Things you can do to get responses to job applications

Have you ever applied to a job that you knew you were "a perfect fit for" and never even got a response?

Sometimes it's not your fault. But there are things you can do to minimize non-response and things you can do to avoid encountering it altogether.

Some Causes:

• The ATS gave you a low score. Your resume may be lacking the right key words. Your  name and contact info may be inaccessible to ATS. You may not meet the requirements ATS is looking for.
• ATS is not programmed to send responses.
• The job was filled by the time you applied.
• The job has been put on hold.
• The company is not interested in you. 
• Some companies just don't behave responsibly or they lack the resources to respond.
• Occasionally the job was cancelled and the posting wasn't updated promptly.
• Sometimes the company recruiter does not follow through.
• Often there is simply no excuse.

You can deal with the problem by doing these things:

• Make sure your resume has key words used in the job description, used in context.
• Make sure your resume is compatible with ATS - Get help if you don't know how.
• Make sure you don't let job postings get "stale". Usually there is a "posted on" date. Get into the queue as quickly as is reasonably possible (be careful, sometimes haste makes waste).
• Avoid ATS by finding out who the hiring manager is and making direct voice contact with that person instead of immediately applying. Send your resume to the hiring manager after your conversation.
• Find hiring managers by searching on LinkedIn, Google and other media. Or make contact with people who work for the company and get referred by them.
• Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete, up to date, and has all the search words companies will be looking for so that you get "found".

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 
And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

Why all the fuss about resume length?

The three bears nursery rhyme comes to mind. There are probably as many opinions about how long a resume should be as there are people who write them. So what's the big deal?

The big deal is that resumes are a job searchers primary written document for enticing hiring managers to interview them.

Therefore it is logical to do two things:

• Understand what makes a good advertisement.
• Understand what the hiring manager's needs and wants are and be respond to them. Showing how one can satisfy the hiring manager's needs and wants is the critical factor in getting interviews.

Content is king! So is intelligent writing, knowledge of contemporary resume writing practices, spelling, grammar, resume appearance and readability.

But when it comes to length, the question always is, what is too much, too little or just right. 

The answer to the right length question is "That shortest length that contains the content that generates interviews." 

Don't get too hung up with length. But also don't write a biography. It won't get read.

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 
And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

6 things that make a great cover letter

The debate on whether to write a cover letter will continue endlessly. If you decide to write one, the following guidelines are for you.

Make sure the cover letter has been edited for the specific position you are applying for, just as the resume should be edited. These two documents should be tied closely to each other, without being repetitive.

A cover letter is a business letter. A good idea is to copy the header from your resume as a header for your cover letter. This ties the two documents together in a professional manner.

Make sure your cover letter does not have those overused, mundane clichés most of your competition will use. You want the reader to feel you are different from your competition.

These are the guidelines:

1 - It should be directed to the hiring manager by name and title.

People like to be addressed by name. “To whom it may concern”, "Dear Sir/Madam", etc., are very impersonal and not as well received as a personally addressed cover letter. Make a concerted effort to get the hiring manager's name and make voice contact with him or her  before you submit your documents to apply for the job. If you ask the right questions the hiring manager will tell you what his/her biggest challenge for the job is and you  can respond appropriately.

2 - Reference  the specific position you are applying for in a way that grabs attention and logically commands a response reaction. 

3 - Define your brand and project compliance with the requirements of the job. 

4 - Clearly show your knowledge of the hiring company and align yourself with them.

5 - Strongly suggest an interview and set expectations that a follow-up call will be made. It is better to tell them to interview you than to beg for an interview.

6 - Thank the hiring manager for his or her attention.  Thanking should be second nature to you. Make sure you don’t forget it in your cover letter.

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 
And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

3 reasons your request to connect might be ignored.

LinkedIn is a great place for job seekers to network. It's a valuable resource for those who are seeking a new job and want to find out about a company, a hiring manager or want to get an introduction to a hiring manager. It's easy to find information or get help by requesting to connect with people you know or would like to know.

But it's also easy for your request to become a complete turn-off.

When you want to connect with someone you don't know you are most likely to be rejected if:

·         You haven't said why you want to connect. Be specific. What is the purpose of your request? Do you want the recipient's help? Why do you believe the recipient might be able to help you? Have you read the recipient's profile? Do you know what they do? Have you checked out their interests so you can establish rapport? Can you find anything you may have in common with them?

·         You sent the default LinkedIn request. "I would like to join your network" is a pretty darn uninspiring message. How important to you is establishing a connection with the person? Is it too much to try to appeal to the recipient? Is your message unappealing?

·         Your own profile isn't complete. Most people will check out your profile before they decide to accept your request. Is yours complete? Is it appealing?

LinkedIn's main purpose is to help people network professionally. It is not a "popularity" site where you can brag about how many friends you have or discuss how much fun you had at somebody's party last night. Leave all that to FaceBook.

If you are serious about wanting information about a company, job, or hiring manager, consider being professional about how you request a connection.

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 

And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

What happened to adverbs? Where did they go? How quick did they get there?

I'll be the first to agree English is not an easy language to learn. Many Americans butcher English constantly.

Many people probably see nothing wrong with the title of this post. If you are one of them and you are looking for a job, pay attention. An adverb tells us when, where, how, in what manner, or to what extent an action is performed. An adverb is typically used to modify a verb, but an adverb can also modify an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs often end in "ly".

Failure to be grammatically correct in resumes paints a picture of ignorance of the English language. Why would a job candidate want to diminish the reader's perception of him or her? Some may believe it's unimportant, a rather naive stance to take in my opinion. Good grammar is equally as important as good spelling. If you need help writing your resume, make sure whoever prepares it writes correctly.

"How quickly did they get there?" is the grammatically correct question in this post title.

You can learn more about adverbs here. 

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 

And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

Clues to better networking for a job

When you don't already know the hiring manager, the most effective way to get hired is to be referred directly to the hiring manager by a current employee.

If you know the employee, networking with them is simplified. They are either a close friend, a friend of a friend, or an acquaintance you don't know a lot about.

If you don't know them, networking becomes a bit more complex. Approaching them takes some tact.

There are several elements to successful networking.

• The networking venue: Is it a 'by-chance' meeting, a formal meeting, a casual activity, an email, a phone connection, or other?
• Understand your own personality: Do you tend to be outgoing or are you more introverted?
• Understand how your interpersonal actions affect other types of people: Are you an engaging person, more direct in your approach, or uncomfortable starting conversation?
• Establish rapport, seek common ground: Draw the other person out and find out about them?
• Establish being likable: Establish trust, offer help before seeking it?

In general don’t ask people for a job. This puts them on the spot and may cause them to become defensive. Establish rapport by finding something you have in common with the person you are communicating with. Check their LinkedIn profile and social media, or Google them for topics they are interested in to ask them about.

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 

And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.

Why did you leave your job?

As we all know, this can be a loaded interview question depending upon what the real situation was. "For a better opportunity" is a good answer, but be prepared for the follow-on question, "But why did you leave before you had a new job?"

There are many different situations that cause people to leave.

• Could not tolerate what was happening (boss, company, coworkers, some form of abuse, etc.)
• Company closed, moved, or was being prepared for sale.
• Lay off - you were singled out vs. mass layoff, restructuring, etc.
• Your job changed and the new situation was untenable.
• Fired - for cause, not for cause.
• Spouse took a new job in another city.
• All kinds of personal situations; care-giving, affordability, recruited and new job and it fell through, etc.

Regardless of the situation, like a good Boy Scout, Be Prepared! There are hundreds of ways to answer depending upon the situation.

• Make sure you have a plausible answer.
• Honesty is the best policy because you won't get caught up trying to remember a lie. Stretching the truth may work if you don't twist too hard.
• Avoid detail. The more you say the deeper the probe is likely to get. If you are a talker, learn to shut up!
• Prepare your answer and practice it out loud. Video record it on your cell phone if possible. Make your mistakes in private and learn from what you see and hear.

 Like all good interview advice. Don't "wing it".

Send your resume to kl@hoochresumes.com for a FREE estimate Today! Then let's talk, no obligations! 

And visit my website at bit.ly/1TEqj93.