This presentation comes from a 3hr workshop. You will learn about applicant tracking systems, resumes, linkedin, and interviewing -- all from the perspective of measurement.
1. Optimize Your Job Search
Specific actions you should be taking
to get hired
2. Hiring process
Then Now
• Print and mail • Online/email
• ‘Gut feel’ • ATS
• Phone interview
• In Person interview
• Assessment Centers
• Psychological tests
(aptitude)
6. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Handle job applications and to manage resume
data
• Work like search engines
• Keywords affect resume ranking
• Value of character
– PivotTable, pivot-table, pivot table
7. Applicant Tracking Systems
• Easily avoided traps
– Don’t use PDF
– No tables
– No graphics
– “Work Experience”
• If your resume causes the system to fail, your
entire resume is discarded
9. Resume Strategy
1. Identify keywords
2. Create overstuffed resume.
3. Save it as your base
4. Eliminate/Converge bullets to fit job
description
5. Tailor specifics from job description
6. Formatting
12. Bullets
Verb | Obj Modifier | Object |Statement Mod
Active verbs
Modifiers help add context
13. 6 seconds
• Time required for recruiters to determine fit/no fit
• Recruiters will look at :
– Your name
– Current title and company
– Current position start and end dates
– Previous title and company
– Previous position start and end dates
– Education
15. Resume Red Flags
• Changing jobs too often
• Lack of bullet points/too many
paragraphs
• Lack of numbers
• Lack of specificity
• Not addressing resume flags in
cover letter
16. Cover letters
• Rarely read
• Closing
• Direct AND personality
• Proofread, Proofread, and proofread
• Email: Don’t attach CL. Email IS the CL
• Encourage the reader to look at resume
18. Linkedin, Your new best friend
• Build reputation/brand online
• This is where recruiters LIVE
• Build network connections
• Find people in desired role for info interview
• Found easily
• Job postings in groups
19. Made For Recruiters
• Where can you find numerous potential
candidates?
• Title: Seeking Sr. Storage Engineer
• Skills: SEO make you searchable
• Privacy: How ‘findable’ is your profile
– Create public link
– Include email in contact info
21. Linkedin Recommendations
• Quality over Quantity
• Specifics count!
• Write your own recommendation
– To know what it would highlight about you
– Help others refine your recommendation
22. Leverage Your Network
• Let them know what you are looking for
• AND how they can help
• Email, Linkedin, or phone.
– Email an example job posting & describe what you
like in it and/or what you’d like to see
– Get recommended
– Connect over coffee
23. Linkedin Red Flags
• Typos (than vs. then)
• Standard invite: “I’d like to add you to
my professional ….”
• No personalize URL
• No summary, experience
• Non credible recommendations
24. Linkedin Keyword Kill list
Overused and lost meaning.
• Creative • Track Record
• Organizational • Innovative
• Effective • Responsible
• Motivated • Analytical
• Extensive Experience • Problem Solving
25. The Final Hurdle!
Interviewing
Informational Interviews
Phone interviews
Behaviorally-based structured interviews
26. Communicating
• If YOU say it
– then it’s not true Self-guided
• If THEY believe it leader
– then it’s true
The art lies in claiming strength while being
subtle; not boastful
27. Primary Objective
• Intentionally talking about yourself
– Demonstrating skill, problem solving
– Without bragging, sounding arrogant
– Assertive, but not overbearing
– Relaxed but focused
28. Message map
• Create: twitter friendly headline
– Overarching message.
• 3 supporting points:
– Additional points under supporting points:
examples, data, statistics
• Useful for creating elevator pitch
29. Example Message Map
Internal Consistency
Creating Positive and
Productive Work
Environments
Peer-to-Peer Employee
Leadership
Recognition Relationships
Coaching
1. Catch employees
doing something right 1. Assessments 1. Collaboration
2. Track performance 2. Awareness 2. Communication
over time 3. Action 3. Community
3. Capture context of
performance
30. Preparation is key
• Allocating time to specific sections
• Pitch
– 30 second
– 60 second
• Job Description familiarity
– Tasks, skills, problems solved, competencies
• Anticipating competencies
– STAR
31. Pitch
• Who you are: What would you most want
listener to remember about you?
• What you do: state value phrases as key
results/impact
• Why you are unique: unique benefits that you
bring. Different or better.
• Goal: describe immediate goals (concrete,
defined, realistic).
32. Tell me about yourself
“How do your education, work history, and
professional aspirations relate to the open
job?”
• Don’t: personal, life history.
• Who you are and why you’re the best.
– One of my top strengths is…
• Examples, examples, examples.
• Hit the high points of recent work experience
• Finish with “how I see my fit in the role”
33. Informational Interviews
• Great for…
– Networking
• Expanding
• Creating new
– Creating opportunities
– Casting a wide net
– New in-roads
– New career information
34. Informational Interviews
1. Other person is doing you a favor; follow
their lead
2. Not about job leads; about learning
something
3. Think as a way to build relationship, not leads
4. Be incredibly prepared with questions
5. Be the one to end it, not them. Do not
overstay, bookend the follow-up.
35. Informational Interview Questions
1. Can you tell me how you got to this position?
2. What do you like most about what you do, and what would you change if you
could?
3. What’s a typical day like for you?
4. What are some current projects or initiatives you are working on?
5. Where would you suggest a person investigate if the person were particularly skilled
at _________?
6. What are some of the biggest challenges facing your company and/or your industry
today?
7. Are there any groups, professional, or trade associations I should connect with?
8. What do you read — in print and online — to keep up with developments in your
field?
9. If you were just getting involved now, where would you put yourself?
10.What can I do for you? How can I help you?
36. Phone Interview
1. Clarify details: Time zone, etc.
2. Copy: Resume, job description, paper to take
notes
3. Dress the part: mental tactic
4. Environment: charged phone, water, ear buds,
etc.
5. End game: Characteristics you want to
portray.
6. Speak slowly & smile into the phone
37. Phone Interview Goal
• Build a relationship & rapport with
interviewer.
– Get to the face-to-face interview step
• Demonstrate capability of doing job.
• Demonstrate interest by asking about org &
role.
• Minimum standards met and preferred skills
as an offering
42. Anticipate Questions
• Use the job description to anticipate questions
or competencies
• What is essential?
• What will separate good from great?
• Examples, examples, examples
43. Interview Questions
• Describe a time when
– Your work was criticized and how you handled it
– Your workload was heavy and how you handled it
– Had multiple deadlines and couldn’t finish them all
– You had to conform to a policy which you did not
agree
– You went above and beyond the call of duty
• How have you handled a time when someone
was not pulling their own weight
• How can you apply your specific skills to help the
org
• Describe your workstyle
44. Interview Questions
• Tell me about…
– A time when you disagreed with your boss about
a way something should be done.
– A time when you faced a difficult situation with a
coworker
– A time when you failed
– A time when you had to give difficult feedback
– A time you went against corporate directives
– Your greatest success
45. Interview follow up
• Follow up thank you
– Interviewer, receptionist/office manager
– Remind them why you bring value
• 3 paragraph rule
– Thank and iterate interest
– Strengths and benefits of hiring you
– Clarifications on questions. Keep it brief
46. Negotiating
• Understand it is a true negotiation
– Be comfortable, confident; not contentious
– Don’t be the first to offer a number. The first person loses
• Ask for a better salary after offer
– Thank you for the offer, I’ll seriously consider your offer.
– Remind why you interested
– I’m very excited about this, I’d ask what flexibility is (and
shut up!)
• Know what your min and comparisons
– Salary.com. Salarywizard.com, glassdoor.com
• Total compensation
– Time off? Pay review in 3 months? 401K Match? Bonus
Structure? Stock?
47. Review
• SEO resume with well written bullets
– Balance of keywords and visual formatting
– Job description as a guide
• Cover letter short and sweet
• Linkedin profile is complete
– Headline & Summary most polished
• Interviewing
– Use Info Interview to build network, get inside
– Anticipated competencies & prepared responses
It’s less and less about your skill or ability to DO THE ACTUAL JOB. Getting a job is a skill in itself. I’ve done a bunch of research directly related to this and indirectly by running a website. Today we are not fixing a resume or polishing a linkedin profile. We are learning a job search skill.
Many differences between the processes. One similarity, a direct reference candidate will have the inside track. It isn’t a guarantee, but it is a great advantage.
Measurement is everywhere – involved in every step.
handle job applications and to manage resume dataSimplifies a recruiter’s jobAlgorithms give resumes a ranking.
Error-prone applicant tracking systems kill 75 percent of job seekers' chances of landing an interview as soon as they submit their resumes, despite how qualified they may be. Job seekers' only hope for rising through these systems is to understand exactly how these systems work and how best to optimize their resumes for them.- CIO
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-resume-2012-11#use-the-right-keywords-7http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-04-09/news/31311078_1_recruiters-study-decision#ixzz2F1oeo6LYRead more: Tailor resume to reflect what employer is looking for
Design focusedMatch recruiters’ mental modelSupport their scanning of:TitlesCompany namesEducationQuick bursts of infoLeft Align bold headingsTo stand out, conform on formatting
Changing jobs too oftenTenure of 2 or less is eyebrow raisingLack of bullet points/too many paragraphsLack of numbersDollars, # of peopleLack of specificityAchievements, duties, etc lack credibilityNot addressing resume flags in cover letterShow avoidance of red flags vs embracing
First & quick introductionEasy to skim yet get factsDear FnameContext: the particular jobYou want/I have (job requirementscapabilities)Objective measurement of achievement.Use of numbers and bullet points.“Why should I talk to you about this job?”
This is where recruiters LIVEMonster, Careerbuilder are nice, but here is where the people looking for people areJob postings in groupsFind people in desired role for Info InterviewBuild reputation/brand online Google search & Linkedin searchVisibility: want candidate seekers to easily find you
(if recruiters want to connect, they’ll be prompted for email)
The Headline The headline is a bite-sized explanation of what you do and what your value is. Note that your headline shows up ALL OVER LinkedIn, especially in lists. Your headline very often accompanies your name. Make sure your headline is at least clear and concise. If you are building "brand you" consider making it more engaging. You could spend countless hours tweaking and refining this single 120 character field. Just try not to.Your SummaryUse this area in a similar way to a cover letter. Explain in (relatively) normal-speak what makes you unique or different, why someone might want to connect with you, and possibly few details about your products or services. Note that you cannot create clickable links in this area.30-90 minutes
http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/careers/pitch/Know who’s catching: Who’s the audience?What do they need to hearStay away from stock phrases: “customer focused”Preparation is key to confidence: What are the FAQ’s? Have answersSolve a problemPassion
Answer the question, “Can we see this person in this job?”
Different from job interviews in that:Informational interviews are generally easier to get.With an informational interview, you ask the questions and are in control.An informational interview is typically more relaxed for both parties.Informational interviewees may become part of your network, and may provide referrals.Informational interviewees may be less guarded in sharing information.
End game: 3 characteristics you want to portray. Write it on the top of your notesClarify Details (ex. Time zone, caller, etc.)Have resume, job description, talking points, questions for interviewerLead with the body Prepare the environment (water, phone signal)Speak slow and clear (they are taking notes!)Use your hands to make it conversational
How do you…Deal with difficult customersDeal with stressful situationsEvaluate successHandle stress and pressureRate yourself as a professionalEstablish credibility with the teamWhat motivates youWhat makes you uniqueWhat type of work environment do you preferWhat would your friends tell me about youWhat area do you need the most development Why do you believe you are the best fitWhat are your workplace valuesWhat did you like/dislike about previous jobsWhat do people most criticize about youWhat do you expect from a supervisorWhat do you wish you’d done betterWhat excites you about this positionWhat have you been doing since you got laid off/let goWhat is your least favorite managerial task