Job Seekers: What Recruiters Look for in a Resume
With a plethora of career sites available on the web you would think the super highway would put you on the fast track to the perfect job opportunity. However, many job seekers say think again.
Sink or Swim
With the demise of the dot com dynasty and more layoffs among large conglomerates like MCI Worldcom and JCPenny, the competition is fierce. According to Reuters, state jobless benefits claims had climbed to 372,000 by Presidents day. That means there's no room for error for the aggressive job seeker. So in the ever-crowded talent pool what can you do to swim, rather than sink? Before hitting 'submit my resume' during your next job search, keep some tips in mind.
"I always look for a skills section [within their resume]
listing the exact technologies they have used, and I look for the exact technologies… listed in the description of the positions as well. "
— Elizabeth Forgione
Senior Recruiter, TEKsystems
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"Your Resume Has Been Received. Thank You for Applying."
Most recruiters perform daily searches through dozens of online resume databases. Remember that they are just as eager to place a great candidate, as you are to work for a great employer. Lara O'Connor agrees with this statement. Once a full time recruiter, the contracts manager with Onsite, Inc. states, "recruiters are more than happy to talk to everyone and assist them in their job search. However, when people do not have key components of a job posting in their past experience we can not just put them in that position. We are looking for people with that specific experience to fit our clients' needs. I think that this is where most people get discouraged."
However, in a society of immediate gratification, some job seekers grow frustrated when submission of their resume doesn't produce immediate results or simply an auto-response stating "your resume has been received. Thank you for applying." Don't expect Bill Gates to give you a personal invitation to join his team. Instead, take a look at what you're submitting and further examine your resume, which should be considered your online representative. Elizabeth Forgione is a senior recruiter with TEKsystems. She gave us some insight into what she looks for when scanning for potential candidates. "I always look for a skills section [within their resume] listing the exact technologies they have used, and I look for the exact technologies… listed in the description of the positions as well. " Imanu Daughtrey, also a senior recruiter with TEKsystems, says experience is key. "I look for actual hands-on, professional experience. That is where I want to see "buzz words" like Java, Oracle, etc."
Where Do Most People Go Wrong?
Some of the most important items in an online resume are often missing. Elizabeth advises job seekers to be more specific when it comes to their skills. "Some people list that they worked on a conversion project but don't say the technologies used." Another factor that may inhibit you from making it to round two or the interview: major gaps in your employment history. If this applies to you, compensate in other areas. Boast about which projects on which you have worked and contributed. "If they worked somewhere for 3 years and only list 2 bullets about what they did, this is not good. It is always better to have more than to have less." Finally, catering your resume to the position for which you are applying can be a time-consuming task, but well worth it. Imanu recommends this strategy and says it makes a difference when he reviews resumes. "Sometimes a candidate may be qualified for a job, but the resume does not adequately represent those qualifications."
Round Two: the Interview
Everyone knows the feeling. You check your messages and there it is, a callback. They want to talk to you, set up a telephone interview, or invite you in. Before, you excitedly waited for their call, now you sit with anxiety and anticipation. You've come this far, you can't bomb now. Elizabeth says some of the situations she has witnessed while with Maxim are people not elaborating on questions or not being themselves. "The trick with interviewing is that the interviewer should do minimal talking and the person being interviewed should do the majority of the talking." What if you're not familiar with some of the applications or skills? The old cliché honesty is the best policy is appropriate. "If you have never used that technology or done that task, be honest. But also say that you are a quick learner and you feel that you could pick it up quickly. Elaborate by telling about a time when you did not know a technology and how you picked it up." Some final words from Elizabeth, "Personality is huge. Let it show."
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