If you’re not getting the results you want: Make Some Changes

As a recruiter, I get to meet a lot of great people many of whom (for a variety of reasons) are unemployed. The length of their unemployment has gone on too long as is not an indicator of their quality or lack there of. Unfortunately, the longer the unemployment, the further behind or out of step they can feel.

There's no shame in not achieving your employment goals as quickly as you intended to initially, but it is a shame if you are not recognizing the need to make significant changes to your plan if it is not working for you.

A couple quick points that you can easily adjust:

Your Linkedin Profile and your Resume.

Whether you know it or not, your LinkedIn profile is being viewed by recruiters as a form of a resume. There are over 18,000 recruiters using LinkedIn every day. You should make sure that your accomplishments clearly stand out and you can be identified as a candidate worth their attention.

It’s not just enough to post your profile and expect to be contacted- you have to set it up so that it CAN be found. Recruiters search for key phrases that indicate skills and experience in the area of expertise their searching for.

For example- when I’m looking for sales professionals, I search using keywords like ‘quota’ or ‘awards’ or ‘club’ as well as the technical competencies.

Showing that you have recognizable accomplishments is irresistible to recruiters and hiring managers. Make sure they stand out so that opportunity can find you.

Also, take your professional appearance seriously. Mix up your profile picture and make sure you’re smiling and look approachable. You’re making an impression and you don't want your first impression to look like a mug shot.

Use Resume Banks:

Employers purchase access to a number or recruiting resources for their recruiters, resume banks still offer value and are combed by recruiters every day. Some resources are more fruitful than others, but honestly, you only want one great, next job: Careerbuilder, Dice, The Ladders, Monster, 6figurejobs are resources that you may want to leverage. If you want to be found, put your resume in places where recruiters search. These resources are not a silver bullet, but you should know where you could be found.

But before you run off and upload your resume, make sure of two things: 1) it can be found by matching a keyword strategy, and 2) It’s worth investing the time to discover the person who wrote it.

Chances are that if you’ve been on the market for an extended period, it’s not- or not working as well as it can. Take a fresh and thorough look at your resume and invest your time in really polishing it again.

The simple exercise of an overhaul will help you hone in on your core competencies and refresh your memory of your skills and experiences. It will also prepare you to more confidently present yourself during an interview (true). If you know your resume, you’ll see what others are seeing in you- on paper.

Resume Writing Services are very popular these days, but my only criticism of those services is that many candidates (some my friends) don’t see themselves in the same light as the writer- or the intended audience. If you only see that your resume looks better, then you’re doing yourself a disservice.

This is a real opportunity for breakdown and can result in a disappointing screen or interview.

Know your resume and have it speak to your strengths, accomplishments and true objectives. Zero-in on your target and you’ll not only have better results in getting an interview, but also in closing it with an offer. Your resume is a tool that helps articulate your qualifications. Learn and master your resume.

As a recruiter, I spend most of my time on the phone with my candidates. Your resume is on my screen and speaks to me at the same time we’re having a conversation. It’s not only a tool for articulating your qualifications, but it also is a visual representation of You as a professional. Your resume is part of your personal brand and offers an opportunity to help you stand out.

Think of your resume as a ‘visual stamp’ to help the recruiter and hiring manager remember you, recognize you more quickly ‘in the pile’ and stay interested in you longer. A simple change in the formatting could make all the difference.

Help yourself stand out with a new format. It’s a great exercise because it forces you to identify the key knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences you need to successfully articulate your qualifications for an opportunity.

It’s a fair bit of work and it’s worth your time.

Hopefully, small changes are all that are necessary to improve your results, but it’s easy to tell if what you’re doing is working. Just look at the results…

10 of the Biggest Mistakes People Make about their Careers.

Some of the biggest mistakes people make about their careers:

1) Not answering when opportunity calls.

2) Sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone to remember to follow up with you.

3) Assuming that the job you are in, is your best career path for your future.

4) Networking is more than just collecting contacts.

5) 'Only Applying' for a job is like taking a fire extinguisher to a 4 alarm blaze… probably not enough to get the job done.

6) Not knowing your value in the market.

7) ... Not acting on it.

8) Expecting your company to have your best interests in mind for your career.

9) Trusting the wrong people.

10) Giving up on the idea that there is an ideal job and a better future out there.

Your career is yours and yours alone. If you're talented and add value (and profits) to your company's bottom line, you should be aware of your worth to the market and explore the path that's going to lead you to your brightest professional future. Take the rare opportunities that exist and make sure you are investing your most valuable performances and skills for a company that returns their appreciation generously.

Cisco Plug: 

I have yet to meet anyone who has told me they regret a move to Cisco. What does that say? 

  

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