By Guest Blogger Gina Smethurst, Senior Recruiter
“If I were looking for a new job I would…” the 6th in a series of blog posts that will give you an opportunity to gain insight into the world of job seeking from a recruiter’s perspective.
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Do you ever consider job hunting as an Indy car race where all you do is go round and round with an occasional pit stop but ideally what you’re looking for is that checkered flag?
Keep Your Info Current
Before you can enter the race, you have to prepare yourself. Like many of my colleagues have expressed before, be sure your resume is up to date. Is your contact information including phone and email correct? Did you recently get laid off or are you no longer working for your current employer? Many times I’ve tried to contact a prospective candidate to find their contact information and employment history was incorrect. Be sure to update your resume with correct dates.
Prepare For Your Interview
You’ve applied, the light is green and you’re off! When a recruiter contacts you to discuss employment, be sure to thoroughly answer the questions being asked. Be clear and concise in your response; provide as much detail as possible. Before the interview, rehearse your introduction to answer the question “Tell me a little about what you’re currently doing.” Just like an in-person interview, we are assessing your qualification skills and how effectively you communicate.
Understand the Job and How Your Skills Match
As you talk with your recruiter, be sure to ask questions about the hierarchy of the position you applied to and how it fits within the organization. Lots of applicants get hung up on titles, and not all are the same from organization to organization. If the position is higher than the current or previous role you held, explain how your skills and experience have prepared you for this next stage. If it’s lower, explain how you can make an immediate impact to the organization.
Are your skills transferable to other industries? Expressing interest in other industries can open doors. As a recruiter for the Environmental Services Healthcare team, I introduce other areas of the organization that a candidate may be interested in such as Senior Services, Facilities, and Education.
Keep the Pace
Like with many races there are mandatory pit stops. Be patient with your recruiter and the recruiting process, but keep up the pace. Ask the recruiter if you can follow up with a call or email asking for a status update.
The key for handling the job hunting race is being prepared for the hiring process. Looking for a new job can feel like you are driving an Indy car, but with a little resume maintenance and interview preparation, you can keep yourself in the race!
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