As some of you are aware, at BluePrint Executives, I lead the recruiter pairing. In doing so, I’ve learned a lot over the years and I find myself doing more and more sourcing these days. This week, I decided to share some key things. Below, are two tips for the job search, interview and for working with executive recruiters. You may or may not know these, but I thought it would be good to share.
Job Search:
As much of a pain it is, and I’ve been saying this for years, your resume MUST match the job description. If the role is more client oriented, then an operations focused resume might not make the cut.
Just because you don’t have the exact number of years of experience for the job description doesn’t mean you will necessarily be turned down. Of course, the first selected candidate will be the one who matches most (if not all) of the qualifications, but the main thing is, that you can fulfill the need of the company. You may have transferable skills and new skills can be taught.
Working with a Recruiter:
When you decide to leave a company to join another or not, it should be a rational decision, not an emotional one. Emotions don’t pay the bills, don’t help you to further your career, and you could be missing out on a grand opportunity.
Transparency is important for both you and the recruiter. Just as a recruiter should let you know the truth about benefits, you should be honest as well. For example, are your certifications up to date? Although you’re taking or have taken a class, do you actually have the certification?
Interviewing:
Besides having a great resume/CV and relevant background, building rapport is one of the top things that will keep you on that recruiter’s mind. It will also make the interview go smoother.
Some of those crazy questions recruiters ask are really just to see if you think along the same level as they do or their client. Also, to see how you’ll fit into the culture of the company they’re interviewing you for. Be on guard for those borderline illegal questions to get into your personal business. I had one director of a major Fortune 500 company spill all the tea!
Stay tuned for my resume tips as well. Or, check out my latest release: Why Your Resume Isn’t Working and How you Can Fix it NOW