Top Ten Job Search Tips
People make all kinds of mistakes while looking for work. We know; we’ve all done it.
Here’s our list of the Top Ten Tips that will help you put your best foot forward.
Don’t Let Your Resume Get Lost
- We get resumes every day with cryptic titles that probably mean something to the candidate, but which don’t tell anyone else anything useful
- Just as bad is the resume which is titled simply “resume”
- Remember that your resume will be one of hundreds or thousands, both in the Stanfield Systems database and in a company's files
- Make your resume easy to find and identify by using a simple, descriptive naming convention like: “JohnSmithResume07-12-2007”
Make Your Resume Perfect
- Never forget that your resume will be the first impression you make on a prospective employer
- Don’t throw away this opportunity to look your best
- You’ve had all the time in the world to write your resume. If an employer sees errors, he’ll wonder what kind of work you will be able to do under pressure
- Pay close attention to readability, consistency, correctness of spelling and grammar
- Visit our Resume Tips, Resume Starter Questions and Resume Example pages for detailed advice and more tips
Make Your Resume an Effective Marketing Tool
- Highlight your strengths, particularly those most relevant to the position you’re seeking
- Minimize your weaknesses
- Do not lie or mislead, but focus on your strengths
- Make sure that your most relevant experience and training are listed near the top of your resume
- The Summary section we recommend gives you a logical place for this
- You may have to generate different versions for different positions
- Follow the format we recommend on our Resume Tips page
- See those tips in action on the Resume Example page
Don’t Get Rusty
- Keep certifications current
- Earn any education or training credits needed to qualify for recertification
- Seek opportunities to take workshops or courses in your areas of expertise or related fields
- Consider assuming an active leadership role in professional organizations
- Look for opportunities at your work sites to learn new techniques and approaches
- Consider seeking new certifications if these areas are a good fit for your specialty
Connect with People
- Get to know your Stanfield Systems recruiter, and help him or her learn more about you
- Consider accepting our invitations to social events
- This is an easy way to gain visibility with your recruiter and Stanfield Systems
- You can network with colleagues and other job seekers
- Often some of our clients -- potential employers -- also attend these events
- Remind your recruiter from time to time that you’re actively looking, and make sure that we have your dates of availability
- Keep your data current in our system by using your Stanfield Systems online account
- Visit our Professional Associations page and consider joining one or more local groups
- Join some of the business networking sites we list on our Networking page
Be Nice to Your Recruiter
- Don’t send mass mailings of your resume to dozens of recruiters at once
- Respond to specific positions, or select recruiters to work with who are active in your area of expertise
- Don’t waste the recruiter’s time by applying for jobs that you’re not a good fit for
- Create a database or use some other means of tracking the positions you’re interested in, and the recruiters you’ve talked to
- When you hear from a recruiter who’s looking for candidates for a particular job:
- Within the next day, review your list of contacts and colleagues and see if you actually do know someone who’d be a good fit for the job
- If you're a good fit, respond immediately. Time can be critical
- If you're not a good match for the position,pass the information along to the potential candidate
- Also send the information to the recruiter
- You want to become known as someone who is responsive and professional
- You may also earn a Referral bonus if your colleague gets the job
- If you don’t know of anyone who’s a good fit – contact the recruiter and tell them that
- Use this opportunity to develop a connection with the recruiter
- Always respond to calls or emails from recruiters as soon as you can
- Recruiters are always working on tight deadlines, and may need to find top candidates very quickly
- Again, responding quickly tells the recruiter something about you as a professional
- Offer added value to your relationship with a recruiter – whether it’s of long standing, or brand new
- Don’t merely write and ask if they’ve got a job for you. Develop a professional relationship
- Try sending some information that may be of practical use to a recruiter:
- Something you read in a blog
- A news item about recruiting in your field
- Publicity or sponsorship opportunities for the recruiting company
- Referral of a top candidate whom you can personally recommend
- A link to a relevant article
- Your recruiter will notice and appreciate these efforts – and once again you will have demonstrated your professionalism
- Within the next day, review your list of contacts and colleagues and see if you actually do know someone who’d be a good fit for the job
Follow Instructions
- Did you read and follow all of the submission instructions for a position you’re seeking?
- Is your resume current, accurate and in the format requested?
- Did you submit it using the medium requested?
- Don’t submit additional materials unless asked for them
- If you want Stanfield Systems to keep materials in your profile, use your online account to upload them
Make Sure You’re Qualified for the Position You’re Seeking
- Avoid applying to large numbers of positions
- This will become known to recruiters and/or employers over time
- Doing this will affect your credibility as a serious and qualified candidate
- Read all materials carefully: Job description, RFOs, SOWs, etc.
- Know the details of the position requirements
- Respect the client’s “must have” requirements
- Don’t apply if you’re not even close
- If you're a close match, but not perfect:
- Don’t hesitate to propose yourself
- If you're a good match, your other experience or skills may balance what you're missing
- Read through our extensive Interview Tips for more ways to research the job and company
Give Your Recruiter the Information He Needs to Represent You Effectively
- Any recruiter has to “sell” a candidate to the client, no matter how expert the candidate is, or how perfect a match he is for the position
- Don’t make your recruiter guess at all the ways you might be a great fit for the job
- Use our Candidate FACs form to create a matrix of the following, which your recruiter can use in presenting you to the client:
- Facts about your education, experience and skills
- Specific metrics of your achievements in previous positions
- A list of what you can do for the client in the position you’re applying for
- Don’t hesitate to point out areas that are similar or relevant. For example:
- “I haven’t done X, but I’m highly experienced in Y, and these are the ways that the two are similar.”
- No one can know your experience better than you do
- Make sure that your recruiter knows the facts, so he can represent you as strongly as possible
Be Ready to Answer Questions About Your Resume and Background
- Does your resume show gaps in your work history?
- Your recruiter – and prospective employers – will want to know about those
- Are you moving from contract work to permanent employment?
- Or the other way around?
- Why?
- Are you local to our areas of activity?
- Are you planning to relocate?
- Would you travel if the position required it?
- How much travel would be acceptable?
- What is your citizenship or visa status?
- And, of course: Why, exactly, do you want to work for this particular employer?
- How can you benefit the employer? What value can you bring to the organization?
- Our Interview Tips section lists dozens of questions that you may be asked
- Review those and practice how you will respond
- We also provide a list of questions you might want to ask the interviewer
Bonus Tip – And One You Can’t Afford to Ignore
- Remember that the interview process itself – from the moment you walk in the door, until you have earned the position – is absolutely critical to your success
- Study all of our Interview Tips
- Make sure that you are fully prepared to represent yourself positively and professionally before, during and after your interview