Ever wish you had ten minutes with a recruiter to ask them for their words of wisdom? Just a few minutes to pick their brains about the countless resumes, interviews and job seekers they’ve come in contact with? As a job seeker, a recruiter can be a very valuable source of advice and information but it’s not always easy to get face to face with a recruiter due to their busy schedules. Well, you’re in luck! We sat down with our recruiters and picked their brains for you! We asked Maggie, Brendan and Eric three questions that all relate to job seekers, enjoy your peek inside a recruiter’s mind!
1. What’s the biggest piece of advice you can offer to a job seeker?
M: “Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for.” If you have specific skills and experiences that directly relate to specific positions, showcase those skills so the hiring manager can directly correlate your skills to what they’re looking for.
B: “Stay dedicated to your search. It’s still very competitive. So do everything you can to network, apply for jobs and utilize all your resources to finding the next role.”
E: “Utilize all your resources! Treat it as a part-time job. Get in contact with people you know in your industry and let them know you are looking. Go to networking events, use LinkedIn and be proactive!”
2. What would you tell job seekers about interviews?
M: “Be energetic, prepare answers, and talk about what YOU specifically did, not what your team did. Offer examples so the interviewer doesn’t have to keep prying to find out what they want to know.”
B: “Be prepared. You should be able to speak confidently about your past experience, career goals, why you’re the best fit for the position and your knowledge of the company you’re interviewing for.”
E: “Do your research and be prepared. Research the company, the job, find out the personality type of the interviewers, questions that will be asked in the interview, etc.”
3. What is the most common mistake you see on resumes/cover letters?
M: “Addressing the cover letter to a different company other than the one they are applying to. Or saying in the cover letter “I don’t have experience to do this but I can learn…””
B: “The objective or cover letter is for a different position or person than what they are applying for. Attention to detail is important when HR or hiring managers are reviewing 100+ resumes, don’t give them a reason to discard yours.”
E: “Resumes are messy and unorganized. Make sure your resume is neat and detailed and tailored to the position you are applying for.”
Put their advice to use and check out our open positions today!
