Resume Review - Beat the Recruiter's 7 Second Clock

 In 2018 an Eye-Tracking Study by Ladders Inc. revealed that recruiters spent an average of only 7.4 seconds on a resume. Here are the top skills needed to write a resume because content counts, NOT the resume template.

Articulate your skills - Writing needs to be to the point and concise while providing the information a recruiter is quickly seeking in your resume.

Review job ads to identify gaps in your skillset - Every employee should look at career job ads! Knowing if your skills are up to date is essential even if you're happy in your position. If you're looking for a position, it's a vital step before starting a resume.   

Personalize your resume - Personalization is essential, depending on your career. For example, creative positions often require portfolios created as websites. The web address information must be on the resume.

Show results, not just skills - Team leaders, project leaders, managers, and other executives need solid results to reinforce their stated skills. Experience recruiters look for budget, sales, and other metric accomplishments within a resume to "prove" experience.   

Skip the fancy design elements - Minimalistic resumes are best. You have 7 seconds. You don't want a recruiter wasting time looking at your resume's design. Pictures of yourself are not recommended unless you're an actor, model, or in the beauty profession, where looks matter.

Demonstrate a steady work history - Hiding gaps in your resume is not advisable. It's better to let prospective employers know what you achieved or did during your employment gap.

Job searches have gotten more competitive and complicated since 2018. The prospective employee must jump two hurdles in their job searches. The first is based on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), needed to have your resume pulled from the database for a recruiter to see. The second step is to present your information to present the 7-second test.  

Networking for a Job with Relatives

For some people asking a relative for anything is difficult, but when it comes to supporting your family sometimes, you have to swallow your pride and ask, “Do you know of anyone hiring?” Where to find a job is difficult and networking for a job with a family member is different from a business situation because of the very personal relationship you have with them. Often family members know your best qualities and your worst. This can make them somewhat reluctant to giving personal referrals so ask them about their business connections with other companies. As with any job networking effort, you must make a plan of action for the best results.  

First, create a list of the companies with positions of interest to you and plan what you want to say. Remember you are going to contact everyone in your family so organize what you plan to tell them about the type of job you are seeking, the companies where you would like to work, and the locations where you want to work.

Secondly, create a list of ALL your relatives from the ages of 18 to 90. Then review your list of family member to make sure you have not forgotten second, third and even fourth cousins and their spouses.  Set a goal to ask each relative for the names of three people who may know of any potential employment leads. If you have created your company list and wants the process of targeting whom to call first, second and third happens automatically. Make sure you thank everyone you call and do a follow up with them once you have talked to the person they recommended. Job networking within the family can be embarrassing, but it does increase your chances of finding an inside person within the companies where you would like to interview.

Work Image - What Kind of Employee Are You?

What type of image do you present to employers. Believe it or not every job opening you see does not require a superstar matter what the employer leads you to believe. 95% of the jobs in the US require nothing more than a worker bee. However, when you read their job ads and listen to their employment manager you'll find that they are asking for a creative self-motivated upwardly mobile dedicated champion employee.  Employers always want a star!

When I was recruiting, I found that most of my candidates fall into four specific categories.  I often ranked my incoming resumes along these lines in order to seek out the best and the brightest for my clients.

The question is which category do you fall in?

Comers - These types of employees have a high potential for advancement. Most potential employees that fall in this category are usually new to the job market. These entry-level people often have a college education but little in terms of actual work experience. Many comers work below their skill levels because employers are reticent to higher these individuals for more advanced job positions. Since, most employers seek stars, I highly recommend career related internships for all college students so they have some work experience prior to entering the job market. 

STARS - These individuals perform outstanding work. Most people who are considered STARS have sparkling resumes and excellent job references. Their accomplishments can be marked with awards, special recognition and excellent references. This category of employee is the one all employers wish to hire. In order to become a STAR, individuals must continually network, seek recognition and improve work skills throughout their career.

Solid Citizens - These Individuals have outstanding work experience and perform satisfactorily for their employers. Solid Citizens often are near the peak of the career but have little or no awards, special career recognition or excellent references. Solid Citizens have often worked at the same level in their career for years at a time. Though these people aren't important asset to a business they are solid work performance in the same position can mark them as deadwood should they need to find a new job.  That is why I recommend that solid citizens volunteer for work projects and network with colleagues the most.

Deadwood - Individuals considered deadwood by possible employers either work below their expected work experience level, have been unemployed for over a year (employers wonder why they haven't been able to find job yet); or they've been fired for cause such as theft. Individuals marked as deadwood have the most difficult time of finding a new job and should talk to a career specialist to get them back on track. Most recruiters will not promote you and employers can discriminate against the unemployed by stating on their job requirement ads " Will not considered unemployed applicants for this position."

For more tips and information on how to increase your chances when job hunting read my book Get Hired! A Recruiter's Inside Guide to Getting a Job. 

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Coping with Job Hunting Frustration

Avoid frustration though positive thinking

Maintaining a positive attitude is essential to finding a job. Interviewers will instinctively notice if your attitude is less than positive. Some may interpret the physical signs of frustration and stress as laziness, low self-esteem or poor attitude. A less than positive person is less likely to be hired so it is vital for job hunters to focus on their mental attitude, dress, body language and skill presentation. Despite company and government policies, how you look and present yourself does play an important role in the hiring process.

  

William Knaus in his book “How to Conquer Your Frustrations” describes how frustrations exist “... when our wants, wishes and desires get thwarted or interrupted.” Interviewing is difficult during the best of times, but the financial and emotional stresses of joblessness take their toll as time progresses. To avoid this pitfall of unemployment one must maintain a proactive and positive attitude.  

Job hunters may avoid this pitfall of lengthy job search by looking at the positive aspects of their career and the benefits they can offer a company. One way of maintaining a positive attitude toward yourself is to write down the best of your qualifications and read them daily. Network with former colleagues and professional organizations in your field, these personnel contacts will improve your job hunting outlook and possible provide you with a company introduction. Volunteer for charitable events in order to network with others. Isolation is your enemy while job hunting.      

Another is to see how your skills translate to other industries where jobs are plentiful. For example, a receptionist who has excellent people skills may wish to look for positions in healthcare field where strong office skills are required. This may mean some re-education but this proactive approach to job hunting will help to prevent job hunting frustration.

 
Remember learning to cope with job hunting frustration is a major factor in a successful job hunt. Think proactively to avoid job hunting frustration. 

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