Minnesota Headhunter

Compensation Talk: Navigating The Earnings Issue

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

How much does this job pay? What was your average paycheck with a previous job?

No matter how you slice it, talking to a boss or prospective employer about money can be uncomfortable. As a job seeker in the current economy, it is more important than ever to know what you can expect to earn - before you interview.

Utilize resources like Salary.com to verify the average annual salary for your target position. This website allows you to customize the search, based on geographic area.

3 Keys to Customizing Your Resume

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

In recent blogs, I’ve written a lot about the importance of investing time into every job application you submit, even if this means applying for fewer total jobs.  While it’s most efficient to get your resume fine-tuned to a point where it needs little modification for each new job application, you generally will need to make a few changes each time in order to customize your document.

UTILIZE PROPER LANGUAGE

The first rule of customization is to ensure that your resume contains the same language found in the job advertisement.  Many companies use junior human resources staff as the first reviewers for the resumes they receive.  Since HR staff typically know a lot about HR and less about the business of their company, they often look to match your resume with the keywords used in the job ad.  This is why it’s important to customize your resume for an untrained eye; generally, the first person (or software program) looking it over is not discerning enough to know what you mean unless you use the exact same language.

Advanced Interviewing Techniques

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

It's no secret across the nation - the job market competition is fierce.  In order to out-perform your peers, it becomes necessary to pull out all the stops, and have an optimal interview performance.  Here are the top five strategies candidates can implement TODAY, to ensure they wow the interviewer, and set themselves apart from their competitors.

1.  Have a keen understanding of why the company should choose you.

In order to have a stellar interview, it is necessary that you are able to communicate your professional value to the prospective employer.  The interview is the job seeker's one and only opportunity to "sell themselves" as the best candidate for this position.  Articulate why you are the right individual for this position.  Be confident in your abilities.  Explain how you will use past experiences to make this new company better.  Think in terms of how you will help them earn or save more money.

2.  Practice, practice, practice.

Get a list of the toughest interview questions, and take the time to go over them.  Write down your answers, and practice them.  Find a friend, career coach, or colleague, and do one-on-one role play.

My Best Advice - Job Search

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” - Ronald Reagan

As you might imagine, I get a lot of requests for help and advise related to job search. And, like today's quote, while I would like to help everyone, if I help someone I've done my job.

But not all advice works for all people. It's kind of like when someone has the hiccups and the advice is to scare them and that will make the hiccups go away. Now for some people it actually works, while for others have a heart attack (and their hiccups).

Job search is much the same, what works for some does not always work for others. So today my best advice is actually the advice of others. Your recommendations regarding websites and links. Here's to helping someone, enjoy today's links.

Minnesota Recruiter Jobs

The following new Minnesota Recruiter Jobs have been added to the Minnesota Headhunter Recruiter Jobs Page:

• Senior Recruiter - Full Time Job - Prime Therapeutics LLC

• Recruiter - Full Time Job - BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc.

• Consulting Campus Recruiter - Full Time Job – Deloitte

• Recruiter - Full Time Job - Xcel Energy

• Regional Recruiter - Full Time Job – Apple

Click Minnesota Headhunter for most recent blog posts.

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5 Killer Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

Usually, the emphasis in  job interview prep involves getting your answers ready for the toughest interview questions--and there's no doubt that it's a critical component. But you must remember that interviewing is a two-way street. In one respect, the job interview is your chance to find out if the company is somewhere you can shine and advance in your career. You have to ask the questions that will tell you what you want to know.

But the most immediate benefit to asking questions in the interview is that just by asking those questions, you stand out as a candidate. You show yourself as a go-getter, and you change the interview from a one-sided interrogation into a conversation between professionals. It helps you establish rapport, and it uncovers for you what the interviewer is looking for--so that you can tailor your answers to what's going to make the best impression on him.

Employer Branding: Do You Really Have a BMW Or Are You Putting Lipstick On A Dodge Dart?

Talent Communities, Social Networks, SEO and Employer Branding are all the rage at recruiter and HR conferences.

I often wonder how companies put these things into practice after returning back to the office and wonder more about how does their audience, candidates, respond to them.

Let’s talk about Employer Branding. I think this is something that is vitally important regardless of the size of company, industry and location.

After all many companies are competing for employees to one extent or another. (maybe with this slow economy not as much as they used to or will be but you get the idea)

And it makes sense to differentiate one from the others.

Minnesota Morning

So much on the mind and trying to figure what if anything someone might want to know about but my mind is a bit warped from yesterday’s weather so lets start with that, the weather.

Why? When one adds the air temperature of 93 and mid 70’s dew point one gets a heat index or “feels like” 108 degrees. That is tropical like conditions.

I picked up some food to go (I will fire up the grill at -5 but not +108) and bumped into an old friend. We moved to the shade but after just a 20 minute chat found myself sweating.

But there was some relief last night after the storms went through the area. I was on a phone call, looked out the window and saw we were having an amazing sunset. Not able to get out a I sent out a Tweet, “Please someone in Minneapolis get a pic of this amazing sky/sunset -- late night conference calls SUCK”

My request was answered by two followers with these photos:

How NOT to Start Your Cover Letter

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

On a weekly basis any hiring manager probably receives between 50 and … well, probably hundreds of resumes and cover letters.  The key is to catch his or her attention from the start; and the best place to do that is in your cover letter.  So I am going to tell you about the worst possible way to start your cover letter—and then give you some creative alternatives to use instead.

Here is the most boring intro line because everyone uses it:

Please accept my resume for consideration of the (XYZ) position within your organization.

What a snoozer!  Everyone uses that line; let’s see … being like everyone else isn’t going to get you very far in your job search now is it?  No, it’s not.  So you need to be different.  But not just different—you need to be unique and appear more valuable than the average joe.  Let’s take a look at some more creative and attention grabbing opening lines:

Texas #1 In CNBC Top States For Doing Business 2010, Minnesota Ties for #8

CNBC has announced its America’s Top States For Doing Business 2010 with Texas finishing in first place.

Rounding out the Top 5:

• #2 Virginia
• #3 Colorado
• #4 North Carolina
• #5 Massachusetts

#8 is Minnesota tied with Utah.

Our neighbors:

• Iowa (#6)
• South Dakota (#7)
• North Dakota (#12)
• Wisconsin (#29)

Frequently Asked Interview Questions

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

Your resume looks fabulous, and you’ve been getting tons of calls from companies that want to interview you.  Your interview preparation should include looking at the employer’s Web site in order to familiarize yourself with the specifics of the business.  However, keep in mind that employers already know about their company, and therefore are most interested in learning about YOU during an interview.  Here are some questions interviewers love to ask:

What is it that appeals to you about this position?

As you apply for different jobs, it’s a good idea to save the job description for each position with a recognizable file name.  Before your interview, you can review the job description and give some thought to not only what makes the job interesting to you, but also why your qualifications offer a good fit.  Employers use this question to determine whether you’re genuinely interested in the opening—or just trying to find a job … any job.

Social Media Recruiter: WTF Is That?

Hold on a moment..... Nope, one more second.....

Sorry, I was trying to pull out the pen I shoved in my ear after hearing from a CEO who I have known for years say that a “consultant” suggested his recruiting team needed to hire a “Social Media Recruiter”.

My reply (and this is a direct quote), “WTF is a Social Media Recruiter?”

“I don’t know” said my CEO friend “but I am told I need one.”

Oh for the love of the Internet...

I cannot remember to the late 90’s was there such a thing as a “Job Board Recruiter”? I hope not and if there was it clearly did not last long.

“Job Board Recruiter” sounds absurd, right?

So does “Social Media Recruiter”.

Facebook: The Untapped Job Board

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

Most of what you hear about Facebook while looking for a job involves keeping your information as private as possible from potential employers.  While this is good advice, Facebook can also be a valuable tool in your job search, as many smaller companies post their job ads on their Facebook pages.

If you are looking for work at a smaller local company, “liking” their Facebook page can often be a great place to start.  Open jobs are sometimes posted there before they make it onto the company’s regular Web site.  Additionally, Facebook sites will often include pictures from previous events the company has held.  Viewing these gives you a sense of the corporate culture at the organization.  Are the people wearing suits or are they dressed in business casual?  Are the upper level managers all in their 60s, or is there room for someone younger to move up through the ranks?

Minnesota Recruiter Jobs

The following new Minnesota Recruiter Jobs have been added to the Minnesota Headhunter Recruiter Jobs Page:

• Finance Recruiter – Full Time Job – Target

• Contract Recruiter – Contract Job – ADC 

• Campus Recruiting Coordinator – Full Time Job – Ernst & Young
  

Click Minnesota Headhunter for most recent blog posts.

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