Minnesota Headhunter

Should You Still Use A Cover Letter?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

This question has been the subject of a great debate in recent years, and many times I hear clients ask, “Does anyone really read a cover letter anymore?” 

The answer is YES—if you know how to use it! 

While some hiring managers and recruiters will scan a cover letter for important bits of information, there is a surefire way to ensure your cover letter is read.  But before I tell you how to make sure your cover letter gets read I want to make sure you have a great cover letter.  Here are three points to remember when writing your cover letter:

-Be concise: Don’t get long winded; no one wants to read your entire life story.

-Be relevant: Don’t discuss information that is not related to the position.

-Be attention-getting: Use bullet points in the middle of the resume to relay hard-hitting facts and accomplishments.  Bullets will draw the eye—and for the reader who is scanning, they’ll pick this up.

Survey: 37% Percent Of Companies Use Social Networks To Research Candidates

Carerbuilder has released survey results from 2,000+ hiring managers and HR pros about if and how they are using social media profiles for researching candidates.

I really wish these surveys used different language as I bet the results would change a bit.

For example, rather than say are hiring managers researching candidates it should be are hiring managers sourcing/recruiting candidates or are hiring managers using social media profiles as a background check.

These are very, very different things.

In the former... my guess is most managers are using social media sites to recruit.

In the latter... my guess is some managers are looking for “stuff” (good or bad) about those who have applied.

The former includes people into the process and on occasion the latter excludes people.

Anyway...

Results from the survey are:

20 Action-Oriented Words You Can Use On Your Resume Today!

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Need to make an impact with your resume but not quite sure how?  Or maybe you know your resume is missing something but you just aren’t sure what?  Using strong, action-oriented words on your resume can change the perception people will have of your resume—and of you as a candidate.  If you’re stumped by word choice, using passive terminology such as: duties included … and responsible for … then I’m talking to you!

Below you’ll find a list of 20 action-oriented words you can start using on your resume today!

1.  Build or Builder
2.  Maintain or Maintainer
3.  Expand or Expander
4.  Create or Creator
5.  Market or Marketer
6.  Generate or Generator
7.  Pioneer
8.  Advisor
9.  Coach

3 Reasons To Ditch That Resume Objective (and what to replace it with)

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

I remember when I used to think having “to obtain a position that utilizes my education and previous work experience while providing opportunities for growth and advancement …” on my resume was cool.  Not just cool but what I was supposed to put on my resume.  That was ten years ago … at least … so if you’re still using this outdated statement or something similar, let me provide you with three good reason to stop now.

- It’s outdated.  Enough said.  If it wasn’t working ten years ago, then it sure isn’t going to work in this job market.

- It’s generic.  If everyone else can use it too, then you sure aren’t going to stand out from the crowd, are you?

- It’s boring.  Your resume needs to grab the hiring manager’s attention from the beginning, and all this statement will do is bore him to death.

Okay, so now that you know why you shouldn’t have a resume objective, what do you replace it with?  Here are three key elements to include on your resume instead of that dated objective statement.

7 Steps To Ensuring Your Resume Isn’t Your Downfall

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Job seeking can be a drawn-out process with many steps involved—any one of which could easily eliminate you as a candidate. The last thing you want is to have your resume—the first step in the process—be the reason you’re not considered for a position. There are a number of actions you can take to make sure that this crucial document is not your downfall. Here are seven to consider:

1. Make Your Resume Keyword-Friendly

A large number of employers are using scanning software to identify keywords telling them how well-aligned your resume is with the qualifications of a specific position. So in the process of writing your resume, be sure to identify field- and position-specific keywords in the job posting, then add them to the document before submitting it.

2. Align Your Professional History With the Position

Another key step in giving yourself a leg up as a job candidate is to align your professional history with the position you’re applying for. If an employer doesn’t see evidence that you have a background that shows you’ve accomplished company goals in the past, it will be hard to prove you can do it in the future.

5 Key Areas To Target When Branding Your Resume

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Customizing your resume for each position you apply to can be critical in today’s job search. It’s vitally important that your resume conveys that you are a perfect match for the job. When tailoring your resume to each specific position there are five key areas you want to remember to change:

1. Job Target/Title at the Top of Your Resume

Always change your target job title so that it reflects the specific position for which you are applying. This way, there is no confusion about the position you want to apply for and your experience.

2. Branded Career Summary

Make adjustments to your career summary by shifting information around and placing the most relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments FIRST.

3. Key Skills/Core Strengths

3 Ways To Create A Recession-Proof Resume

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

It’s no secret that a recession is one of the toughest times to find employment.  With millions of workers looking for positions, your competition is incredibly steep.  The good news is that job seeking during a recession doesn’t mean you can’t be hired.  It does mean, however, that you will need to work to secure a job.  A great way to increase your chances of being hired is by creating a recession-proof resume.

What is a Recession-Proof Resume?

A recession-proof resume is one that is able to get you hired under the toughest of economic conditions.  With dozens—and sometimes even hundreds—of job seekers vying for the same position, it’s pertinent that you find ways to make yourself stand out from the pack.

The recession-proof resume is able to accomplish this goal because it brings forward your strongest qualities as a professional in your field.  It helps ensure you’re able to find a quality job even when it seems no one is being hired, making it immune to the conditions of a recession.

3 Tips for Writing a Quality Recession-Proof Resume

Project Management No-Nos That Apply To Your Job, Too

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Though I’m not a project manager, I often pick up issues of PM Network to see what kind of career advice it has. I often find that the career advice it gives is widely transferable to many fields beyond project management. The February 2012 issue of PM Network boasts an article titled “10 Mistakes That Could Get You Fired,” which I found to be both enlightening and applicable to almost all industries.

So many professionals are guilty of these missteps that it bears spreading the good information that the article provides. I picked out five of the 10 mistakes featured in the article (some were indeed more focused project management) that could apply to any professional. Here is a summary of those mistakes outlined and how they may apply to you:

1. “Guesstimating.” Providing clients, teams, and superiors with guesstimates and of required or requested data can be dangerous and can ruin your credibility if proven false. In a large executive meeting I once attended, a young analyst was asked to address a crowd of corporate clients to provide information on an upcoming new product. When asked in front of the crowd by our company CEO to provide the date of launch the analyst gave a noncommittal “mid spring” as his answer. Frustrated the CEO fired back “Spring is not a date; it’s a season.” However prepared the analyst thought he was, he quickly learned that rather than replying with a “let me get back to you on that”, his guesstimating efforts wouldn’t cut it in that corporate environment.

Minnesota Job And Career Fair: Jobs Summit 2012

The Minnesota Recruiting and Staffing Association will be hosting the 2012 Jobs Summit March 27^th (next week) from 9 am to 2 pm at the Minnesota School of Business in Richfield.

This is a FREE event for job seekers and has four parts:

Job Fair

30 staffing and recruiting companies will be interviewing for full time, part time and contract jobs.

Executives Have To Eat Too - Resources For Executive Job Search

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

"Dream more than others think practical…Expect more than others think possible." - Howard Schultz

The infamous food chain (not to be confused with a food web!).

This is where corporate life mimics the animal world, although in the corporate world the food chain is shaped like a pyramid, with lots of junior employees at the base and fewer senior people as you move up the pyramid.

With that picture in mind, the more senior your role, the more difficult it is to find a new job. So, how long does it take to find a more senior job?

The answer is similar to the question "how long is a piece of string?" - it depends.

What Makes You a Great Executive Catch?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

When hiring managers are searching for their next executive candidate, they’re not looking for someone mediocre.  They want someone who is incredibly talented, knowledgeable, and skillful—and with an inordinate amount of drive and passion for what he or she does.  This is what they consider to be a great catch.

Do you fit into this category?  Can you go above and beyond the call of duty to meet the demands of the company at such an important level?  If you can, your job is to prove it through your resume.  Here are some tips to help you show the company that you are indeed a great catch.

Prove You’re Results-Driven

Getting results, whatever they may be for the company and the position in which you’re interested, is one of the most important factors in determining whether you are the right candidate over another very qualified executive.  This means, not only is it important that you show that you fully understand what they company needs but also that you are the person who can deliver results.

Look Both Ways Before You Quit

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 

"It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price." - Warren Buffett

There is a reason hotels charge more for the beach view than the inside building view. It's all relative, the other guy's view always seems to be better (you know, the grass is always greener on the other side of the street).

Jobs are much the same.

You could be fat and happy, enjoying your job and then you get a call from a recruiter who happens to have the most amazing job. More money, more responsibility, better company, great career opportunities, and so on.

What Makes Your Cover Letter Introduction Stand Out?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Many job seekers fail to thoughtfully consider the importance of the cover letter introduction.  Oftentimes, it’s viewed as just another paragraph among many in the document.  But in reality, the cover letter introduction holds a lot of weight.  In fact, it can be the determining factor in whether a hiring manager will continue to read on through the remainder of the letter.  So what makes your cover letter stand out—not just among other paragraphs within the document but among other candidates’ cover letter intros?

The Unique Opening Sentence

It’s not uncommon for job seekers to utilize a blanket opening statement when writing their cover letter introductions.  Even in your own cover letter, you may be guilty of opening with something such as: “I am writing this cover letter to express my interest in your sales position with XYZ Company.”

Five Quick Ways To Improve Your Resume

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

1. Replace your Objective with a Professional Summary

I’m not a fan of objectives on resumes.  As a hiring manager, I’ve eliminated candidates based on their objective much more often than I have considered them.  If the objective does not absolutely address the specific company and role you’re seeking, I’d remove it.  Replace it with a strong, exciting and compelling Professional Summary.  This is your opportunity to promote yourself in way that will generate interest for the reader and make them want to read further.

2. Choose the correct format, Chronological or Functional

Select the resume format that’s right for your specific background.  If you have a traditional work and education history, chances are a chronological format will work for you.  This is the most common format, and the type of resume that is most recognizable.  A functional resume will work well for someone who has frequent career changes, is returning to the work force after a long hiatus or has an unstable work history.

The Most Important Trait That You Can Bring To The Interview Is Self-Confidence

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

How Do You Demonstrate Confidence?

As you read articles and books about interviewing you will notice that most of the information focuses on “being prepared.” When you look closely at the information provided by “experts,” you will notice that a great many of the tips given concern the external preparation. These are tips ranging from what to “wear to the interview,” to having the “correct body language,” or information on giving a “strong handshake,” and having a “script or stories” ready for the interview. There is much less emphasis or information found on internally preparing for the interview.

Internal preparations starts with your feelings about yourself, as well as your feelings about going out to find a job and interviewing. If you have been having a difficult time finding a job or have been laid off, your self-confidence may be running a little low on fuel. Your feelings about yourself, and your self-esteem, or self-confidence is fragile and can change from situation to situation. Think about the following statement:

Are you prepared to go out and sell yourself, and feel good about what you are selling – YOU?

How To Evaluate A Job Offer

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Congratulations! You’ve received a job offer. Now what?

First of all, ask yourself if you want this job. Hopefully you spent the time up front to evaluate the company and the position prior to pursuing it.  Sometimes things happen faster than you expect and you haven’t fully explored the opportunity. There are a lot of important aspects to research and consider when you are evaluating an employment opportunity. The more you know before the offer, the better position you’ll be in.

A company’s values, vision and corporate culture are going to fundamentally affect you on a daily basis. Does the company you are evaluating motivate and speak to you? Do you feel like it will be a fit with your personality and work style? Just as dating someone with a fundamentally different belief system would be a great challenge, so will working for a company where you do not buy into the mission and vision.

What about the size and hierarchy of the company? Are you more apt to want to wear several hats and take broad responsibilities? Do you want a close working relationship with top management and the ability to see the impacts of your personal contribution? If so, a smaller company may offer you the best fit. Are you focused on training or mentoring programs and a clear career path? Do you have specialized skills that you want to focus on specific endeavors? If so, a larger company may be for you.

4 Ways To Give Hiring Managers What They Want In Resumes

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

One of the biggest mysteries of resume writing is trying to decode the minds of hiring managers.  How in the world can we possibly know what they want when each person is different?  The truth is, each hiring manager may look for something slightly different, but on the whole, they hope to find blanket basics in all resumes.  Take a look at four ways that can help you to get that much closer to giving most hiring mangers what they want in your resume:

1. Provide a Stable Work History

Employers want to see consistency in the resumes they review.  Unfortunately, if you have changed jobs a lot, this could mean to an employer that you might jump ship soon after they’ve hired you—which, of course, is something they don’t want to see happen.  So if you have gaps in your history but have filled them in as a volunteer or temp, be sure to include it to show some level of consistency in your history.

2. Connect with Company Initiatives

4 Ways C-Level Executives Can Write Recession-Proof Resumes

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

There's no doubt that we have been experiencing a tough economy for several years.  With millions of workers having suffered job loss, competition has grown increasingly steep.  Of course, an increase in competition means that job seekers have to work extremely hard to secure employment, C-level workers included.  This is why it's important for senior executives to learn to write recession-proof resumes by following these four guidelines:

1. Showcase Your Leadership

At the C-level, being a successful leader is critical to success in any position you assume.  And because you're competing against dozens of other leaders when applying for jobs, it's important that you find a way to stand out from the pack.  To effectively recession-proof your resume, you'll need to prove that you're one of the best leaders your position has ever seen—through testimonials, awards won, accomplishments, and more.  Otherwise, your competition could upstage you time and time again.

2. Prove You Are a Specialized Senior Executive

Gargoyles, Trollocs And Job Interviews

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

"You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever, But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun." - "Tales of Brave Ulysses" - Eric Clapton and Martin Sharp

A strange title on the surface, unless you've had the "job interview from hell" (doesn't really matter if you were the receiver or the giver in this case). We've all had our moments, and I've been both the receiver and the giver of interviews from hell (although I did not initially plan them that way, but who does?).

Anyway, I remember this one interview I went on for a job that was at a major company and the role was the perfect role for me. I first met with the person who was the manager of the role (let's call her the "manager") and was then asked to interview with the two people I was replacing (this should have been the first warning sign).

3 Ways To Avoid A Resume Template And Make Your Resume Unique

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Have you ever been guilty of copying a resume template to make writing and submission flow a bit more smoothly?  Don't feel bad if you have.  But do keep in mind that by taking this route you run the risk of appearing inauthentic to hiring managers who are looking for unique candidates.  It's easier than you think to write your own resume, so let's try to step away from the template and instead create an original one using the following tips:

Think About What's Important in Your Resume

The people who take time to create templates are doing the public a service by guiding them through the often tedious process of writing a resume.  This is undoubtedly a kind and selfless thing to do.  But the problem with using templates is that not only do many of the same people use one template, but the information in templates is usually deemed important to the writer and may not be relevant to your career.