Tag: applying for jobs

High Maintenance Job Seeker

The high maintenance jobseeker views the job search process and interviewing as a highly competitive structured process that should run at a clip. Many try to force things and cross over into Jobseeker Uptighterati territory, in an attempt to get an edge over other job seekers.

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Recognizing the High Maintenance Uptighterati Jobseeker in yourself:

1.      In addition to applying to the job online, the high maintenance jobseeker sends their resume or project samples to Human Resources and the Hiring Manager by the next day post.

2.      Many job seekers use colorful paper or ink or graphics in their online resume in an attempt to stand out.  This may render a fair portion of the resume unreadable and look ever so slightly like a craft project gone wrong.

3.      Once contacted for an interview, they need to think about it, research, or look at their schedule. Then bombard the recruiter or manager with a series of “I would like to know emails” or calls before setting up or attending the interview.

4.      Resist your tendency to be a Uptighterati by showing up half an hour early for the interview to see if the manager is available and can meet with you a bit earlier. Adhering to your punctuality principle, then trying to make reality conform to it, can be very annoying to others.

5.      The high maintenance jobseeker brings a series of show-and-tell items, awards, projects, reference letters, etc., to the interview and constantly interrupts the interview to show the items.

6.      Is accompanied to the interview by a friend, who sits glumly in the lobby, or worse, wanders around, peering into the interview room or other offices.

In an attempt to stand out from other candidates, many jobseekers inadvertently commit one or more of these interview mistakes. Qualified for a position, had the first interview you are not asked back for a second interview? Check the items above. Did you commit any of these blunders?  Have you turned into a High Maintenance Uptighterati Jobseeker?

Getting Past Resume Gate Keepers

Just a reminder that we are in the biggest hiring period of the year, especially for new grads! Managers are beginning to list more jobs and the interviewing pace has picked up. But, as mentioned in our last update, there are more candidates are on the market – so the jobs are filled quickly, and the competition is stiffer.

 

New Job Alert
This no time for the faint hearted, budgets have been approved and the jobs that are available are part of a company’s long term strategy, so there will be competition. You also need to get by a natural adversary, the resume gatekeeper, whose sole purpose it appears is to decide whether your resume will be seen by the hiring manager.

A few tips to get past the resume gate keepers:

1. Do not address a resume to: “To whom it may concern”, the answer to that intro is – nobody. Use Dear Hiring Manager, Dear Recruiter or the person’s name if available, or a simple Hello, I am seeking a………. position (add the remainder of your cover letter here).

2. If you are going to be a Confidential Jobseeker please indicate that you are actively seeking a new position, somewhere prominent in your application. Confidential resumes are generally less likely to be read, the word confidential can be off-putting to a manager, so you must make the extra effort to invite them to read your resume.

3. When posting your resume on the job boards, follow the job application directions when applying for a position, before calling a recruiter. You cannot charm a busy recruiter, no matter how great your phone skills. A recruiter will do a better job at qualifying you if the resume is at hand and the is information is in a format they can use.

What does all this mean – create fewer online applications and do them properly, follow-up a day or two later with a mid-afternoon phone call.
This could just be your year!!!!

Franklin Paterson Resumes – October 21, 2019