Do you want to avoid the black hole? Then don’t risk falling into it in the first place!

The use of ATS software at the front end of hiring processes is becoming more and more prolific. It is also being used extensively by recruiting firms under contract to hiring companies to do candidate searching for them. Is your resume ATS-ready? If not, ATS parsing software just might toss your resume into the ‘bottomless pit’.

Applying to jobs online is like standing on the edge of a bottomless pit. One false move and you and your resume are gone. At worst it can result in no one knowing you were there, no one able to contact you or help you. At best you might be one of the less than 2% of people who actually get called for an interview. At worst you are an unknown MIA.

There are two solutions that go hand in hand. A more effective way of spending your valuable job search time is to make your resume ATS-ready and talk directly to the hiring manager before you apply for the job.

Consider the fact that all hiring companies are concerned with the costs of doing business, including recruiting and hiring costs. Hiring costs have gone through the roof because of the ease with which people can apply for jobs whether they are qualified or not. Companies are willing to purchase an ATS software license because they can offset the cost by eliminating people and the associated salary and benefits they would have to have on board to handle the volume.

For years companies have used referrals from employees as one source of candidates. Companies have created Employee Referral Bonus plans (ERPs) wherein bonuses of a few hundred to a thousand dollars are awarded to employees if the person they refer is hired. ERP bonuses cost a lot less than the cost of a recruiting firm or the costs of advertising on job boards, therefore many companies prefer using ERP bonuses whenever they can. Recruiting firms can be effective, but they are the most costly to the hiring company. Recruiting typically costs between 25 to 35 percent of the candidate’s first year salary and sometimes more!

Being referred to the hiring manager and talking directly to that person before you submit your resume is the most effective job search tactic you can use! If you make sure your resume is ATS-ready, it gets you past the ATS issue and it costs the company far less than the alternatives. Trust me, if you don’t do it, your competition will and you will remain just ‘one of the herd’.

And take it from an HR professional who writes about internal company recruiters: “Nothing personal: Why recruiters don’t get back to you” by Suzanne Lucas, March 25, 2013: http://ow.ly/juSR9

Karl has been reviewing resumes for people at no cost since 1999. He has been counseling job seekers since that time as well. If you would like his help, email him at kl@hoochresumes.com

When you are a “perfect” fit for a job, why don’t you get a response to your application?

Has it happened to you? Does it happen often? Have you written and rewritten your resume many times and still received few or no responses? 

There are many reasons why job seekers don’t get responses: 

·         I am not going to defend companies who do not respond except in cases where it is actually your fault, such as when it is not clear how to reach you or you have made a typographical error in your contact information.

·         Or they may be using Applicant Tracking System software to process the volume and you may have made some mistakes in the creation of your resume that make it impossible for ATS software to understand who you are.

·         Or you are not as qualified as you believe you are.

 

While it is a fact that companies are overwhelmed by the volume of applicants that should not be a reason for failing to respond to you. Sometimes companies seem not to care. And some employees are overworked or apathetic regarding their responsibility for contacting you. 

Fortunately there are some things you can do to improve your situation:

·         #1, don’t start out by pounding the job boards and immediately applying online. Yes it is the easiest way to job search. It is also the least effective way. There are better ways of spending your valuable search time.

·         Have you hired professional resume help from people who understand what causes ATS parsing software to fail?

·         Do you target companies you are interested in rather than broadcasting to everyone?

·         Do you find out what the hiring managers’ critical needs are and edit your resume and cover letter to be responsive to those needs before you apply?

·         Do you know how to identify who the hiring managers are? Do you reach out to them; talk to them before you send your resume so you can identify their critical needs and edit your resume. Job postings don’t always reflect the real needs.

·         Have you ever found out who works for the company and tried to get a referral to the hiring manager?

·         Have you learned how to create scripts you need to make calls, get past the gatekeepers and speak directly to hiring managers? It is important to learn the communication skills you need.

Karl has been reviewing resumes for people at no cost since 1999. He has been counseling job seekers since that time as well. If you would like his help, email him at kl@hoochresumes.com

How does your picture influence a reader’s mindset when they view your LinkedIn profile?

If the reader gets a positive image of you in their mind, they begin liking you before they read anything about you. That is the equivalent of a nice smile and good eye contact when you go in for that face-to-face interview.

What can go wrong with your picture? What are the turn-offs?

#1 - No picture.

#2 - Picture that is so dark your expression cannot be seen.

#3 - A picture of your dog, cat, motorcycle, boat, a flower, a scene, etc., instead of you.

#4 - A picture of you in a group of people or you and your favorite pet, vehicle, etc.

#5 - No smile, No expression, A poker face.

What makes you look most likable?

#1 - A big, happy, contagious smile or laugh.

#2 - A head shot from the shoulders up.

#3 - A light background with enough lightness in your face to clearly see your expression.

How do you accomplish that?

Take lots of pictures and either buy a picture editor or have someone edit it for you.

Crop your headshot out of a larger picture, edit the fill light, highlights, shadows and color temperature as necessary.

Karl has been reviewing resumes for people at no cost since 1999. He has been counseling job seekers since that time as well. If you would like his help, email him at kl@hoochresumes.com

What would you say is the difference between Selling and Interviewing?

I would suggest they are totally alike.

Selling is the logical explanation of why a particular decision makes sense.

Selling is overcoming objections, logically responding to roadblocks.

Selling is knowing how to negotiate.

Selling is knowing how to deal with rejection when it happens and how to maintain both self-confidence and self-esteem.

And most important, Selling is knowing how to communicate with people and build relationships.

So what is the difference between Selling and Interviewing?

Karl has been reviewing resumes for people at no cost since 1999. He has been counseling job seekers since that time as well. If you would like his help, email him at kl@hoochresumes.com

Why should anyone believe a resume that is full of self-assessing adjectives?

Job seekers, the best way to market yourself is by stating the results of your work, not by describing yourself as being ‘innovative’, ‘effective’, ‘self-motivated’, ‘creative’, ‘dynamic’, ‘results oriented’, etc. Why should anyone believe unsubstantiated, self-assessing descriptions of you? That’s just resume “fluff”.

Please! Prove it to us. Tell us what you have accomplished, what the results of your work have been. Let us conclude how great you are. Your accomplishments are all the proof we need.

Karl has been reviewing resumes for people at no cost since 1999. He has been counseling job seekers since that time as well. If you would like his help, email him at kl@hoochresumes.com