One Way Recruiters Size You Up

Here is one little secret about recruiters - They look at social media!

In the good old days you would turn in a resume for a job opening and show up for an interview.  That was all you needed to worry about.  Maybe you needed to worry about references too, but not really.  Jobs were offered based on the impression a hiring manager would get off a resume and an interview.  The technology capabilities of today were not around in past years to really see the possibly multiple faces of a person.  But boy have the times changed!

When you are looking to change jobs within or without of your current company, you should consider what hiring managers and recruiters have available to do background checks on you.  I am not talking about security, criminal, or past employment resources.  I am talking about social media.

Tip of the day:  Be cognitive of your social media leaks
I met up with a recruiter for lunch one day and she told me about a phone screening she had just conducted with a potential candidate for a job opening.  Following which she looked up the candidate on Facebook and Twitter.
"Wait!  You do that? You check people's Facebook and Twitter?"  I said.
"Yea.  It's a practice I normally take.  Not all recruiters do that, but I do."  She said.

Her visit to those social networking sites actually ended up working against the candidate.   The recruiter found unfriendly posts that the candidate wrote about her current company and position.  She also posted descriptions of the attire she wears to work, which the recruiter did not find very professional or appealing.  I probably do not have to tell you, but it is obvious the candidate was no longer being considered for the job once the recruiter saw perhaps the real side of the candidate.

BE ADVISED - Your social networking sites can be visited by recruiters!  It is like the interview and screening process has now moved into social media.  Everything else has moved into social media, so why not job screening?  Don't get me wrong, I think recruiters should use social media to view all the "faces" of a candidate.  I think it is a great idea and very useful.  You will eliminate double-minded and doubled-faced individuals who can put on a very pleasant but very deceitful personality during a job interview.

If you are not a recruiter, I think you know what to do regarding social networking sites now.  Keep your sites professional, avoid immature comments and pictures, and keep in mind of your new found knowledge of recruiting practices.  A post two or three weeks ago can be visited by a recruiter today.  I mentioned keeping things professional, maybe professional is not the best word to use for Facebook, but keep your posts mature and classy.  This means to post something attractive and of good character.  Of course your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are informal, but they need to be respectable...for future possibilities.  They could make or break you in a professional setting.

Bottom line, be cognitive of your social media leaks AND future possibilities.

What to do if you have a hole in your work history on your resume

You are good!  That was yesterday, not today!

Do not be too concerned if you have a time period in your work history that you did not work.  Be confident in yourself and realize it might not be that big of a deal.  Yea a hiring manager might notice the gap on your resume, but do not let it be a focus for you.  Your focus should be on the qualifications you bring to the interviewer's table.  Your focus should be on presenting yourself as the best candidate for the job.  Being the best candidate does not include you talking much about having a gap in your work history.

The following will give a few ways to help those in need with work history holes.  Remember what has been said already - the focus is not on your hole, but you as the best candidate.

Tip of the day #1:  Resume tip

You could "disguise" your hole so that it is not so noticeable.  It is all about arranging your resume and designing it properly.  Your gaps in your work history will most likely be noticed but dates.  So, it is naturally to make sure the dates do not stick out.  Do not bold your dates or have them in large font sizes.  Avoid having them highlighted on the side away from the bulk of your work history description.  Put the dates close to the descriptions so that it is disguised.

Tip of the day #2:  Don't ask, don't tell
No need to bring up a hole in your resume if not asked about it.  You do not need to explain it if the interviewer is not wondering about it.  It is as simple as that.  Just remember to focus on presenting yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Tip of the day #3:  If asked, be confident, talk about it briefly and then...
If you are asked about your gap, do not sweat it.  Just briefly mentioned why you had a hole and then tell what you did during that time to better yourself and to keep yourself busy.  For example, I was once laid off.  I had two months where I was unemployed.  When asked about that gap, I said I spent time apply for jobs online and in person, updating my resume and cover letter for each job I applied for, I spent time deep cleaning of my house (this is always entertaining for interviewers to hear), and I sign up and trained for a half Ironman Triathlon.

However you decide to deal with your hole in your work history, keep it short and re-direct the focus to that job opening at hand.  If you do not focus on the gap, neither will the interviewer.

Tips in finding new employment

Job opportunities are find quicker if you take charge!

In my profession I help many in need of higher education and new employment.  They seek for advancement in their profession, better pay, and a better life.  I offer precise direction, result-oriented ideas, and inner strength motivation.  I work to change people lives.  I try my best to discover who they are, what they have done and what they want to accomplish.  When I begin to discover who they are and what they have done, speaking in terms of finding new employment; I ask questions like, "Where have you looked for a new job?" or "What websites have you look at?"  The number one reply I receive is, "I have been working with Workforce Services."

Let me give a bit of advice - some precise direction.  First, understand Workforce Services is a place to receive help when looking for a job.  You are assigned a case worker who will aid you in seeking employment, and they have a website you can visit to look up job postings.  It can be a great resource in finding a job.  However, many times I have seen people hand over the entire job seeking responsibility to workforce services...and months later they are still looking for a new job.

Below is my advice, in three tips.  

Tip of the day #1 - Be responsible and in Charge!

If you want a new job it is you who looks and prepares for that new job.  Career coaches and headhunter services are great resources and I suggest you use them, but you have to take charge because you are in charge!  You will be the one who will be interviewing not your headhunter.  Take a vested interest in looking for new jobs and the jobs you apply for, understanding the companies you want to work for, and educate yourself before an interview to answer questions your interviewers may ask.

Tip of the day #2 - Use the Internet!

The Internet is a great tool for you to be responsible and in charge (Tip of the day #1).  There are many websites you can have access to that list job openings.  You can check out company websites, online job sites (I can think of five online job sites right now), and government websites.  I have come across many people who do not realize this.  It might seem common sense in today's internet savvy world, but there are many who still do not realize how helpful the internet is.  Get on Google and enter different key words that relate to the job you seek.

Tip of the day #3 - Follow up!

Follow up with everybody and every opportunity.  Do not be the average Joe and wait for someone to touch base with you about a job.  Take charge!  If you follow up you will find: 1) You are not the person caught off guard by an unexpected call asking to do a three minute phone interview, 2) You place yourself in front of the line of many other candidates, first-come first-serve, 3) You will eliminate jobs you do not really want or qualify for faster, and 4) You find a job faster.

Current events and conversatons

What is going on today?  The events of today could change your stars tomorrow!

As you are looking for a new job, changing careers, or even wanting to develop your network and resources it is a good idea to keep up on your current events.  Why?  A simple answer would be a conversation starter.  Remember, great things are brought about by simple things.  A conversation starter goes deeper than just being able to have an intelligent conversation with someone.  One conversation can lead to another conversation or a friendship or a "in" with the hiring manager.  It could lead to a potential resource for future opportunities.  Know what is going on today to change your stars tomorrow.

Tip of the day:  Keep up with current events to have something to talk about.

Look at it in an analytically way.  A conversation is an exchange of words, thoughts, insights, knowledge, and could be a form of bonding and developing a relationship.  By you interacting with others you allow others to see your insights and personality.  It is no secret that job offers and business opportunities are given out based on skill and knowledge, but largely on how someone connects and interacts with hiring managers and key individuals.  One mistake I continue to make in my personal and professional lives is being too quiet.  There have been a few times that promotions have passed me up and gone to someone less experience and have done less work than I have done because they were more talkative with the boss.  Because I did not engage in conversations with others, people did not know who I was.  I did not market myself very well.  People did not like to be around me only because they perceived me to be someone who did not want to be around them.  I was not perceived as being friendly or approachable.  I gave them "I am too good to be around you" type of a book cover.  I am a nice guy and generally care about others and do not mind conversations with others.  But that is not what others saw in me.

A conversation is a marketing tool.  You want to use it to your advantage for career advancements, closing sales, and learning about new opportunities.  You want to use conversations way before you start looking for new opportunities.  Trust me, you want connections established before you need them.  Probably the toughest thing about starting a conversation or pick up the pace of a dry conversation is knowing what to talk about.  In times like this keeping up with current events could be beneficial.  For example, two days ago it was November 19.  In 1863, on November 19, President Abraham Lincoln gave what is now known as the Gettysburg Address.  Did you know that President Lincoln's profound speech was approximately three minutes long and yet it carried a lasting effect, even through today? Did you know President Lincoln was not even the featured speaker?  Whether you knew that information about the Gettysburg Address or not that was on a many headlines November 19th.  If you read a little more about the address you would find more information about the civil war and the town of Gettysburg.  You probably would have learned more about the address too.

The Gettysburg Address is a conversation starter.  It is a way for you to start a conversation with someone around this time of the year - November 19th.   You start a conversation with someone by you asking, "Hey, did you know what happened on November 19 in the year of 1863?"  After this question, a conversation is most likely to start.  One suggestion I have for when you start a conversation using the idea of keeping up with your current events; I suggest you have some follow-up questions and thoughts stored in your mind to keep the conversation going.  Once again, having conversations with someone serves the purpose of developing a relationship with someone that could present opportunities to you at a later time.

Obviously there are many topics you could discuss while in a conversation, I have only gave you one idea for finding a topic.  I know there are many people that wish they had better relationships with someone else, either for personal or professional reasons.  However, because they do not know that person very well or have not had many conversations with that person it is hard to approach them because they do not know what to talk about.  I suggest to dig into your current events and use that to open a conversation and develop a relationship.  This is a tool to market yourself and to get people to like you.