RECRUITERS AND YOUR RESUME

If you are thinking of enlisting the help of a recruiting firm, as part of your search for a new job, there are a few things that you need to know.  Recruiters and search firms respond in very specific ways to the resumes that they receive.  Some react with indifference to resumes that they receive from candidates who are not responding to a request for resumes associated with a position that the recruiter is trying to fill.

Recruiters generally fall into 2 groups.

The first are those who are recruiting for positions for which they have been retained by companies to fill.  These recruiters are working with specific requirements which the employer has said candidates must meet in terms of job experience, location and education.

The second are recruiters who help individuals find jobs by marketing them to potential employers.  These recruiters, sometimes called placement firms, match a candidate’s background, professional experience and education with possible employers.  Then they contact those companies to see if they have an opportunity for someone with the candidate’s background and experience.

When dealing with recruiters taking either approach, it is important that your resume be as detailed as possible.  By detailed, I mean that you need to include as many details about your education, the companies you worked for, and your accomplishments with each employer.  This is critical for 2 major reasons:  1) Recruiters will rely on the details of your background to assess your match to a given opportunity.  2) If a recruiter is going to market you, he is actually marketing your background and experience as well as you as a person.

The bottom line is that you need to look at your resume as an introduction.  It introduces you to the reader, providing enough personal information to help the reader get a general impression of you as a professional.  It is an introduction, as well, to you as someone with a set of skills and accomplishments.  This combination should be written to give recruiters and potential employers a “snapshot” that they can use to make a quick initial decision to talk with you.

Your resume need not have your entire life history.  As a matter of fact, this will not serve you well at all.  Include a summary of your skills, background and professional objectives in a short paragraph at the beginning of your resume.

Provide information about each job you have had in the last 10 years (you need not go farther back than that with detailed descriptions).  Describe each company and its business, and then, using bullet points, list 3-5 of your most significant accomplishments for each position you have held.

One mistake candidates often make is to include too much minutia about each job.  More than your 3-5 greatest accomplishments will not impress the reader.  Use statistics, as well, because results mean everything.

Your resume should be written so that a recruiter or prospective employer can review your resume in 10-15 seconds, and decide if your background and experience is what he/she is looking for.  Any longer, and your resume will likely be overlooked and even if you are the best candidate in the stack, you will not get a chance to get the job. 

So bottom line, when dealing with recruiters, make sure your choice of who you work with matches your job search strategy.  And, no matter who you choose to deal with, make sure your resume represents you well and serves you as the introduction it is meant to be.

NETWORKING WITH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIAL CLUBS, CHURCH AND NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS

I have discussed networking by using the writing of letters as a way of contacting managers who can assist you in your search for new employment or a job change. There is, however, another aspect of networking that has not been mentioned: associations, clubs, church and social occasions.

Along with a letter writing campaign, taking advantage of opportunities to join professional or industry associations can be an effective way of increasing your exposure and chances to come to the attention of companies who may be looking for professionals like you. Professional associations (such as ASHRAE, SOCMA, or ASME, among others) often have job listings on their websites. You can also join the local chapters of one or two associations. You can talk with local influential people in the industry and can also attend presentations that will give you useful information you may use in finding your next job.

Clubs can also be a source of contacts as well. If you know someone who is a member of Toastmasters, Rotary Club or Optimists, for example, you might ask if you can attend a lunch or dinner meeting as his/ her guest. You can then, in a relatively relaxed and/or informal setting, meet people who can assist you in your search.

Your church, synagogue or mosque can provide another opportunity to meet with contacts who can assist you in finding employment. If your church, synagogue or mosque does not have a group or groups to help people who are unemployed, you might want to start one yourself. Talk to your clergy or congregation leaders to see if you can get support to start a support group.

And don’t forget your neighbors and friends. They can be an excellent source of referrals to professionals, managers and other friends of theirs who might provide information that will be helpful in your search. Talk to friends about your search at Christmas parties, birthday parties, neighborhood get-togethers, etc.

In short, any opportunity you can have to meet new people, make contacts or get the chance to gather information will be helpful in your search.

Be creative. Think of any way that you can learn more about companies in your area that are hiring, or in an industry that might present opportunities. Talk to as many people as you can, and take notes. Every bit of information will get you that much closer to your next job or career.