?  We deal with rejection every day, it is part of our lives!  Why don’t we learn to embrace the unknown and challenge ourselves to push through fears?

I am not saying apply to jobs you are not qualified for- NOT AT ALL.  Instead don’t stop yourself from pursuing more information when you learn of a job that you could potentially add value to!  In the instance of my strange exercise habits, don’t eliminate yourself from consideration before you even apply! 

There is no guaranty that the interviewer will hire you (or even understand why you think you are qualified).   Even if you are eliminated from consideration, look at it as an opportunity to learn! Life is all about growth and developing.   Allow yourself to put your talents out there instead of opting out before ever jumping in.  Take the leap and let yourself fall sometimes!

Patience and Persistence…a careful balance

Often I am asked “when can I follow up with you?”  from interviewees. The best wisdom I can impart is that it is a careful balance between patience and persistence. As for the question itself, you ought to ask this question at the close of any interview (phone or face to face). And then critically listen for the answer- especially the message between the words.

When you ask ”when can I follow up with you?” and the interviewer tells you “give me a week or two,” listen to that and set your follow up on your calendar for not earlier than a week and a half and then be diligent about actually following up.  As a sideline, of course I consider the courtesy of a thank you note an exception to this rule. I definitely feel that you should send an immediate thank you note.  Email is a perfect venue for this.

A few other canned responses I can think of are: “I am not sure, I am just starting the interview process,” “don’t call me, I’ll call you,” “expect a call or an email once we have decided about the next step”.  After getting an answer along these lines, you need to demonstrate patience! While I do not hear any of these as being particularly positive, do NOT upset your chances by being too persistent.

Still you need answers and you should take it upon yourself to get some answers. Did you know you can sleuth without stalking. I am serious!  Watch the company’s website or pull general Google/Bing searches to see if the position remains posted or advertised. If it is posted, that might be in your favor. If not posted and you have not heard back, a quick email is appropriate or LinkedIn note to acknowledge the fact that the position is no longer posted.  

Another question I encourage you to ask at the close of an interview is along the lines of: “do you have any feedback based on our conversation” or “do you have any reason to think that I would not move forward in the interview process based on our discussion?” For those, if you are fortunate enough to get feedback (good, bad or otherwise), note it and don’t argue it! This is a great opportunity to learn, first of all from someone whose only base knowledge of you is based on your resume and your interview performance. That is great! And even if you don’t agree, that is that person’s perception. It is also an entrance to a creative follow up down the road or in your thank you note.  Why can’t we say “thank you so much for taking time to speak with me about XYZ position. I remain very interested in this opportunity and appreciate your candid feedback.  In regard to (whatever critique is offered), I do want to share with you (some numbers, a success story, something my boss used to say).  I apologize if I did not adequately communicate this during our discussion.”

Carefully determine when it is appropriate to be patient or be persistent. The reward could be the job you desire (or a great “in” within the hiring population).

How important is attitude anyway?

I am going to argue that attitude is MORE important than anything else in your job search. Trust me, interviewers and managers can feel when you are off. If, in the depths of your being, you feel “down and out” or defeated by the job market, let me assure you that you are not alone. You need to be content with where you are and confident in the value you bring to a job. Easier said than done, right? Wrong…I am not saying mask what you are feeling.  Instead, you have to address your feelings. 

Cry if you need to, yell if you need to, write about it, talk about it but, no matter what, deal with it, address your feelings… that’s the hardest part. You need to convince yourself that you are not a victim in this and empower yourself to move on. Some people take a great deal of comfort in networking with other job seekers. Some take a step back and spend some time accomplishing tasks that make them feel better. Ideas include exercising, spending time with your children, reading, writing, cooking, creating a blog, volunteering, taking a class, going to the library etc. The list is endless but I hope you will see the common thread of taking care of your well-being. The better you care for yourself, the more you realize that you command your happiness. And then, your happiness will be conveyed in your job search.

There are a couple of ways that I see these feelingsplay out in a job search though that I want to discuss. The first is a blanket resume that you throw out to the universe in hopes that someone will grab on to it. It is very general and includes a vague (if any) objective. A generic resume tells the reader that either you did not read the job description or you are not willing to invest time to customize your resume. Someone who is positive about the value they bring to a job, takes this time and conveys confidence through customizing their application. An applicant who feels like a victim of the job market will likely come across as either self-conscious or possibly desperate. He or she might not realize that this is how they are perceived and then when they don’t get the job begins the cycle anew. Unfortunately, recruiters are NOT going to tell you that you did not get the job because you seemed too desperate.

Further, as much as I don’t love calling attention to this, right now, there are so many qualified applicants in the job market at all levels of their career. Take the time to assess your value and how you are different from other potential job seekers. If you can point those things out positively in an interview, all the power to you. 

Beyond how you are dressed and how you answer questions, think about the following. When you interview, do you bring your resume with you? Do you bring a list of accomplishments? Do you bring a list of references? Do you bring relevant examples? Do you bring a pad of paper and pen? Have you prepared a list of job-specific and company-specific questions? If you answered no to any of these questions, you need to go back to the interview drafting table and get prepared. When I interview someone who  does not bring these (or at least the majority of them), I am put off and feel that they are not taking this seriously.

Another part of attitude is how you handle questioning, do you answer concisely with no elaboration? Do you answer with “well, if you would look at my resume, you will see…”, I sure hope not because that comes across as pure arrogance! Additionally, if you are trying to sell me verses tell me, it is off-putting. When you don’t answer questions directly, you come across as ill-prepared.  Not good!

“I can’t change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Jimmy Dean

What’s all this buzz about LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is arguably the hottest professional networking tool today! Recruiters love the access it provides without the cost of expensive, over saturated and heavily trafficked job boards. Sales professionals can find all kinds of sales contacts and leads. So to find or be found, that’s it. Right? Wrong! Finding names in LinkedIn is the most common use of the tool. I don’t want you to use this networking tool the way the average masses use it. Instead, I want you to use it like a pro. 

For starters, create a profile that introduces the reader to what you do. This is a step that offers more than a resume but is not as detailed as a resume. My favorite aspects are that you can can have active references recommending you, presentations, uploaded documents, links to your websites, blog information, Facebook links, Twitter information etc. You can also link yourself to your current company, many of which are recognized already. Without overlooking the obvious, you can of course build your network. When I say build your network, don’t be shy! The more people you have in your network, the more people you have access to. So, I mean invite all of your past co-workers, clients, managers etc. Next, use LinkedIn to augment your job research! Did you know that you can complete company searches? Sure you did. Just enter the company name into the search tab. How you use what LinkedIn provides about that company is up to you. Let me tell you that you can research company size, industry, employee demographics, competitors, ticker symbols etc. More than that, you can also pay attention to who they have hired, where they came from, what position they are hired into. Further, you can determine who is leaving and what companies they are going to. Kind of interesting information, isn’t it?

There is also a job search capability that I encourage applicants to check out.  Some companies are opting to post jobs exclusively through this tool.  Another point to highlight, there are groups you can join that give you access to even more people in your network (and even more jobs).  Run some group searches specific to your location, industry (current and targeted), interests, affiliations and join them!!!  Don’t be shy about this.  PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE if you are not already and tap into this awesome resource.

Dear Job Seeker…

After all the time I spend on the “to do list” of job search, I learned this weekend from a dear friend that by not blogging enough…I am negatively affecting my goals.  In fact, she said that if I am proud enough of what I do to start a blog I should do it more frequently.  That translated to I am doing it half a**ed, and if that is the case why do it at all?  Hmm.  So I love to write/talk about the profession I have chosen and share some of the lessons learned from being a recruiter and working as a career coach.  When I don’t write often enough (not to mention tweeting), I am not conveying my passion for what I do!  I am so sorry.  I really do love this and promise to get better.

Is it possible that we, as job seekers (past, present and future) are doing the same?  Think about it.  How many people throw resumes at certain jobs to meet a weekly number without customizing to the position?  Do you know someone who posts their resume on a job board as their main effort, crosses their fingers and clicking their heals that someone is going to find it.   What about interviewing without preparing adequately?  How about failing to tell everyone we know that we are in the market for a job?  What about applying for a job that we are not excited about just because it might pay the bills.  Seems like there are a lot of ways that a job seeker can jeopardize their goals in the job search…finding a job!

Let’s jot down our goals and draw from our own passions to achieve them!   This is the start of a new step in your job search!

How do you handle rejection?

You applied, you interviewed but you didn’t get the job.   When you learn that you do not get the job, do you get: Mad? Sad? Angry? Disappointed? Frustrated? Maybe a little bit of each?  All are perfectly normal.  How you channel those emotions though can set you up for future success (or definite failure). 

Follow up.  If after an interview for a job you are truly interested in you receive a rejection note, send a follow up note (handwritten) to acknowledge receipt.  Then use it as a forum to ask them to keep you in mind for future opportunities or should the individual selected not work out.  Don’t forget to ask the hiring authority when it would be appropriate to follow up.  If you use LinkedIn, ask them to join your network (I would likely send an email first letting them know that you would like to invite them).   

Learn from the interview.  Do you evaluate what you did in the interview process and what you could have done better or different to be more effective?  While there is no guaranty that you did anything wrong, you do need to evaluate it.  How you handle yourself throughout the process might be the very thing that distinguishes you.  When appropriate, ask for feedback.  Though specifics are not guaranteed, it cannot hurt to ask.

Focus on applying for jobs that are relevant.  Sometimes, people set themselves up for rejection.  By applying to a job that you are neither qualified for nor genuinely interested in (perhaps to meet weekly numbers or help pay the bills in the meantime) it is a no-win.  Be selective, it is in your best interest!

Be realistic with targeting future jobs.  A job seeker I have recently worked with made a great point.  Not every job is right for every person.  I know sometimes it feels “right” or perfect.  But, sometimes, we try to make it perfect even when it is not.  Have you ever been there?  I have definitely felt like maybe a company culture isn’t exactly who I am today but maybe I could be or at least compliment it.  Are you passionate about the company and what it stands for (for the right reasons)?  I encourage you to take into consideration the interviewer who asks inappropriate questions or who rubs you the wrong way?  What was your impression of the reception area?  How were you greeted?  Was the interviewer timely or did you sit in the lobby for a half hour (without an apology)?

Realize rejection is hard for everyone.  As a sidebar, I want to let you know that one of the hardest aspects of being a recruiter is the fact that 99% of the interview feedback I give is “thank you, but no thank you.”  In other words, I have to spend a lot of my time communicating that someone is not moving forward in the hiring process.  It is frustrating that sometimes there is no solid rhyme or reason in that someone with a similar background “fit” better or set themselves apart.

Is every interview really THAT different?

What if I told you that there is a no-fail interview key?  Would you believe me?  I sure hope not!  As a recruiter (and an occasional job seeker), I have conducted a lot of interviews.  In fact I often average 6-10 interviews per day.  I have sat on both sides of the desk though certainly more on the hiring side.   In this entry, I am going to focus on phone interview success factors.  While I am the first to admit that all interviews are unique, I must also acknowledge that the differences are slight. 

By the time you are contacted for a phone interview, your resume or cv has passed the initial screen.  So, congratulations!  Phone interviews are your second point of distinction.   I recommend taking the necessary time to prepare for an interview and be able to focus on it exclusively.  I have more respect for the person who takes my initial call, expresses gratitude and politely asks if we can set a time later in the day to speak than I do the person who will stop in the middle of Walmart to conduct a phone interview with me.   I encourage you to prepare, prepare, prepare!   To do such for a phone interview, review the job description and research the company.  Then research the person you are scheduled to speak with on LinkedIn, Zoominfo, Plaxo, Spoke or an internet search engine.   The next stage is to script your answers.  For example, it is safe to assume that in any phone interview you are going to be asked to tell them a little bit about your career or work progression.  This is NOT an invitation to do a “play by play” of every step of your career.  Instead, you are best to draft how and why you pursued your career path (starting with education) and how you have grown or progressed within to bring you to present.  This should take no more than 3-5 minutes.  No, I am not kidding.  You can sum up 30 years of employment in 5 minutes.  REALLY!    Here is an example. 

“I realized in college that I had a gift for identifying talent and leading teams to success.  I decided to pursue a degree in XYZ.   Upon graduation, I interviewed for a job with ABC Company.  While it was an entry level role, it was the foundation of my career.  I was promoted rapidly from this to this to that.   At that point, I realized that to be successful I needed to gain experience in this area of business.  That is what I pursued when I accepted a job with next company.  After promotion to this and then this, I find myself where I am today.  And that is positioned to help your company succeed with my ability to recognize talent and demonstrate leadership”.

In case I have not yet made my point, I believe in taking phone interviews seriously.  I encourage dressing professionally for them, sitting at a desk with ALL outside distractions removed (kids at a friends house, animals hushed, radio/TV off), have a pad of paper and pen (and use them) and smile when you are talking.   Also, have a copy of your resume in front of you and even a list of quotes from past managers. 

How do you handle “difficult” questions?   You know they are coming so don’t dodge them!   Instead, anticipate them and practice your answers.  Keep the answers short and concise.  I encourage you to clarify the questions when necessary and NEVER wing an answer.  If you need a minute to think about your answer, take it!  While I cannot tell you how to answer them, you should expect the following questions (or some version of) and practice your answers:

• Why did you leave your job?
• What would your last manager say about your performance on the job?  What would they recommend you improve on?
• Tell me about a conflict you have had on the job (how did you handle it and what was the result)?
• Tell me about a decision you made that you later regretted and why.
• How much did you make in your last job?
• Tell me about the traits of your worst manager. (Then, how did you work with them?)
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What do you think you need to improve on in your skill set?
• Then there are the obscure ones:  If you were a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would you be and why?
• Tell me about a time when a co-worker received a promotion or recognition for something you deserved.

Another point:  Be careful with personal stuff!  Some people will recommend that you add a personal element to your answers to make you more memorable but I caution you on it.   If you are going to say something personal, make sure it is not something that could make the interviewer uncomfortable or be considered discriminatory (age, gender, race, religion or politics).  If it is relevant or complimentary to the industry you are targeting (like you like to rebuild automobile engines in your free time when you are applying for a mechanical engineering position).

Also prepare examples that quantify your successes, accomplishment, improvements etc!

Here are some cautions for your consideration.   While I cannot believe I am even writing these, I feel I should.  Do not walk around, eat, smoke, chew gum, slurp a hot beverage (or cold for that matter), turn on the faucets, type etc.

At the end of the call, ask your calculated questions (if they have not already been addressed in the call).   These questions demonstrate interest and an understanding of what is going on at the company.  One favorite line of questioning is asking the interviewer how long they have been with the company and what they like most and what they would change if they could.  Take a minute to wrap up why you are the best person for the job reiterating the discussion points from your resume and interview answers.  Ask the interviewer if there is any additional information or documentation you can provide.  Inquire when you can expect to hear back, ask for their email address and thank the interviewer for their time.  Follow up with a thank you note (hand written or via. email).  

Thanks for reading!  That should cover the phone interview at a high level.  I welcome any specific questions.  I will plan to blog about other interview scenarios (video conference, one on one, panel, round table, conference call) in the near future.

Your insight needed!

In developing the SusanRecruits blog, I want to hear from job seekers (past, present and future) to insure that your needs are being addressed.  Essentially, I need your insight.  Please take a look at the following list and let me know if any of these topics would be of interest by posting a comment.  If you have any other ideas that I have not listed, let me know.  Let me assure you that if I don’t know the answer, I will certainly work with my recruiting network to get you the right answers.

How to effectively use LinkedIN.

I interviewed but didn’t get the job…now what?

How to dress for an interview.

How do I handle salary discussions?

Interview techniques that guarantee success.

In this job market, is it ok to counter a job offer?

What really happens to my resume/application when I apply for a job online?

I sincerely thank you in advance for your input!