Forum Moderators: open
This led me to a few conclusions, based on the resumes that I had seen and good & bad experiences.
1. Write a cover letter and make it personal to the employers job description. I spent an hour or two writing the job description, you can spent 15 minutes responding to it. The reason is, after resume #25, I can't really even look at the resumes anymore. They are flooding in. I can give the resume a brief glance, but I promise, I will read the whole cover letter. So put all your best points in there.
2. Follow up a few days later. There is a good chance that your resume got lost in my spam. Keep following up every few days until you hear back. Eventually, I will respond to you.
3. Don't spam your resume with keywords. I am not Googlebot. It doesn't help me to see skill keywords repeated 10 times. Write english sentences in your resume that describe your skills, and how you used those skills to help the business of the company you worked for.
4. When interviewing, be flexible. Don't talk about salary until I bring it up. Don't interview me about the company's prospects until I've first interviewed you. The reason is that i have 10 more interviews that day. If it takes me 1/2 hour to get through a "company description" for you, I won't have time to get through all the other interviews (and finish all my work).
5. Don't get frustrated. I need a really good employee, just the same as you need a paycheck. This process isn't always fast - so you have to be patient.
6. Treat each interview as a learning experience. Find out what i want. Chances are, you won't get the job, but if you listen closely to what I'm looking for (beyond just the hard skills) you will have an edge in the next interview you have.
Here's some advice from the other side:
1. Send the candidate a prompt email whatever happens - let people know that you've got their CV and that you will contact them if an interview is required.
2. When you invite someone for an interview enclose directions to your offices and tell them who will be present at the interview.
3. The more "trick questions" you ask the more silly answers you'll get and the more uncomfortable you'll make the candidate - so you won't get a good idea of what they are really like.
4. If you act impatient, uninterested and rushed; the chances are that the candidate will write you off before you have a chance to write them off.
5. Try to save the introductions to the directors and the 4 strong panel interview until the second or third round of interviews.
6. If you're sick or unable to make the interview make sure you let the candidate know - they're most likely taking time out of their work to come to see you.
7. One of the best things you can do if you are the interviewer is to give the candidate some idea of how the interview went - I've been known to ask - but more timid candidates won't.
8. Let the candidate know if they should get back to you or the agency (if applicable) when you offer the job.
9. Be flexible in what format you request a CV in - I only have an html CV - I don't "do" word and I won't work for anyone who requires a word resume.
:)
A lot of recruiters (agencies as oppose to employers), may not have sufficent knowledge to be able to cope with HTML Cvs, as absurd as it may sound!
Plus when they deal with at least 30 and up to 200 or so CVs a day, they want to organise them in a "to do pile". If your CV isnt in Word format and printed out by them, then it isnt in that pile and will likely be missed.
I agree in having a HTML based CV which offers employers and recruiters more information than your paper CV, but you should always offer a 2 page (or less) printable summary and Word version. Always. Not having a Word version CV is like not having a link back to your homepage from deep inside your site. You can do it and maybe people will find their way back, but.... ;)
Scott
As you know - most recruiters work on commission, so they'll send the best candidates through.
I'll add to the excellent points made; remember, where there's 2 candidates with the same skills and quals, it's the candidate who shows genuine enthusiasm and likeable personality that'll likely win...in other words, it's not all about what's on paper.
Marketing Guy - you say 2 pages or less is the standard - mine fills 3 in it's word version, is this really going to turn a prospective client off?
I offer mine on a CD with a HTML core with links to word and PDF versions - this also includes a portfolio section - I have not actually sent this to anyone yet - would you advise not to? In this line of work I thought it would pay to be innovative or do the same rules apply as if I was applying to an accounts job, say? I just need to get my foot through the door - if they like me - excellent, if not - I keep trying :)
Remember a recruitment consultant's job is to find a person for a job, not a job for a person. They spend 90% of the time looking and working with clients not reading over CVs.
Look at it this way - if you were creating a billboard advert to catch the attention of motorists it needs to be short and simple. They need to remember the most important part of it.
Same deal with your CV - it's going to only get a brief viewing so you need to highlight your valid points and catch the attention of the recruiter.
It's your foot in the door - your interview is where your sales pitch begins.
Sticky me if you would like us to have a look at your CV Limbo.
Regards
Scott
(ps - i made a post on the commercial forum today that the contributors in this thread may be interested in ;)).
I suppose the best technique for this would be to reserve the porfolio angle for ammunition in the interview. Perhaps a good old printed paper version of the CV is the way to go.
Still I might canvass a few companies with the finished CDROM to see how they respond.
Ta
limbo
But im a firm believer in covering the basics first.
Let me know how your CDROM cavassing goes - I assume this is for web design / SEO work (ie not freelance)?
Cheers
Scott
Sorry Webdevsf I feel like I have hijacked you thread.
The points you have raised are very interesting especially from my 'looking for new work' perspective.
Point 2:
Follow up a few days later. There is a good chance that your resume got lost in my spam. Keep following up every few days until you hear back. Eventually, I will respond to you
I have always written off a prospective employer if they did not respond - I assumed they were not interested. Also to some, would'nt this seem a little too keen - no-one want to be seen a brown nose ;)
I will your post in mind when I make my way to forthcoming interviews :)
