As a Candidate, Your Resume is Your Responsibility

Whether you’re applying for a job yourself or working with a recruiting firm, you are ultimately responsible for the content on your resume.  If you’re applying with an organization yourself, proof read your resume before submitting and proof again.  Typos and spelling mistakes are one of the easiest things to catch yet a huge reason people are disqualified.  If you’re working with a recruiter, make sure they’re reputable or from an established organization.  Before you are presented by a recruiter for a job, make sure you know what’s being sent to a potential employer.  You don’t want to lose an opportunity with a target company because a recruiter put something on your resume you didn’t know about.

Make Sure You’re Presenting Yourself Honestly

It’s tempting to stretch the truth when you’re trying to stand out amongst other candidates, but don’t claim things that aren’t true.  Did you really increase sales that much?  Did you really create that process solely, or were you part of a team?  Did you really get that degree?  Some candidates think that employers won’t check schooling.  You might be right, but companies do periodically check credentials and what if yours is found to be false?  You’ll lose a job, credibility in an industry, personal integrity, and more.  Remember honesty is always the best policy, and you’ll feel much better about getting a job knowing you have no skeletons in the closet.

Get a Leg Up, Provide Proof

Don’t be afraid to offer proof of your accomplishments and skills on your resume.  A design portfolio, letters of recommendation, awards, degrees, certifications, or anything else you can bring to the table.  If you do this up front, it gives you instant credibility and leaves no doubt in a recruiter or hiring manager’s mind that you’re on the up and up.  Not everyone does this, and talk is cheap.  Anyone who can demonstrate what’s on their resume will always have a leg up on their competition so there’s no need to falsify.  Sure it may take a little extra work to put together, but the rewards are worth the effort.

 Until next time, happy hunting!

Adam McCoy, Celebrity Staff Senior Account Manager

About the Author, Adam McCoy
Adam has been in the staffing and recruiting industry for more than two years combined with more than 10 years of client services experience. As a Senior Account Manager, he is responsible for mentoring new employees and cultivating strong relationships with key accounts vital to Celebrity Staff. Adam’s talents include managing accounts across the country, business development, coaching, and employee development. He has been recognized as a key contributor throughout his career through various awards and recognition. 

 Originally from Monticello, IA, Adam is married with two children and stays busy with ministry and family activities. He also enjoys reading about and tinkering with the latest technology and is a self-professed “egghead”

Once considered standard practice, the post interview thank you note has quickly gone the way of pagers and paper applications. This makes it the perfect avenue for you to differentiate yourself from the other interviewees!

Sending a handwritten thank you note benefits you in multiple ways:

1)       It helps companies remember you after the interview

2)      It demonstrates you have good people skills

3)      Send within 24 hours and it shows you have prompt follow up

4)      It shows you are serious about your career search

5)      You can reiterate your enthusiasm for the position you interviewed for

6)      A display of gratitude is refreshing and might be just the nudge to put you on the top of the callback stack

I could go on and on about this practice. I’m advocating the handwritten note as email is too easily lost in a barrage of work related emails and too impersonal as a standalone practice.

If you forgot to grab the hiring manager’s business card, the Internet or a quick call to the office will yield the information you need. Your note doesn’t have to be fancy.  Just a few lines to express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration are fine. You can use it to affirm your interest after learning more about the position. Feel free to add a sentence or two about why you think you’d be a great fit for the job. The act itself will trump content. Drop it in the mail within 24 hours (same day is best).

When I get a handwritten thank you note after an interview, I also share it with my colleagues. I often display it for a week or so. As a staffing industry recruiter, if I get an urgent job to fill, who do you think will come to mind first? You guessed it:  the candidate who took the extra two minutes and a stamp to imprint themselves in my memory as a class act.

Sheri Conner, Celebrity Staff Account Manager

About the Author Sheri Connor
Sheri joined Celebrity Staff’s Lincoln office as an account manager in 2007. She brings a wealth of experience from the banking and mortgage industries, as well as experience in small business ownership, e-commerce, and in the entertainment field. Sheri is an Ambassador for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lofte Community Theatre where she appeared on stage in October 2009 in a comedic role. Sheri also consults in the music industry for independent record labels and musicians both locally and in NYC in her free time.

I walked out the door feeling confused. How is this meeting going to inspire me to write a blog? Buts, as I was driving to the appointment, I started thinking about what she said. I began to realize that while planning a wedding and finding a job are two totally different things, they do have many similarities. In some ways, recruiters are like wedding planners. We don’t help people with food selection, choosing of the dress, or even selecting of a photographer, but we do help them in other important ways. We provide job seekers with resume critiques, interview prep sessions, and multiple job opportunities. Plus, there’s no charge for candidates to use our services! Wouldn’t it be nice to find a free wedding planner? 

Getting married and finding a new job are both hard work and usually take quite a bit of time. You can’t expect to get either done without putting in a lot of work. In most cases, you are not going to get the very first job you apply for. Even if you think you found the perfect job right away, would you really want to accept it without first considering other opportunities? Maybe it’s not right for you. Maybe it will make you happy for a little while, but can you really see yourself there long term? Don’t accept the first job you’re offered just because it seems like an easy way out. Just think, would you really want to marry the first guy, or girl, you ever dated? Probably not. So, don’t accept a job just because it will mean you can finally stop looking for others. Go on interviews; experience the “dating scene.” Make sure the decision you are making is right for you. 

With that being said, don’t wait forever though! That perfect guy, or girl, isn’t always going to be around when you finally make a decision. Just like your dream job may, or may not be available once you have decided it’s the right opportunity for you. You don’t have to date every guy or girl out there to know when you’ve found the one. Just like you don’t have to apply for every single job you see just because you are afraid of missing out on a great opportunity. Find a happy medium. Apply for the positions that interest you the most, the roles where you can see yourself being happy long-term. As they always says, “When you know, you know!”

Finding a job, just like planning a wedding, is a process. Sometimes it is not only your answers to questions that employers are paying attention to; they may be focusing on many different things. A major deciding factor can be your references. I have seen a lot of things when it comes to references. I have called individuals who do not remember ever working with the job seeker in question. I have called people who do not feel comfortable answering any questions. I have even been directed to incorrect or disconnected phone numbers. These situations certainly do not leave a good impression with potential employers.

Choosing your references is just like choosing your bridesmaids. I realize that the people you choose to be bridesmaids, or your groomsmen, will mostly likely not be listed as your professional references. However, there are certainly similarities between the two. You often choose your closest friends to be in your wedding, the ones who have known you the longest and the ones who know you the best. It takes a lot of thought in deciding who you want to have in your wedding party because it is an important decision. You want to be proud to have them stand beside you, and if they give a speech, you hope they have something nice to say about you. Choosing managers or co-workers to list as your references is also a very important task. These individuals can be the “make or break” of you getting a new job. They need to be people who know you the best and can truly attest to the type of employee that you are. 

I was tempted to ask my oldest friend from grade school be in my wedding because we had known each other for so long.  But, we haven’t talked in 10 years, so wouldn’t that be awkward? We don’t really know each other anymore, so I decided against it. The same thing applies to your references. Why would you list past managers or co-workers who you haven’t talked to in more than a decade? You cannot expect them to be able to give an accurate appraisal of you to a potential employer. They do not know the type of employee you are today. 

References should be people who have worked closely with you, people who truly know you. I wouldn’t have some girl I hung out with for a few months in college in my wedding. So why would I list someone I barely worked with as a reference? Really think about your references before you list them on an application. Do not list people without asking them first. You would not choose your maid of honor, or your best man, the day of your wedding and say, “Oh, by the way, I need you to give a speech about me today.” Do not put your references in an awkward situation and have them caught off guard with a phone call from a random person wanting to know all about you. Make sure they know they will be contacted and feel comfortable being a reference for you.

So, take some time and really think about the types of jobs you are applying for. Make sure they will be right for you in the long run and will really make you happy. But remember, don’t wait forever! You cannot expect the perfect job to come find you, you have to find it, but it will not be around forever. Once you’ve found it, you have to act. If you love it so much, marry it, right? Apply for the job, follow-up throughout the process, interview to the best of your ability and make sure you are listing references who can truly speak to your abilities. All these things will help you land the best career match! Finding the perfect job may not always be easy, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end, and you can finally have your “happily ever after.”

Kiley Feigenbutz, Celebrity Staff Recruiter

About the Author, Kiley Feigenbutz
Kiley grew up in small town, Oakland, IA. She attended college at the University of Iowa where she graduated in May 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. After college, Kiley lived in Des Moines for a year and worked as a home mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo. She moved to Omaha in June 2011 and joined the Celebrity Staff team as a staffing assistant and was promoted to recruiter in December 2011. Kiley is currently spending most of her time planning her wedding and is getting married on June 30, 2012!

“I forgot to send out that email.”

“My kids are sick…again.”

Regardless of the industry or where the company may be, we’ve all heard these excuses once or twice. But are they really excuses? When is it enough? Is it something we should move past?  Sometimes employees do make excuses; however, employers also understand that things happen in everyday life and look more for patterns and dedication to the job than anything.

As you can only imagine, working in the staffing industry I’m provided plenty of opportunities to hear every single excuse or reason imaginable when it comes to attendance, performance, and dedication. When I say “everything,” the word has a whole new meaning. If you sat down and made a list of 100 reasons why someone is going to miss work, or be late, or can’t make it to an interview – - you wouldn’t even come close to hearing some of the things that I have! Some reason can come as a shock, while some are extremely informational, and then there are those that are just so detailed I walk away scarred for life.

Tell the truth, but don’t say too much
The phone rings, “Good morning, this is Leslie.” I hear a worried voice. “I’m not going to make it to work today. My little girl woke up this morning and said she wasn’t feeling good, but I really didn’t think much of it. When we sat down to eat breakfast she got sick and threw up all over the kitchen table. Then, before I could get a towel she went to the restroom right there in her chair and it’s all over the carpet and…” Now, believe it or not, this story continued for about five more minutes. I’ve edited it there for those out there that have weak stomachs! 

Is this too much information? When it comes to me it sure is! I appreciate the phone call, but please just tell me your child is ill and when you plan to be back into work. That is all that I need to know. I’ll start getting concerned if this is happening repeatedly.

Keep it short 
The phone rings. “Good morning, this is Leslie.” The voice on the other end is frustrated, I can tell. “Leslie, my boy was outside last night lighting off fireworks and I guess one flew by my car and now I have a flat tire. He didn’t want to tell me, because he was afraid he would get in trouble so I just now saw it as I was leaving for work.”

If you’re going to be late to work that’s great to let your employer know. However, I don’t recommend that you tell a 15 minute story as to why you’ll be late. First thing in the morning, everybody is busy. We have meetings, follow up calls to make, messages to listen to, and so much more. Wouldn’t it just be better to say, “I was just leaving for work when I realized I have a flat tire. I will be in ASAP and if it’s more than an hour I will call with an update for you.”  Essentially, that is all I need to know! 

Admit to your mistakes.
So your boss came up to you to confirm that you sent out an email to a huge customer. You tell them that you did it, knowing deep inside that you completely forgot to send it. What are you afraid of? Are you going to get fired for one error? Is trying to hide it the best thing? The answer is no! If you’ve made a mistake, admit to your mistake and complete the conversation with an apology and a plan of how you are going to fix the issue at hand. What people don’t realize is that admitting to your mistakes shows that you take credibility for your actions whether they are good or bad, and not that you just want the attention on things you do right.  This can go a long way with some people. 

Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Essentially, employers (for the most part) are going to watch several things in their employees.  They look for patterns of bad attendance, errors at work, or illness. It’s rare that one is going to judge for a one-time occurrence. You can’t sweat the small stuff! If something comes up, employers understand this! Organizations rarely frown upon an issue that comes up if it’s something that hasn’t happened in the past and there isn’t a consistent pattern. Focus on your performance, your effectiveness in the position, and your attitude at work. As long as you’re succeeding in these areas, you don’t always have to sweat the small stuff that comes up here and there.

Leslie Root, Celebrity Staff Account Manager

About the Author, Leslie Root
Leslie has worked with Celebrity Staff for the last year as an account manager. She supervises several employees and works hard at building and maintaining strong client relationships.  Leslie comes to Celebrity Staff from the mortgage industry where she worked with home loan applicants as well as realtors and brokers. Outside of the office Leslie loves to spend her free time with friends and family, but most of all with her fiance, Matt and their golden retriever, Bailey.

So, not every recruiter functions at the same level, but now that I help other job seekers, I realize the help that could have benefitted me in capitalizing on my own presentation. I also identify ways to help individuals who may face some sort of challenge in their job search. Sometimes people lose their jobs. They may even have been terminated, and it is an emotional issue for them. They know it is going to be a challenge to overcome and it interferes with their own presentation of their experience and qualifications. Or, maybe their experience is not quite right for the job they want. How do you get experience when no one will hire you without experience? Maybe they have a situation on their background that they need to overcome. Weren’t we all young once and did things that we would shudder at now?

This is where a good recruiter should be an asset to your job search. They can present your strengths and challenges without being burdened by emotion, embarrassment, or worry. They can “tell your story” before you even get to the interview so that you can focus on presenting yourself to the hiring manager. They can look at the person, the situation, and the resume to figure out the best match. With today’s technology, if your resume and experience is not spectacular, then how can you get to the final interview stages? You need someone to champion you! Employers and job seekers who use good recruiters are getting a far better picture of their potential match because they have someone who can speak to the ups and downs of both the job and the candidate.

Is this your experience? Do you find that the only information you receive about a job or candidate is whatever is on the resume or job description? If so, you are not using the right recruiter. As recruiters, a successful end result depends on getting a bigger picture view. We consider a successful match to be a result of our own effort and have a personal stake in the outcome.

Debbie Hollingsworth, Celebrity Staff Branch Manager

About the Author, Debbie Hollingsworth
Debbie Hollingsworth has been with Celebrity Staff for six months, having recently relocated from Ohio where she worked with a national staffing company for seven years. Debbie has experience with a wide spectrum of staffing options, including a variety of skill sets and nationwide recruiting efforts. She is a graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Slavic languages.

How, exactly, are you leaving a memorable impression? With a charming personality? Perfect. With a sharp suit and a good handshake? Fantastic. With an email address that causes an employer to do double take? Not so good. 

The content of an email address, which may seem insignificant on the surface, tells employers a lot about you in a very little amount of space. As a job seeker pushing resumes, every bit of information on that piece of paper represents you and should put you in the best light. Stating in an email address how incredible you are, how much you love frogs, which NASCAR driver is your favorite, or your idolization for Hugh Hefner may have a bigger part to play in not getting called back for all those applications and resumes you’ve been submitting than you thought.  

Think you need to showcase your creativity? Think again. Don’t let your contact information be a nugget of afternoon entertainment for employers or recruiters. Instead, keep the address simple by using your name and a couple of numbers, and avoiding obscenities, slang terms, and intentional misspellings of words (you know who you are, Frogluver).

You never know – the email address you are using could be the deciding factor in whether your resume goes in the “call back” pile or straight to the recycle bin.

Nikki Simon, Celebrity Staff Staffing Assistant

About the Author, Nikki Simon
Nikki Simon has been working as a staffing assistant for Celebrity Staff Lincoln since October 2010. As a staffing assistant, she sources, recruits, interviews, and performs behind-the-scenes administrative support work for the Lincoln branch. She comes to C&A from the radio industry where she began developing her interviewing and sourcing skills by assessing and corresponding with musical talent. Outside of work, she frequents concerts, half marathons, vegetarian bistros, and adventures with her boyfriend, Daniel, and their two dogs, Ernie and Artie.

For the most part, we’ve gone far beyond the origins of this gesture, which in Medieval times provided a way to demonstrate the absence of weapons for the approaching parties.   

From an employment perspective, we’ll focus on using the handshake as one facet of making a good impression on your interviewer, and potential employer.

DO:  Extend your hand, even if the interviewer does not offer their hand first.

DON’T: Be afraid to excuse yourself from the act if you are currently or recently very ill. Courteously explain that you would love to shake hands, but must refrain in order to prevent the spread of germs due to feeling under the weather. (This won’t count against you, it will be appreciated.)

DO: Offer your whole hand, extended to the side, thumb up.

DON’T:  Only offer up your fingertips; this is a weak gesture. It will feel awkward to the interviewer as well.

DO: Grasp the interviewers hand firmly and make eye contact. A firm handshake paints you as being confident with a good energy level.

DON’T: Act surprised the interviewer wants to shake hands. Anticipate it and as they approach, those with sweaty palms can quickly and surreptitiously wipe it gently on your pant leg, so you can present a dry hand, even if you are nervous.

DO: Grasp firmly and pump up and down twice then release.

DON’T:  Try to break anyone’s fingers in your attempt to be firm, but nine times out of 10, people tend to be too weak than too strong in their grasp. Also, don’t over pump or cover the shaking hand with your free hand, we’re going into an interview, not handing out big prizes on a game show. 

DO:  Offer your hand to the interviewer to shake as you depart the meeting (following all the same rules as the initial handshake) while thanking them for their time.

The ideal grip starts you off on the right foot (or shall we say hand). It “instant messages” via touch that you are confident, prepared, and feeling enthusiastic about the opportunity to be considered for the prospective job.

The best handshake is not memorable. It’s merely a stepping stone for you to dazzle with the rest of your interview skills. Chances are if it’s memorable, you inadvertently displayed a “don’t” or two from the list above. An astute interviewer is observing and assessing everything. Brush up on the tips above and don’t be afraid to “put ‘er there!”

Sheri Conner, Celebrity Staff Recruiter

About the Author, Sheri Conner
Sheri joined Celebrity Staff’s Lincoln office as an account manager in 2007 and is now a recruiter.  She brings a wealth of experience from the banking and mortgage industries, as well as experience in small business ownership, e-commerce, and in the entertainment field. Sheri is an Ambassador for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lofte Community Theatre where she appeared on stage in October 2009 in a comedic role.  Sheri also consults in the music industry for independent record labels and musicians both locally and in NYC in her free time.

And the staffing industry gets to hear both sides of the story.

So what can prospecting candidates do to improve their chances of being selected? 

First of all, avoid applying for jobs for which you are not qualified. Job descriptions can be lengthy and cover quite a bit of information and it can be difficult to stay patient and read through each point. Slow down. Take the time to understand the proficiencies listed as requirements for the role. Chances are if the terminology is unfamiliar, you would be in over your head in trying to perform the duties entailed with the job. Flippantly applying for everything listed by a company appears like either desperation or lack of awareness in your skill set and career goals. Bear in mind that many organizations are spread thin due to prior cut backs and lay-offs.  Therefore, the expectation is to hire someone who has recently or is currently performing well in a role similar to the one for which they are hiring.

Next, create a compelling resume and use it. Resumes should highlight your accomplishments and relevant experience and be geared toward the role being pursued. That does not mean leave work gaps just because it was in a different field than the overall career direction. Employers tend to question validity when, in conversation about work history, additional jobs were held but not listed in the timelines. The resume is sometimes the first and only impression hiring managers will have.

Think of this job history as a trophy room on paper. Recognition, awards, accomplishments, and goals attained are not only welcome, they are encouraged! Keep it factual and topical so the reader can visualize how these career high points can positively impact the company. Every industry has its own expectations of what a resume should include. Sales people should list specific number results to reveal past success. Detail oriented job seekers such as data entry and executive assistants must ensure the information is laid out in a clear and concise manner with no typos or errors. Marketing and advertising professionals, your resume is likened to your portfolio where creativity speaks volumes.

Provide all requested information in an application, paper or online, completely and accurately. Many job boards allow the capacity to simply inquire about a position without full completion of application. Provide some details which will pique the interest of the hiring manager to connect and learn more. The average job listing can generate into the hundreds of applicants and the quickest way to get disregarded is to send only contact information without even a resume or explanation of qualifications. If requested to finalize the application process, that is your cue to show ability to listen to direction as well as willingness to put forth effort into your work. Employers begin evaluating job and company fit from the very first conversation or attempt to connect.

Finally, be aware at all times of professional image. It is no secret that social media has dramatically changed the job market. If corporate image is highly important, realize that hiring managers will search for your name on the Internet to see what they find. Keep any and all searchable evidence of your personal life professional; which means keep those pictures of partying with the friends on private and blocked profiles! Other modern day technologies are no different. Always consider what message you want sent to prospective employers when choosing ring back tones on your cell phone and email addresses that are provided as means of contact. 

So you’ve gotten the employer interested and calling you for an interview. Congratulations! Stay tuned for tips on how to ace the interview and get the call back.

Tressa Hyndman, Account Manager

About the Author, Tressa Hyndman
Tressa has been in the staffing industry for two years.  Her professional background includes over nine years of retail and banking management where recruiting for her own team played a large role in building successful teams.  Since joining Celebrity Staff Tressa has used her versatile experience to partner with clients and candidates alike to find the right match for career opportunities. Tressa has her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University.  In her free time Tressa enjoys spending time with family, listening to music and reading.

I started thinking about how many people are truly happy with the jobs they currently have? If they are not happy, how can I incorporate my knowledge, skill set, and hiring options to help these people and consult them into taking the elusive “risk” of changing their career. Risk by definition means “exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance”. A risk related to leaving your current job is scary for most people. However, staying stagnant in a job and not enjoying it might be even scarier.

I tend to think that everyone wants to hit their full potential. In order to do that, they need to take advantages of the opportunities presented to them! I can tell you one thing, no one reaches their full potential without taking a risk. Unfortunately, in today’s society most people tend to take the easy path out of fear. I firmly believe that “risk-taking” is exactly what our economy is missing.

We offer alternatives to traditional hiring here at C&A Industries, specifically, the “Match Hire” program. In this hiring scenario, both the employee and the employer have a neutral third party to communicate with and assist in the hiring processes. A candidate accepts a position with the intention of it becoming a fulltime placement, as does the company.

It’s amazing to hear a candidate during the interview say, “Well, I don’t think I want to consider the “Match-Hire,” or otherwise known as the “Temporary-to-Hire” program, because what happens if I don’t get hired on? The answer is simple. Every company will perform some sort of evaluation for their employee within the first 90 days of employment. If the candidate feels hesitant, I start to ask the question “Why wouldn’t this person get hired on? Are they not going to perform well? Are they not going to do their due diligence to work hard?” If that is the issue, then it really doesn’t matter what program they are considering. They won’t last long in the job either way! What I am trying to say is, there is very little difference between being hired on by a firm in the beginning or going through the “Match-Hire” program. You work hard, or you have no job.

I like to tell my candidates, you know yourself. If you walk into that interview and you feel you can do that job successfully, and the job offers opportunity, then take the risk. There are endless possibilities that come with risk. No matter the case, you are always taking a risk when you start a new job. Likewise, you are always taking a risk when you make a life decision.

If we start taking risks things will start to grow again – we will gain that competitive edge in the market, there will be more room for advancement, minds will again wander their way back into innovation, and the world will be a happier place. Just kidding, that’s too predictable.  

Lauren Cushing, Celebrity Staff Staffing Assistant

About the Author, Lauren Cushing
Lauren relocated to Omaha early this year from Des Moines, Iowa where she was born and raised. Having graduated with a double major in business management and Spanish from Iowa State University, she planned on pursuing a career in human resources. And that is exactly what she did. Lauren started with Celebrity Staff in June of 2011 as a staffing assistant and is looking forward to an exciting career with C&A Industries. Co-workers would describe Lauren as someone who brings high energy and smiles to the workplace every day. She absolutely loves coming to work knowing that she has the ability and opportunity to change someone’s life. Something that she enjoys doing in her free time is clearing her mind by taking long walks around her neighborhood while listening to 80s/90s music.

So, how do you navigate this crazy job hunting world? Well there is no secret answer to landing a job in a week, but there are some things that will help you in the long run when working with a recruiter, staffing firm, or while submitting resumes on your own to companies.

FIRST – Don’t be desperate!
I’m fairly certain this has never worked in the dating scene and it doesn’t work in on the job hunting either.  We have all heard stories from friends about that person, who just reeked of desperation. As a job seeker, you want to avoid being this person at all costs. If the words, “I need,”  “I have to have this,” or any other variation of this pass your lips, just stop yourself there. It isn’t that we aren’t empathetic or compassionate to your situation; it’s that a lot of our candidates are in the same situation and we are working as hard as we can for everyone. There are better ways to make you more presentable to employers. Instead of “I need” try “I would love to do this…” Make sure to always dress for success and be excited about a potential new opportunity as well.

Second – Listen!
No, seriously. Listening makes everything easier. I can say I’ve been guilty of this before, especially during an important sporting event, which of course is all of them. Listening shows you actually care. If we ask you to update your resume or application, we really want you to do this. Kind of like when your significant other would like you to take the trash out, they really want you to do that. By completing the tasks we ask you to do, it shows that you are serious about your search and also shows us that we can trust you. 

The candidate who we ask to take assessments and responds with, “Why do I have to do this, I’ve been using so and so program for years,” has already hurt their cause and hasn’t even interviewed yet. The better thing to say is, “I will complete those as soon as I can.”  You have to help me help you.

Third – You have to have an idea of what you want!
I’ll let you in on a secret – we stink at reading your mind. As a recruiter, it makes life a whole lot easier when a candidate has an idea of what they are looking for in their next job. It doesn’t have to be specific, just some things you like to do will help. If you love working with Microsoft Office products, helping customers, or talking on the phone, I can at least look into administrative, customer service, or receptionist positions for you. When you respond with, “I don’t know,” then I hate to say this, but “I don’t know,” either. Ask yourself before you come in to an interview what you love to do and what you don’t like doing. 

While the job hunting world can be scary, much like the dating world, it helps to be prepared. Have a plan, show excitement, be yourself, and listen to what is going on. Understand that sometimes you find success and it takes a day, but sometimes it takes a month. We can help you, but you have to help yourself as well.

Celebrity Staff Recruiter, Tom Piper

About the Author, Tom Piper
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Tom graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a second degree in Psychology. Tom began working for Celebrity Staff in January 2011 as a staffing assistant and has since been promoted to a recruiter. Prior to joining Celebrity Staff he spent time recruiting for high volume call centers, as well as working in the legal field during college. Tom has helped countless people find rewarding careers.