Riklan Resources http://riklanresources.com Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 09 May 2012 15:39:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Are You LinkedIn? http://riklanresources.com/articles/are-you-linkedin-2/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/are-you-linkedin-2/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 18:55:14 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1174 Before the job is posted and advertised, where does the recruiter/HR professional/hiring manager look for potential candidates? Before they even hit the job boards, they are on LinkedIn. And, if you are not there, then you don’t exist. Let me repeat that – IF YOU ARE NOT LINKEDIN, YOU DO NOT EXIST!

People who are in talent acquisition and recruiting positions are savvy and cost-effective. In today’s market, candidates are in abundance so before the company spends money on fees and advertising, they do their own homework; and in a tight economy, hiring managers who save the company money through professional networking and keeping their recruitment costs low, are heroes.

For example, a pharmaceutical advertising firm is looking for an Account Executive with experience in oncology products. While this may seem like a needle in a haystack, the hiring manager or HR representative can go on LinkedIn and do an advanced search. I just tried it with my own network and returned 219 results. So, if I was the cost-conscious, career climbing manager in charge of filling this position, I would work this network, get the word out about the open position, ask these 219 potential resources if they are interested or know someone who would be interested. This job would be filled quickly, at no or low cost to my employer, and the open position would never have even made it to the public eye. That’s right, you may have been the perfect candidate, but you were never even in the game because you did not have an online presence. I could not find you, and in simplest terms, you just didn’t exist.

LinkedIn is the largest, most popular professional and business social networking site. All fortune 500 companies are represented and the global reach includes over 75 million members in over 200 countries with a very diverse industry mix. So why is it so important to be LinkedIn? Hopefully, you can see the benefit of being LinkedIn from the example above, but there are so many other benefits.

  • Linking in with others helps you to build your professional relationships through internet-based social networks, discussion groups, electronic publishing and more. By expanding your networking reach, you build your online presence and you are able to communicate your personal brand.
  • By growing your network, you open doors to connecting with people in a wide range of industries and positions. You can get yourself out there and connect quickly and easily.
  • Jobs are posted on LinkedIn by companies and individuals. Get in the know. Be part of discussions where people may be looking for someone just like you.
  • Research Companies – Do you want to learn about a company? Find out what they do, what jobs are open and who works there. Use the search feature and do your homework. If you have your eye set on a specific company, you will increase the likelihood of having a connection to someone there as you expand your personal network.
  • Search for Contacts – The personal touch still goes a long way. Can you find someone you know at a company or get an introduction to someone who can walk your resume over to the right person?
  • Join groups (there are over 450,000 groups) and you can find other like-minded individuals who can assist you with your job search.
  • Communicate and let people know that you are looking.
While this may seem overwhelming, I have only scratched the surface of the importance of LinkedIn in today’s job market. When a resume is in a potential employer’s hands, one of the first things they will do is search for that candidate online. They are searching to see if you are “with the times,” that you have an online presence and that the information about you online is consistent with your resume, just to name a few things.

Don’t overlook this crucial job search tool, and make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and you are utilizing LinkedIn to your full advantage. If you need assistance creating your profile, many resume/career service professionals offer this service.

 

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/are-you-linkedin-2/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 7 – Don’t Waste My Time! http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-7-dont-waste-my-time/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-7-dont-waste-my-time/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:28:13 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1119 One of the biggest mistakes a person can make on their resume is wasting the reader’s time. When a recruiter or hiring manager has a stack 2 feet high of potential applicants, they do not want their time wasted.  If your resume is not easy to navigate and does not get to the point quickly, it will end up in the trashcan. Does it have a header? If not, then your reader may need to dig through your resume to find out who you are.  Why bother when they can simply grab the next document in their pile? By quickly scanning the resume, (in less than 6 seconds) can the reader see the specific value that you might add to the organization?  (Examples – how you can save them money, generate business, lead a team…) If you make it easy for the hiring manager to read you resume, you are more likely to be called for an interview.

Your reader is not interested in every little detail. Keep your resume current, concise, and relevant.  Including the kitchen sink is not necessary and hurts your chances of receiving a phone call.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-7-dont-waste-my-time/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 6 – Lack of Experience? http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-lack-of-experience/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-lack-of-experience/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:41:09 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1099 Parents of recent college graduates may ask why some students are successful procuring a position after college and others are not. Often, students are lacking needed skills and experience and this makes the difference. Classroom education is only one component of post-college preparation. If your student has buried his/her head in the books for 4 years, or spent summers having fun and working in jobs that provided little value to add to their resume, then he/she may have missed out on crucial “real world” experience. Internships and actual work within an industry of interest or a business setting can prepare students in several ways: how to work in an office setting and use office tools, experience working in diverse settings, being part of a team environment. daily interaction with challenging co-workers/superiors, etc.

Is your resume lacking valuable content? Simply having a degree does not entitle anyone to a position within their preferred field. So, do some additional homework. Find out what employers are looking for, and if you are lacking in experience or skills, then it’s time to put in your time and acquire what you need to be competitive.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-lack-of-experience/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 5 – Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute! http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-dont-wait-until-the-last-minute/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-dont-wait-until-the-last-minute/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:33:32 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1097 Don’t let great job opportunities “pass you over;” hop to it! The last thing you want is to have a chance meeting with someone or get introduced to someone who asks for your resume and you are unprepared! Or, they say they will look you up on LinkedIn, and they can’t find you! Job searching today is a proactive activity. Make sure your marketing tools are all in place and represent you appropriately. Throwing together a profile and resume at the last minute is reactive, and the quality of your materials will suffer.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-5-dont-wait-until-the-last-minute/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 4 – Hobbies & Interests Section? http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-4-hobbies-interests-section/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-4-hobbies-interests-section/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:06:41 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1105 At one time, this was a standard feature. With the exception of the entry-level graduate (and then only if it is relevant to the job search), this section is not recommended. What does the potential employer think if you have listed your high golf-score or all of the volunteer work that you do at the school? Do they think you are well rounded or that your time is otherwise occupied? How is “Little League Coach” applicable to your next job? Perhaps the person reading your resume is thinking, “Well, I guess he’ll be running out the door every night at 5:30.” Keep your resume as a marketing tool of what you have to offer the employer. If you aren’t selling yourself, leave it out.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-4-hobbies-interests-section/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #3 – Professionalism http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-3-professionalism/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-3-professionalism/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:03:28 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1103 Competition is fierce and professionalism is crucial for job-seekers! So how can we make sure that the resume reflects a professional image?

Contact information needs to be clear and accurate. One designated phone number is best, and that number must have a professional voicemail (in your own voice), stating your name and asking for the person to leave a message.  “Hey Whassup,” and “Kim, Mark, Fluffy, and Muffy aren’t home right now,” are not professional messages.

The e-mail address that you choose must also reflect professionalism.  SoccerDad22@sample.com, Flirtygirl2U@sample.com — what do these say about your professionalism? Choose a professional e-mail address such as your name.

Check to make sure your content is aligned and your document is proofread. Proper attention to detail on your resume is an indication of your potential work ethic.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-at-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-3-professionalism/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #2 – Less is Not Always More http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-2-less-is-not-always-more/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-2-less-is-not-always-more/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:14:11 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1088 Length of the Resume

Who told you that resumes must be 1 page?  I rarely create a 1-page resume, and when I do, it is generally a recent graduate who has had little experience.  If you have been in the workforce for  more than a few years, then your resume will most likely be 2 pages. A solid resume is rich in content and accomplishments. If you can squish it all on 1 page, then you may have your reader asking, “What has this person been doing that they have nothing to show for it?” Even an entry-level candidate who has had solid internships and seasonal experience may need a 2-page resume.

A little extra tip — this does not mean that a resume should be wordy and contain irrelevant information.  It needs to be strategic and concise.  Concise does not mean using a font so small that your reader needs to whip out his/her reading glasses.  Don’t tick off a potential employer! Some of us get annoyed at the reminder that we need reading glasses.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-2-less-is-not-always-more/feed/ 0 How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #1 – Cut and Paste? http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-1-cut-and-paste/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-1-cut-and-paste/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:05:20 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1085 The Profile:

Can someone else cut and paste what you wrote and put it on their resume? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to re-write your resume. A resume is a marketing tool. The #1 goal of a resume is to get an employer to call you and schedule an interview. Employers are looking at hundreds of resumes — so how do you get yours noticed? If it has the same generic wording as everyone else, it will most likely go to the trashcan. Your profile should grab the reader’s attention and compel them to keep reading. Showcase what you bring to the table and highlight your unique value. Employers want to know very specifically what you can do for them.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/how-do-i-get-my-resume-to-land-on-the-top-of-the-pile-and-to-stay-out-of-the-trashcan-tip-1-cut-and-paste/feed/ 0 Is Your Facebook Hurting Your Employment Opportunities? http://riklanresources.com/articles/is-your-facebook-hurting-your-employment-opportunities/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/is-your-facebook-hurting-your-employment-opportunities/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:25:21 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1078 The Associated Press published an interesting article this week entitled “Employers ask job seekers for Facebook passwords.” While some may say that they do not want to work for a company that is delving into their personal life, others are afraid that in this competitive job-market, they cannot afford to be turned down because they won’t turn off their privacy feature and allow potential employers to poke around.

Despite the constant advice from career services departments, media, and career coaches, many job seekers still do not heed the warnings. Facebook is public information, and it does not take much for an employer to get around the privacy settings, if they choose to do so. Some of the red flags that employers find that can sabotage your job-search include:

  • Bad-mouthing a previous employer
  • Pictures and conversations about drinking or drugs
  • An unprofessional screen name
  • Bragging about getting a job offer before it is offered
  • Conversation/pictures about where you were the night before the interview (until 2 am)

So job seeker beware! Not only are hiring managers trained to do their homework, employers will often hire outside Internet investigative firms to scour the Internet and report back on their findings. In a competitive job market, employers are looking not only for the most skilled, but they are looking for employees with common sense and good judgment. Use yours.

]]> http://riklanresources.com/articles/is-your-facebook-hurting-your-employment-opportunities/feed/ 0 Hide and Seek – The Hidden Job Market http://riklanresources.com/articles/hide-and-seek-the-hidden-job-market/ http://riklanresources.com/articles/hide-and-seek-the-hidden-job-market/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:29:28 +0000 admin http://riklanresources.com/?p=1009 Do you spend all of your time scouring the job boards for a job and wonder why you can’t find one? Then it’s no wonder why you aren’t out there interviewing.  (Companies hide the jobs, yet you continue seeking and not finding any.) The hidden job market is a term used to describe jobs that aren’t posted online or advertised. It can make up to 95% of jobs that are available.

In such a competitive job market, internal hiring managers and HR are challenged to find no-cost and low-cost talent.  They may not even have a recruiting budget to work with. They are strategic about how they conduct an applicant search, and if you want to be found and considered, you need to be strategic and pro-active as well.

A few tips:

  • Connect directly with the companies where you seek employment. They may not be advertising, but that does not mean they do not have openings, or may not consider you for a future position.
  • If you see an advertisement for a position that is above/below your level, don’t discount yourself by not sending out the resume. Indicate your interest in the department/company.  The position that they originally were looking to be filled may get upgraded or downgraded, and you might then be the right fit.
  • Follow companies and be in the know about personnel and business changes.  If a company has expanded or acquired a new client, they may be in need of building up their team.
  • Make sure you can be found.  Complete your LinkedIn profile, join groups, follow companies, and let people know you are looking. If you are an expert in your field, create a blog, create a following.  Get your voice out there.
  • Make sure your job search marketing materials are in order.  There is nothing worse than meeting someone at an event on a Saturday night who knows of a great opportunity for you in their organization and wants to walk your resume into someone on Monday… and you don’t have one.
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