Have you ever wondered what to bring to an interview? Is it ok to ask questions during an interview?  Should you bring a copy of your resume with you to the interview?  With more then 15 + years of recruitment experience I will answer those question and more in my latest blog.

Bring a recent copy of your resume

Do not assume the hiring manager has a copy of your resume.  The hiring manager may forget it or the office printer may not be operating.  Also, another member of the organization may be asked to join the interview last minute, because of this, I always encourage candidates I partner with to bring three or more copies of their resume with them.  It definitely cannot hurt your chances.

A pen and a note pad

Take detailed notes during the interview. This proves that you are engaged and interested in the opportunity and the organization.  This may sound silly to many, but make sure your pen works.  I have personally experienced being in an interview and the ink in my pen runs out. 

Prepare a list of questions for the hiring manager

Remember you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. You want to ensure this opportunity matches your career goals and aspirations.  Prepare a list of key questions for the hiring manager.  Ask questions like, how long have you been with the organization? Tell me about the company culture?  How has the pandemic impacted your business?  This approach will further reinforce your interest in the opportunity. Surprisingly not many candidates ask the hiring managers questions. Make sure your questions are clear and direct.

You never want to be late to an interview

The last thing you want to do is be late to an interview. Yes, there are things that are out of our control like, bad weather, a car accident, or road construction.  If you are running late, try your best to contact the hiring manager and advise them you are running behind schedule. Many candidates drive to the office the night before to ensure they are aware of the exact location and where to park.

Always dress to impress

Even if you are interviewing for an entry level role, I strongly encourage to wear your best suit.  First impressions go a long way. Aside from our education and experience, we are judged by our appearance, so make sure you take the time to pick out an appropriate outfit, one that will help you stand out from the other candidates. 

Most Important

Bring a positive and confident attitude to your next interview. Leave past interview failures at the front door. In my opinion, the topic of a positive attitude and outlook during an interview does not get discussed nearly enough. Often times a positive attitude can overmatch one’s experience.  Over the years, I have seen countless candidates get the job they desired, because of their positive outlook. Yes, they did in fact of the qualifications for the opportunity, however it was their attitude that put them over the top. Hiring managers are looking for candidates with the right experience along with finding people with the right attitude who will fit in well with the company’s culture. 

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. 

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.

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

 

 

Finding a new opportunity can be an overwhelming task for a job seeker. A friendly reminder—pack your patience! You’ll need a ton of it especially if you expect to find a new role in a crowded labor market. You’ve spent countless hours preparing your cover letter and resume. You’ve applied to various online job postings and have not received a call from a potential employer. You’ve made new connections and networked with industry leaders, yet you haven’t had a single interview. Feeling discouraged? Don’t be. Working with an agency recruiter could be exactly what you need to help you with your job search. There is a wealth of advantages to partnering with an agency recruiter and I will explain how they guide active and passive job seekers to their dream job.

There is no cost to you

There is a common belief that it may cost you a hefty price to work with an agency recruiter or that they take a portion of your salary when you are hired. This cannot be further from the truth. An agency recruiter should never ask you for money or receive a portion of your salary. The only thing they should ask you for is your updated resume, your time and your patience. It is a free service for you and it can be extremely rewarding.

Skip the crowd and get to the front of the line

Ever wonder if the hiring manager received your resume? An agency recruiter will work hard to get your resume directly to the hiring manager. The recruiter will speak on your behalf, highlighting your professional accomplishments, educational achievements, and explain why you are the perfect candidate.

Confidential job searches

Organizations sometimes need to restructure a department and/or identify a stronger performer. Unfortunately, this may lead to the termination of an existing employee. Although it sounds harsh, it is quite common in the competitive world of business. Because of this, a hiring manager may reach out to a trusted agency recruiter and ask them to confidentially share resumes with them. This means the job will not be posted online for hundreds of job seekers to see and apply to, just you!

Help you get ready for your interview

Recruitment professionals will guide you through the interview process by answering any questions you may have, conducting mock interviews with you, giving you as much information about the organization as possible, and generally telling you what you may expect before and after the interview.

Recruiters will bring new opportunities to you

Agency recruiters have well-established relationships with hiring managers and they are proactively in contact with businesses who are looking to hire. They are made aware of exciting new career opportunities, which you may not be aware of. How do you, the job seeker profit from this? While you are quietly working away, out of nowhere a recruiter calls you about the role you have been dreaming about for years.

Salary Negotiation

You finally received an offer of employment. Feeling excited? It’s now time to negotiate your salary. If you do not have experience negotiating your compensation package, it can be a very nerve-wracking experience. Leave it to the experts. An agency recruiter has a wealth of experience negotiating salaries, vacation times, annual bonuses and other incentives.