Things to remember when job searching 

There are many obstacles to overcome when looking for a new job. Stressful interviews, rejection, and ghosting are just a few things you may encounter. With more than 15 + years of recruitment experience, I have provided countless job seekers with helpful tips, advice, and guidance. I am confident that the following six tips will help prepare you for your next job search. 

Networking 

Build relationships with people who work in your field and find ways to connect with them whenever possible. For example, you may attend conferences, speaking events, or join social platforms such as LinkedIn. You can also ask friends and/or family for referrals. The power of networking is unquantifiable. In some cases, it is not what you know but whom you know. 

Understand what you are looking for

Many job seekers apply to several online job openings. Your job search should be targeted and strategic. You will be more successful if you apply to roles that closely match your qualifications. Also, apply to organizations that are in line with your core values. 

Your Resume

Is your resume free of grammatical errors? Do the dates of the employment line up? If not, a hiring manager may quickly discount your candidacy due to a minor error. Always proofread your resume before submitting it to a hiring manager. 

Do not be too hard on yourself 

Not being offered the job you desire often leads to disappointment. Especially when you were confident you were going to get it. Take the experience as a learning opportunity. Rejection means redirection. There is always another opportunity waiting for you. A positive attitude goes a very long way and will help set you apart from the other applicants. If you were not chosen for the job, try to get feedback from the hiring manager as to why you were not selected. 

Timing

Timing is everything. The perfect job opportunity presents itself, but you suddenly have a change of heart and decide that it is not the right time to start a new job. This is not uncommon. I have seen many job seekers walk away from a new job opportunity because they did not feel it was the right time to do so for various reasons. Make sure you are 100 percent ready to take on a new role or a career change before you start your job search. 

Keep it simple

When interviewing, responses should be direct and on point. Listen carefully to the questions being asked. Nerves can sometimes get the best of us, and as a result, job seekers will try to oversell their accomplishments rather than answering the questions. During an interview, I always advise job seekers to be humble with their responses and remember to KISS (keep it simple silly). To help alleviate some of your nerves, try to learn as much as you can about the organization and the role that you applied for. 

Thinking about a career as an agency recruiter?

Thinking about a career as an agency recruiter?  

 

  •  Top 5 traits one must have to be a successful agency recruiter

 As a professional with more than 15 years of agency recruitment experience, I can tell you that this career path can be described as a ride on the world’s biggest roller coaster, full of many highs, plenty of lows, sudden twists, and quick turns. This is what also makes a career as an agency recruiter or talent acquisition specialist so intriguing. Agency recruiters are usually very social and have outgoing personalities. They are friendly, engaging, and are not afraid to approach organizations and candidates. If you are more introverted, this career path may not be suitable for you. 

 

There are many traits and skills needed to be a successful recruiter. An assertive personality, strong negotiation skills, and patience are a few qualities that come to mind. However, in my opinion, to be an outstanding agency recruiter one must possess the following five key characteristics.

 

Listening Skills

 

Be prepared to listen. A recruiter’s responsibility is to effectively listen to what a client is looking for in an applicant and/or what the candidate is looking for in their next role. Whether you are speaking with a potential client, or you are interviewing a candidate, if you are not adequately listening to their requirements, and if you are not asking the right questions, you could potentially jeopardize the recruitment process, and your reputation could take a hit.

 

Confidence

 

If you come across as anxious and nervous on the phone with a potential client or while interviewing a candidate, this will spell doom for you and your career. People feel much more comfortable working with recruiters who are calm and confident and understand the recruitment process. Confidence helps to quickly gain trust and build instant creditability.

 

Resilience

 

Organizations are inundated and frustrated by agency recruiters trying to solicit their business. They cannot say yes to every recruiter who connects with them. Get used to hearing the word “no”, because, to be blunt, you will hear it often. I have learned to quickly brush it off, learn from it and keep moving forward. Do not feel defeated when things go sideways. Learn to develop a thick skin. 

 

Networking Skills

 

Some of the best agency recruiters I know have mastered the art of networking. If you plan on a career as an agency recruiter, this important skill set will greatly help to determine your success. Agency recruiters do much more than place a job advertisement online and patiently wait for the right candidate to apply. A successful recruiter is highly proactive and has built their pipeline of talent by networking with active and passive job seekers. Networking takes time; however, it can extremely be beneficial to your clients.

 

Time Management Skills

 

The day in the life of a recruiter can be quite demanding at times. Clients calling, needing to quickly hire because they had a resignation on their team or a candidate that you are familiar with calls you because they just lost their job due to organizational restructuring, or promising a client they would see candidate profiles by the end of the day. Press pause and learn how to effectively manage your time – if not your day can quickly go down the drain. Good agency recruiters understand how to manage their time by balancing their day and by using tools like MS Outlook to stay organized.

 

 

A career as an agency recruiter can be fun, exciting, competitive, and lucrative, however, strap on your seat belt and be prepared for an exhilarating ride. I have met many inspiring business leaders, and I have met people who have become trusted friends. I have helped countless business professionals find new and exciting roles with leading-edge organizations. If you are thinking about a career as a agency recruiter, be prepared to work hard and expect some sleepless nights. It is all well worth it.

Money and Happiness

A long-time friend of mine recently resigned from a highly coveted position. She was the Vice President of human resources for a large Canadian organization. She was very dedicated to her career. She worked very hard, quickly climbing up the career ladder. She had a very heavy work load. She rarely worked 9:00am to 5:00pm. She often and tirelessly worked evenings and weekends. She traveled across Canada and the U.S., jumping on and off of planes. Her laptop was her best friend.

She was compensated very well. An enticing salary, excellent benefits, a jaw dropping annual bonus along with stock options. Senior leadership was very happy with her productivity and saw her has an extremely valuable asset to the team. She had reached the top of her career mountain ( or so she thought ) she was not happy. She would often tell me how poorly she was treated and how she never felt valued and appreciated. She resigned, providing 1-month notice to her employer. She had accepted a role closer to home, no travel and far less compensated with a much smaller organization.

She told me that money truly isn’t everything. Money didn’t make her happy. She needed something more. She needed to feel appreciated. She quietly walked away from a six-figure income and she was at peace with her decision.

The moral of the story. Employees want and need to feel appreciated. They want to work in a positive work environment, one that empowers their employees. Yes, money is important, however, today employees look for more then just a large pay cheque. She encouraged me to read the following book. The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma.

My top resume tips

When an organization places a job advertisement online, they can receive between 200 to 400 resumes. So, how do you stand out from the crowd of applicants? I will provide you with my top resume tips. Things you can do to your resume to help you get noticed by a potential employer.

 

Provide metrics and analytics on your resume  

Employers absolutely love seeing numbers and metrics on a resume. It really helps you stand out and sets you apart from the sea of applicants. Shocking, most applicants do not do this.

  • What have you done or implemented that made a financial impact on the business?
  • Metrics and analytics really help an applicant stand out and help tell your story

Example:

  • Improved employee morale by 50%
  • Reduced employee turnover by 30%
  • Saved the company $50,000.00 by conducting a payroll audit

 

Keep your resume short and simple

Unless you are at an executive level, resumes are only meant to be 2 pages. Hiring managers get frustrated when they receive 3 to 5 page resumes.  Potential employers are only interested in your past 3 to 4 roles. There is no benefit to letting an employer know you were a CSR while you were in school.

  • Less is sometimes more
  • Get right to the point on your resume
  • 1-page resumes can be  effective

 

Avoid spelling and grammatical errors on your resume

I was working with a client, assisting them with a senior HRPR role. The VP of HR was interested in meeting with a candidate for the final time. She cancelled the final interview with the candidate after she noticed a minor spelling error on her resume. Harsh? Maybe, however she reserved the right to hire applicants that paid attention to detail.

  • Always proof ready your resume before submitting it
  • Even if you have the right skills and experience, most employers will automatically discount your resume if they find a spelling or grammatical error your resume

 

Make it easy for an employer or recruiter to connect with you

I cannot tell you how many resumes I have seen over the years, where I was unable to find a candidate contact details. Surprisingly many job seekers fail to leave it off of their resume.  Put your phone number and email address on the TOP of your resume. Make it bold and make it clear. It should not be hidden at the bottom or on the side of your resume.

  • Your name, email address should be on the first page of your resume
  • It should be bold and clear and your contact details should be updated
  • Your home address is not required, however it can be useful

 

Chronological order

Employers are interested in your past 3 to 4 roles. They want to see where you are currently working right now and so on.

  • A resume should always be in chronological order
  •  From most recent work experience to past work experience

 

Fonts and Images

I often see resumes with crazy fonts, clip art images and the applicant’s photo on the resume. None of that is needed. When it comes to resume writing, keep your resume clean and simple and easy to read. Creative fonts are not needed whatsoever and images do not increase your odds of getting hired.

  • Applicant photos are not required on a resume
  • Photos on resumes are common in Europe
  • Use fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.  10 to 12 points

 

Applicant tracking systems and key words

What is an applicant tracking system?  Essentially, an ATS is a software that scans, searches and looks for key words and phrases on a resume to determine if an applicant closely meets the job requirements. Organizations get flooded with countless resumes, but an ATS is designed to quickly pick out the best and most qualified applicants that match the job requirements.

  • Keywords should include your skills, experience, core competencies and educational accomplishments.
  • Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for

 

 

Are you feeling frustrated with your job search?

8 tips that can help you land your next job.

 

1.  Pack your patience: Job searching takes time and a requires a ton of patience. I’ve been out of my work myself, so I understand what it feels like. You may face a wealth of rejection. Failed interviews, not hearing back from employers is unfortunately part of the process. Brush it off. Be patient and keep going.

2. Networking: One of the keys to landing a new job is networking. I cannot stress this point enough. Go the extra mile and make meaningful connections with industry experts and leaders. Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your area of specialization.

3.  Be open minded: Be open to temporary or contract roles. Often times, short term opportunities can lead to full time roles. Also, be open minded to exploring roles outside of your ideal geographical location.

4.  Never give up: Many job seekers feel like giving up. I have spoken with many candidates who feel deflated and are willing to switch their career because they are unable to find a role in their field of study. Do not give up that quickly. You may be one interview away from landing your dream job.

5.  Connect with a reputable agency recruiter: Many agency recruiters can be extremely helpful when it comes to your job search. They can connect you to career opportunities that may not be advertised online. Agency recruiters have well-established relationships with hiring managers, and they are proactively in contact with businesses who are looking to hire. Take advantage of their free services.

6. LinkedIn Profile: Along with reviewing your resume, employers are also reviewing your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your profile is up to date and free from grammatical errors. First impressions go a long way. Make sure you have a recent, professional profile picture. Studies have proven that a professional LinkedIn profile picture can have a positive impact with potential employers.

7.  Be positive: Job searching can be extremely frustrating and can make you feel angry and upset. Be cool, confident and professional. Employers do not want to hire a pessimistic employee. Organizations hire positive candidates who they feel will fit in with their company culture.

8. Apply to the right role: Apply to roles that match your knowledge, skills and abilities. Many job seekers apply to several active job postings hoping a hiring manager or recruiter will see value in their resume. That is not a wise job searching strategy. Focus your job search and only apply to roles that closely match your work experience and education. This will increase your odds of getting noticed and hired.

 

For more job searching tips and advice, please feel free to connect with me.

Email: pino@thestaffingalternative.com


The Staffing Alternative is a contingency-based staffing firm located in Toronto that specializes in the recruitment of human resources professionals

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