Recruitingmaven.com

I just thought I’d write a short post about an article that a fellow blogger who writes Work Shouldn’t Suck shared with me this morning.  The article is called 50 Worst of the Worst (And Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes.

Karen Burns hits the nail on the head with her list of the worst, here are a few of my favorites from this list.

• Arriving late.
• Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
• Bad-mouthing your last boss.
• Forgetting the name of the person you’re interviewing with.
• Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
• Failing to research the employer in advance.
• Talking about salary requirements too soon.
• Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
• Asking no questions at all.
• Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
• Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
• Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
• Being too familiar and jokey.
• Sounding desperate.
• Oversharing.

These are just a few from Karen’s list, check the article out yourself.  It’s always good to prepare for an interview so take the time to do your research and ask a friend or peer if they can assist with a mock interview.  You’ll have a better chance of landing that position you really want and will be a success at standing out from other candidates.

Have a great day and good luck with your job search!

With the number of job boards available to job seekers why would you pay for a site that claims to offer “exclusivity”?

I was conducting a little bit of research on some sites that offer resume reviews; The Ladders popped up several times.  So I decided to research their site.  The Ladders site claims that you will secure a $100k job by utilizing their site.  I’m telling you now, you should beware of The Ladders.   The site states that they will screen every job and every Recruiter to make sure it’s a legit posting.  (Really?  I haven’t received a call from them yet and  I have hired a few folks making over that.)  So the site says in order to enjoy their benefits you must sign up and select a membership package.  Here they are:

BASIC MEMBERSHIP (Free)
Search for $100K+ jobs to see what’s available in your field.

So for the “free” membership you get to see what’s available.  Really you just get to see it?  Do you get to apply to these positions?  Looks like that is a no unless you are a paying member.

PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP ($35 for 1 month, $75 for 3 months)
Apply to over 58,307 hand-screened $100K+ jobs and receive a complimentary resume critique.

The “premium” membership states that you get to apply to 58,307 hand-screened $100K + jobs and you get a resume critique.  This is what I found when I did a search on The Ladders Scam regarding their resume critique:

This is from a post from JibberJobber- “Here’s the situation: You send a resume to The Ladders for their free critique.  Then you get back a letter telling you what all the problems with your resume is, and for a fee they will get you a new one.  Last I remember the fee is around $700.  Remember, we are usually talking about resumes for executives.

The biggest red flag I’ve read is that the critiques are form letters.  They will even critique their own, The Ladders generated, resumes!  It’s a simple process that a salesperson goes through to make a sale, not a real resume critique that a professional resume writer would give.

In other words, it seems they hardly even look at the resume… they just get you back a scary letter saying how bad your resume sucks, and that they can make it shine like new.  Scare tactics.  I’m sure it’s done well for them.”

JibberJobber even shares a copy of the form letters that were received for the resume review and honestly it’s sounds a little scary and intimidating.  If I were a job seeker, possibly unemployed or have been searching for quite a while possibly feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed this would just make me feel worse.

Nick Corcodilos (love his name) from Ask The Headhunter has written several posts on The Ladders scam, he truly believes the whole system is a scam; I agree.

It seems that The Ladders hasn’t been honest about their actual postings too.  This article again by Ask the Headhunter discusses how they “qualify” positions and candidates.

I believe that if you are seeking a new position whether it’s $100K or not, it’s wise to steer clear from The Ladders.  Keep your money and utilize traditional job boards even if they are not my favorite or best return when it comes to posting positions.  As far as resume review go, there are very many credible sites out there to assist with resume review or resume writing for fractions of the cost of the Ladders membership. And really you should go with a certified resume writing professional if you are going to invest any money on a professional resume.

The whole site seems like a fraud, and honestly sites like this should be shut down.

Think of job searching like dating.  Just like when a person is dating  they can look desperate so can an applicant.  Desperation isn’t an attractive trait in anyone.   If you’ve ever witnessed desperation in a relationship, you know how unappealing it can be to see someone willing to settle for something. Anything. It makes you wonder just how much that person values himself or herself.

A job search isn’t as critical but it can result in someone being desperate especially with the unemployment rate the way that it is right now.  If you don’t have a job, you don’t have money to pay the bills. I remember my younger Brother telling me about his past relationships and saying  “I had to end it she was just too needy and seemed desperate.”   Even in the state of economy we are currently in you may be feeling as though you’ll take any job that comes your way, don’t let employers know that. You might be desperate for a job, but you don’t have to act like you are.

I understand when someone has been searching for a very long time and they have been out of work for a while and need to pay bills.   But to take any job is detrimental to your career.  Telling an employer or recruiter that you are willing to do anything to get your foot in the door is career suicide.  This is often a turn off, don’t do it.

Don’t make it seem like money doesn’t matter. It’s one thing to say your salary is negotiable, but saying you just want to get your foot in the door is an act of desperation, don’t do it.

Bugging the Recruiter or Hiring Manager.

I hate to admit this but I dated a guy who I ended up blowing off, because he was completely and utterly desperate.  When we ran into each other a few months later he asked “Why haven’t you called me back?” To me this was just another reason I was glad that we were no longer dating.  It’s the same thing if an applicant calls me constantly.  Remember that the hiring process is in most cases not speedy.  It’s not that we have forgotten about you or don’t care, it’s that our process sometimes takes a while.  Calling several times doesn’t show you are taking initiative or determined.  It makes you look annoying .

Even if you are desperate for a job, remember these tips because they’re important to every job search.

When beginning a job search it’s easy to forget that you have a plethora of skills.  I’m not talking about the skills you put on paper.  I’m talking about the skills that will get you noticed.

You might list on your resume that you are an expert in database management, successful relationship and partnership builder, etc.  But what about those things that are hard to detail on paper?

I’m talking about soft skills.  Soft skills are really about your personality and how you communicate.  If you are applying for a sales position it’s important to be able to “engage” the customer and build rapport.  If you are interested in Recruiting it would be helpful to showcase your friendly personality along with focusing attention on your networking skills.  Just being able to use a networking tool like Twitter or Facebook does not mean you are a networking expert. I don’t think you’re a social media or recruiting expert just because you have over 1,000 followers on Twitter or have Friended hundreds on Facebook. It’s what you do with those networks and relationships and how you foster strong relationships to get what you need.

Read a little more from a few other online authors on marketing your soft skills here:
Reciprocity

Catherine Twiss- wrote an excellent article about soft skills and the job search on linkme.

In July, Miranda Marquit wrote about “Increasing the Chances of Finding a Job in this Recession by Focusing on Soft Skills”

Remember as a kid, when Christmas rolled around and your Mom would say “It’s better to give than receive.”  I don’t know about you but I thought that was a crock of, well you know.  Now that I’m older and wiser, ok just older; I have learned that giving is truly better.

What does this have to do with your job search?  Let me explain.  You are in need of help right now to secure that position you really want.  The goal here is to “get” what you want.  But getting isn’t always the way to go.  Sometimes it is about “giving”.

Learn to give!

Relationships are a two way street.  If you want to find out about a position at a specific company you are interested in, don’t hound the one person you happen to know that works there.  They are just going to think you are using them.  Get to know them, learn about them and what motivates them.  This is where you give first.  What’s the old saying “You get more bees with honey?” or something like that.  Instead of  just expecting they give you information or assist you with getting your resume in front of the hiring manager, find out about them.  Find out why they work there.  Find out what makes them tick.  You might end up developing a relationship that will work for both of you. And you might end up getting more than you expected.  Quite a few years back, I really wanted to work for a company that was just going to come into our area.  I knew one person that worked there we had met at a job fair and over the course of a year, we built a relationship.  Guess what?  After getting to know her and hearing about her work life I realized that place wasn’t for me.  It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened because I ended up where I am now.  Where is she?  Well let’s just say that she’s reached out to me a few times regarding some opportunities.  We still have a great relationship and I know that I can trust her.

My Recruiting experience has taught me that networking isn’t about how many people you have “Friended” or Follow on Twitter it’s about cultivating the relationships you have.  Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of people but more than that, I have a group of people (peers, friends, relatives, etc) that I know and trust.  I know that if I needed something they will lend a helping hand.  Why would they do that for me?  Because I would do the same for them.

So in your job search venture try to give as often as you get.

It’s Stumble Saturday again….here’s the link I happened to stumble upon today.

Ana has taken her love for furniture and turned it into something she loves and does every day.

If you’re currently searching for a new job, you know how strenuous nd lengthy the process can be. Most of your time is consumed with finding job openings, networking, sending in resumes and hopefully going to interviews.  The last thing most job seekers fail to remember is that if you have a great interview you might be offered a position.  Hiring managers and recruiters are famous for using the words “This offer is contingent on passing a successful drug screen and or background check.”  This a crucial point in the job hunting process, do not forget to prepare for this.  It’s a make or break situation.

In today’s society, nearly every employer conducts a background check on potential employees. Not only does it serve as a way for employers to ensure they’re getting the best candidate possible, but it also is a way for employees to prove they are who they say they are. But what a potential employer can find during a background check might surprise you.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) dictates what is and what is not allowed to be included in a background check. Typical background checks can allow employers access to such information as your social security number and employment history.

Information that can be found through a background check includes: driving records, bankruptcy, property ownership, past employers, vehicle registration, education records, character references, military records, personal references, credit cards, court records, state licensing records, incarceration records, criminal records, workers’ compensation, medical records, drug test records and sex offender lists.

There is some information that can’t be included in background checks as dictated by the FCRA. This includes: bankruptcies after 10 years; civil suits, civil judgments and records of arrest after seven years; paid tax liens after seven years; accounts placed for collection after seven years; and other negative information, except criminal convictions, after seven years.

I get comments from applicants all the time stating that they don’t understand why this information is important to a potential employer.  For instance, some might ask what credit card records have to do with work ethic? While this is often a valid argument, all the information included in a background check ultimately leads back to your character. In other words, if you’re unable to pay your bills on time, you might have trouble completing simple projects on time as well.  I received an email from an applicant recently, it’s an interesting perspective.  If this person ended up in your candidate pool would you consider him for employment?

Ok well before we move any further, I’d like to shed some light on a topic that will prevent time being wasted for the both of us. I have a felony on my criminal record. It is now six years old, and counting. To me, it’s ancient history, dead and buried. However to potential employers, it can raise red flags. So I suppose what I’m trying to ask you is, what is your policy? Is it, (and I’m not using sarcasm when I say this, I’m just trying to make a point)

“A felony conviction will not necessarily bar you from employment”

OR my favorite, unwritten version of the aforementioned….

“THOUGH a felony conviction will not necessarily bar you from employment, LEGALLY we can place you at the bottom of the stack even IF you are the Pope’s next spiritual counselor after God, adopted 700 children from Darfur and remember to send people thank you cards for even the littlest thing…because why hire you when we can LEGALLY DISCRIMINATE against you, and hire another candidate who has skills (needed for the job) in equilibrium with yours….yet who happens to be an atheist, hates kids (especially starving/genocide-torn ones), and would send “un-thank you” cards to people if they existed, (but keep in mind, this candidate doesn’t have a felony).

End scene, OK obviously that is an example flirting with hyperbole, however hopefully you understand that I’m merely using it to satirize such a tragic situation.

I’m in college now (1st year). I’m majoring in Liberal Arts, then I hope to attend law school. I have a job as a student employee in the school library. I earn a meager salary and am only able to work 20 hours a week. Unfortunately my child support payment for my son is calculated based on a minimum-wage income (which I earn), however it is based on minimum-wage, working 40 hours a week.

I’m just looking for a chance, and a person who will give it to me – while at the same time being fully aware that whoever that person may be…they are taking a chance, by giving me one.

Thank you for your time

Regardless of whether or not you agree with the background check process, it’s an important part of the hiring process for both the employer and the potential candidate. Ultimately, a background check will help an employer feel confident about their hiring decisions. As long as there is nothing to hide, an employee should feel confident about the outcome of their background check as well.

Regarding the candidates email, there is another rule that candidates should follow….there is no reason for TMI.