Candidate Resources

Why work with a recruiter

Working in your interest

Evaluating or looking for a new position can often be a delicate matter as you don’t want your current employer to know that you are thinking about leaving. A search firm allows you to pursue new opportunities in a descrete fashion by representing you for targeted job opportunities for which you have expressed a clear interest. It is usually a solution much preferred over posting your resume online for everyone to see (including your boss and HR department). A professional recruiter handles your information with respect to confidentiality and works hard to ensure that your privacy is not compromised.

The recruiter can also play in important role in mediating the offer process and helping bridge discrepancies between the candidate and prospective employer. Since the recruiter has a vested interest in the successful completion of the search assignment, he or she will help facilitate the interview and negotiation process from beginning to end keeping you up-to-date and making sure your goals are adressed.

Career Partner

Experienced recruiters are valuable career partners in terms of the advice and guidance that they can provide in helping you plan your next career move or how to get a specific job. Whether it is assisting with your resume, functioning as a sounding board or helping you evaluate/choose between opportunities, the recruiter is there as a resource for you. He or she can also provide you with valuable insight into industry segments and specific companies.

Opening the right doors

A reputable search firm has close relationships with many different companies usually within a certain industry. By working with a recruiter, a candidate is able to leverage this relationship ensuring that he/she is well represented and given the appropriate consideration by the hiring manager and organization for a given career opportunity.

A recruiter also has intimate industry knowledge and is in a unique position to pro-actively present you with job opportunities that you did not know about or would not have access to.

Candidates who rely on online applications through company websites are too often dissapointed by a lack of response. The problem is not necessarily related to your qualifications for the job, but the way the applications are handled inside the company. Too often the resume isn’t even reviewed by the appropriate person (if at all). From the minute you hit the submit button you have virtually no control of what happens to your resume, who sees it and where you are in the evaulation process. A recruiter changes the odds in your favor by making sure your application gets the attention it deserves, keeping you informed of the status and facilitating the recruiting process from beginning to end.

Please note: Once you have submitted a resume to a company directly, a recruiter will not be eligible to represent you to that company. So ask your recruiter whether he or she has a working relationship with the company first.

How to write a good resume

There are many resume writing guides out there and most professionals understand the basic concept and purpose of a resume so the information below is focused on how to make your resume as effective as possible and how to avoid common mistakes.

General Do’s and Dont’s

Avoid writing a function resume. Unless you are applying for a consulting position, or have large gaps in work history it is rarely beneficial to use such a format.
A 1 page resume is not necessarily the best solution. For experienced professionals and if you plan on working with a recruiter we strongly recommend that you use 2-3 pages. This will give you enough space to explain your skills and work history in sufficient detail without compromising a hiring manager’s understanding of your expertise and capabilities. Try not to exceed 3 pages. You don’t want to loose a hiring manager’s attention either.
Be more descriptive about your recent work history and emphasize the last 5 years. Allocate less space to experience that is more than 5 years old unless it is particularly relevant to the position that you are seeking or applying for.
Tailor your resume to the job description of the position that you are pursuing. Make sure to highlight skills and experience that is relevant to the job description.
Don’t assume that the hiring manager will interprit the content beyond what you have written. Be specific and detailed as it will reduce room for speculation and faulty conclusions on the part of the reader.

Guidelines for writing a technical resume and what is should include

Name, contact information and visa status (if applicable)
Introductory Statement
- A brief synopsis of who you are (in terms of profession, capability and personality) and/or what you are looking for. 1 or 2 sentences.
Summary of Qualifications
- This section should include a handful of statements that reflect key areas from your experience and training that are also strong requirements for the job position.
Technical Summary
- List your technical skills and categorize them. List your strongest skills first. You can also include the number of years you have used a particular technology.
Experience/Work History
- Make sure to include dates of employment (for every employer), job title, name of employer and city/country of employment followed by a more descriptive summary of responsibilities, achievements and key duties.
- Use this section of the resume to explain in detail the work that you did and which technologies/tools you used to do it. There should be references to all technical skills mentioned in the Technical Summary unless they were utilized in conjunction with academic or independent projects (in which case they should be described under those sections).
Education
- List the specific degree awarded, the academic institution and preferably what year the degree was earned.
- For people with only a few years work experience or advanced graduate degrees it may be beneficial to move the Education section to follow the Introductory Statement or Technical Skills Summary.
- Ph.D. and Masters Degree holders should also include the title of their Thesis and any advanced research or industry sponsored projects that are relevant to the position they are seeking.

Guidelines for writing a business or management focused resume

Name and contact information
Career Summary
- This section should define the key elements of your professional profile, career highlights, skills, capabilities. This brief paragraph should only contain a few sentences and gives the reader a ”snapshot” of who you are.
Summary of Qualifications or Achievements
- Use this section to describe key strengths and achievements, such as quota numbers/revenues generated, business closed, partnership deals, funding raised, products launched, P&L responsibility, number of direct reports, problems solved, awards, etc.
- For more technical management positions also make sure to list products, technologies and customer base.
Experience/Work History
- Make sure to include dates of employment (for every employer), job title, name of employer and city/country of employment followed by a more descriptive summary of responsibilities, achievements and key duties.
- For sales, technical marketing, business development and other customer facing types of management and executive positions try to list the companies that you closed deals with/interfaced with and at what level (Director, VP, C-level, etc). This will give the prospective employer an idea of, not only your track record, but also what kind of network (rolodex) you bring to the table.
- Make sure to explain in detail the highlights from your qualifications or achievements section above
Education
- List the specific degree awarded, the academic institution and preferably what year the degree was earned.
- Also list additional courses, trainings, certifications

Interview preparation

WHAT TO TAKE TO THE INTERVIEW

Take along notes with the name of the person interviewing you, the name of the department, and the date and time of the interview. Make sure you write down all of the names and position title of any and all people you meet. Ask for their business cards.

PREPARATION STEPS:

Encourage open communication with the interviewer. Keep good EYE CONTACT. Look directly at him/her to show that you are interested.
Listen carefully and identify the skills needed for the job. You can't answer a question if you haven't heard it correctly.
Stress your qualifications for the job and your level of interest.
Avoid mention of your personal, domestic, and financial problems. Some people tend to cast a cloud over the interview by emphasizing bad experiences with former employers. Discuss only matters related to the job and keep the interview positive.
Watch personal mannerisms: gum chewing, smoking, fiddling with purse or jiggling coins in pocket - these things are a few thing NOT to do. RELAX and have fun.
Leave your MOBILE PHONE in the car.
Have a definite understanding as to what is required of you.

QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED DURING THE INTERVIEW:

Role play the interview situation, and practice how you will answer. Remember, nothing beats proper preparation.

Why did you choose your particular field of work?
How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
Why do you think you would like this particular type of job?
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
How would you describe yourself?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
What related experience do you have for this position?
How will your skills contribute to our organization?
What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
How would you describe the ideal job for you?
What interests you most about this position?
What major challenges have you encountered and how did you deal with them?

The following are a few basic questions which you may want to include with others that are tailored to the particular opening:

Would you describe the duties of the position for me? Could you show me how the position fits in the organization?
What qualities and skills do you find most effective in this position?
What are the primary results you would like to see me produce?
What is the career growth potential for this position?
You have obviously been successful at X, what do you attribute this to and what qualities would make me successful here as well?

GENERAL PHILOSOPHIES OF INTERVIEWING

Interviewing is a selling situation, the most qualified candidate doesn't always get the job, it's the person who interviews best.
Do not leave any negatives or weaknesses unaddressed or without restating one of your positives.
Relate skills and experience as benefits for the new job. How you can help them.
Ask for an offer! As a professional you deserve candid feedback.

THE STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

1. OPENING:

Uncover the details of the company and the job. (What skills are important to the interviewer?)

"What do you feel are the skills and experience that are necessary for the person to be successful in this position?"
What would you like to see this person accomplish in the long term (6 months) and be effective immediately (the 1st month)?

At this point, stop talking and listen. He/she will tell you everything you need to know to sell yourself for this position. The most qualified person does not always receive the job offer. The person who convinces the interviewer that he/she is qualified and interested, and shows the most confidence, is the person who gets the job. 80% of job offers are based on personality matches.

List in your mind the skills necessary to succeed. If he does not answer your questions, ask them again. Add to this list by asking "IS this skill (Specific strength) helpful in this position?

2. "SELL" CYCLE:

Relate your skills/experience to the key criteria. Remember to talk benefits to the interviewer, pretend you are part of the project team.

Example: "That is very interesting. Let me tell you about an experience/project that relates....

Then, briefly describe your background, stating your responsibilities, computer tools used, skills attained, and accomplishments, relating this to what the interviewer is looking for. This description of your background should take no more than five minutes. Don't talk about what you like or dislike, your boss, your company or personal life - just the facts. Talk net and always look the interviewer in the eye!.

Use the following structure:

Summarize your background (Use lists of hardware, project functions, etc.).
Tell the interviewer how this will benefit him (Fast start, increased responsibility, independent work, proven track record).
Ask him/her what he/she would like to explore in detail?

To prepare yourself - make lists tonight of your projects, technology, accomplishments, responsibilities, hardware, software, etc. Use these lists as summaries. Remember to clarify tough, general, vague questions so you can answer in a net fashion. Use the "answer a question with a question" technique. It brings you time to think.

Example: Mr. Interviewer, could you tell me specifically what you are interest in? I'm not sure what you are asking, could you rephrase it? How does that aspect relate to this position? Why is that skill important to the job?

Once the question is clarified, answer in net fashion.

On questions directed to your weakness, don't just answer but ask clarifying questions to determine its relative importance. This uses the "outweigh" technique.

Example: OUTWEIGH WEAKNESS

Question: How important is that skill to this job?

Answer: Mr. Interviewer, I don't have that specific background but I am bringing the following skills to the job (list your strength). (Give an example of something you've done in the past that you did not have heavy experience with and tell how you were successful and why). Let's talk how you can help me in the one area I'm missing.

Alternative: How long would it take to learn that skill?

Again, your objective in taking this interview is to get the job! Now, be quiet and listen to his comments to see if you were effective in convincing the interviewer that you are both qualified and interested. Most of the time the people who do interviewing were never trained to interview, don't do it well, and are probably as nervous as you. Even if his description of the position doesn't sound attractive, sell yourself as though this was the only position available to you on earth. In addition to the fact that the interviewer may not explain the position effectively, the total complexion, scope and pay range can change after you have convinced the interviewer that you are a person whom he must hire. In addition, there may be additional openings that you may be attracted to.

3. CLOSING THE INTERVIEW:

Regardless of what has happened up to this point, you must conclude the interview. You want to know how you've done and what to expect.

Example: Based upon our meeting today, I know that I am both qualified and interested in your firm. What is the next step in the interview cycle?

Can you share with me any concerns about my background?

Is there any area which I may further clarify for you?
(this is your last best chance to clarify any questions/concerns they may have)

Resell and resolve any miscommunications. Put weaknesses in perspective.

Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to discuss this opportunity and establish a specific time when you hear from them or when you will call them back.

4. SALARY QUESTION:

You can do everything we know that works up to this point and "blow" the interview now if you are not careful. If you are asked the question "How much will it take to hire you?", don't make a fatal mistake! Once you've given your answer, you cannot retract!!!!!

More people fail on interviews right here than at any other point. Don't be mistaken and think they love you and shoot for the moon. Here is an example you can use:

Example: (Preferred)

“Mr. Interviewer, I believe that I can do the job and I’m interested in the job. I will consider a competitive offer.” If you are asked to define what’s competitive, then in a straightforward manner, review your current compensation, and how it is structured.

If you have another offer, be prepared to candidly review the structure of the offer (base, bonus, relo, stock, benefits, etc.)

Job hunting skills

The Elevator Pitch (also known as the 30 second commercial)

Just as a sales person must effectively communicate the benefits of the product or service he or she sells, the job seeker needs “sell” himself. To carefully craft and rehearse a 30 second “commercial” about yourself is an invaluable tool in your career search as it allows you to effectively and quickly introduce yourself, communicate your skills and what you are looking for. The elevator pitch is effective and versatile as it can be used in everything from networking events to interview situations. It conveys a clear message without loosing the attention of the person listening. Below are some examples of how to develop good elevator pitches.

Example 1

Who am I? (introduce yourself)
What field or industry am I in?
What position am I in? In what capacity do I serve?
What is my unique selling proposition and what makes me different from the competition?
What benefits can employers derive from skills, based on my proven accomplishments?

Example 2

“l am a (i.e., “Technical Marketing Professional”) with the majority of my career involved in (i.e., “semiconductor products for digital media consumer electronics")

Currently/Most recently, I worked at (“XYZ Company”) as (“title/role”) where I (briefly list duties). Prior to that, I (summary of prior experience, if relevant).

I find that wherever I have worked, I bring three key strengths to the table:
(name and define three strengths used in your work experience).

At this time, my future plans are to (future career objective).