“Everyone Lies on Their Resume”

Posted by matt at 6:55 am

Does everyone lie on their resume? Is it OK?

With the unemployment rate fluctuating between 9.5 and 8.3% over the course of the last year there are a lot of Americans out of work. In short, there are millions of job seekers dealing with the dreaded gap in employment. The unfortunate fact is that a steady employment history is a much coveted element of the resume for hiring managers. It demonstrates an employee maintained a consistent level of performance, is valuable in the marketplace and was dedicated to the job. Resumes like this make a hiring manager’s life much easier.

So does it make sense to fudge the numbers? In this dog-eat-dog world are you justified in bridging the difference with a little creative editing on your resume? No. Definitely not. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Ethics – Outside of enjoying the peace of mind of representing yourself factually, if you compromise your ethical integrity with a hiring manager you could flag yourself with anyone in that network.

2. Fact Checking is easy – Even if your interviewer doesn’t check your resume against your past employers’ records, checking online information like linkedin profiles is as easy as a few clicks. You would have to maintain the same, now very public lie, across all visible social media versions of your resumes as well.

3. It could show in an interview – Interviews are tough as it is. Add lying into the mix and you’ll most likely tip the interviewer off that something just isn’t right. Most likely your interviewer does this for a living and they’ve seen it all.

So what’s the solution?
First of all, most hiring managers are just looking for the best person for the job and unemployment gaps during a down economy are to be expected.  Be prepared to present an employment gap in a way that demonstrates you were productive and made the most of the situation. Did you volunteer? Did you seek educational opportunities or certifications? Did you do some consulting work or start a blog? Help build on your successes as an employed professional by demonstrating that unemployment became an opportunity. And… practice this pitch with a smile on your face. A gap doesn’t have to be a weakness. It can be proof positive that while the chips are down you are the employee they’ll want in a pinch.

For more interview tips, trends in job hunting and employment, visit the StratStaff blog.

Your Resume Stinks!

Posted by matt at 12:01 am

OK…Got your attention? Your resume might not actually stink. You may be one of the few who has crafted a pretty stellar resume. Or, you could be part of the majority that has written a good or marginal resume. Or…your resume might actually stink…Sorry. But there is hope!

Here at StratStaff we see many, many, many resumes. While trends evolve there are some very basic elements that job seekers at all stages in their career must lock down before submitting a single resume.

1. Choose an “Objective Statement” or a “Profile Statement” and choose wisely.
Don’t know the difference? An objective statement is a statement tailored specifically for the position you are applying to. Make sure to avoid the shotgun spray approach. Don’t try to “save loads of time” with an objective statement explaining that you are looking for a position in Marketing, Sales or Web Development. In a lot of cases it’s the person who’s reviewing your resume who’s time you’ve just saved because you appear unfocused.

A “Profile Statement” is your personal branding message. Often 3-5 sentences, the profile statement tackles the monumental task of summing up your career in under 100 words. Although using a Profile Statement is usually most appropriate for professionals with a few years experience under their belt, it does work in some cases for recent college grads with the right internships and experience.

2. Quantify Your Accomplishments – Bullets with Impact!
Make sure the bullet points summing up your experience at each position aren’t merely a uninspired list of your mundane day-to-day tasks. Ultimately what you say to your reader is that you just showed up. Explain what makes you different and how you made an impact to the organization.

3. Aesthetics
Unless you’re traveling back in time, you may want to drop the Times New Roman font for something a little more contemporary. That said, this isn’t the time to try out Papyrus or “Wing Dings”. The goals is separation. “Make an impression, not a mark”.

You also want to give your resume the 5 second test. In five seconds the viewer should be able to have a sense for how many positions you have included, position titles and companies you’ve worked for, and should be drawn to some of the accomplishment driven bullet points that you’ve included . Proper spacing, and use of bold in positions and companies will help avoid the sea of text effect.

4. Social Media
We had to include a note about Social Media – not because links are a requirement on your resume – but because it’s the next step should a hiring manager be considering you for employment. Just count on it.

Finally, there is nothing that can replace a professional resume writer if you are willing to make the investment. Included in the process of retooling your resume is the process of revisiting the value you brought to your employers. It can be both validating, eye-opening and may uncover experience that you are leaving out!

For more interview tips, trends in job hunting and employment, visit the StratStaff blog.

StratStaff Reviews and Picks 5 Online Career Resources

Posted by matt at 5:06 am

Even with unemployment recently upgraded to 8.6%,  finding a job will remain a big priority for millions of Americans. The bad news? Competition is as fierce as it ever was. The good news? Online resources available to the job seeker can extend the effectiveness of your reach and the efficiency of your search.

At StratStaff we constantly review and test these resources and have chosen five resources that job seekers should keep on their radar.

1. Linkedin

We get it. Kind of a no-brainer. That said we routinely come across talented professionals that don’t have a profile or haven’t made a conscious effort to maintain a fresh presence and stay connected. A couple suggestions to stay current? Take Linkedin’s advice for improving your profile. Connect with current and past co-workers and other professionals you network with professionally and make sure to get (relevant) endorsements. Lastly, use “Groups” to post and engage with your network.

2. Google Alerts

Check out our post on how to use Google Alerts. There’s a little bit of work on the front end, but when it’s done you’ll have another great automated online search tool.

3. Facebook Apps

There are several big players tapping the social media space but Monster’s Beknown and CareerBuilder’s BranchOut both extend the benefit of integration with the big job board’s existing job seeker resources. How does it work? Both apps access your Facebook friends for current company information and a lead on who in your network might be able to make an introduction to a hiring manager. There were some concerns initially when the apps, in a marketing attempt to spread the word, pushed invites to new user’s  connections. These issues seem to  have been addressed.

4. Wanted Analytic’s “The Hiring Scale“

The Hiring Scale has undoubtedly taken a cue from job aggregator’s like Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com but has added a few bells and whistles as well. Just like any job search engine,  adding a position title and geographical search parameters will return postings from the web. In addition The Hiring Scale will also return relevant search results for employees for targeted companies on Linkedin and salary information for the position.

5. Mobile Apps

Job search apps created specifically for mobile give you added live-access to openings and the speed to react. With upwards of 77% of job seekers using mobile to search and apply for jobs, your mobile device might just help you land a job in 2012.

We’re always on the lookout for what’s new and what’s useful, so stay tuned for our 1st quarter picks in January 2012!

For more interview tips, trends in job hunting and employment, visit the StratStaff blog.

Using Google Alerts for Job Hunting Yet? | StratStaff Tip!

Posted by matt at 10:40 pm

If you’re NOT using Google Alerts in conjunction with Google Reader in the job hunt yet, you could be missing out on a powerful tool.

Why Use Google Alerts for Job Hunting?

Every time you open your web browser, click, type or visit a website, you’re using up time and in essence doing work. Although surfing the web has become second nature to most, there are most definitely quicker and more effective ways to find the content you’re looking for… And when you searching for a job, the quicker the better. Consider Google Alerts and Google Reader - If you don’t have a google or gmail account you’ll need one.

How Do I Use Google Alerts for Job Hunting?

With Google Alerts you simply create a search string (just like you would in Google’s standard search engine), save that string, then tell Google how you would like to receive content. For purposes of a job search the content you’re looking for could include: job postings, company press releases, hiring announcements, funding, promotions…The sky’s the limit on how you can use this information. Your saved search strings can be as simple as:

Or more complex like:

(if this looks like Greek, check out these links.  Basic search.  More advanced)

Starting to see the potential yet? After you create your string(s) you can direct Google on the frequency you would like to receive results, the volume of the results and also how you would like to receive results (email or feed). With a gmail address you can simply have results sent to your email account or you can choose “feed” and view your results with Google Reader – Definitely our suggestion.

When you choose “feed” you are telling Google that you want to view your results using Reader. With Reader you can create named folders for each category of searches and really organize your feeds so you aren’t having to dig through email. Just visit the folders on a daily basis and see what was posted. And, you can set up as many Google alerts as you like, be as specific or as broad as you like and really start to customize your job hunting experience.

Like any job hunt your strategy should include a number of online and offline tactics. With Google Alerts you can create a baseline, customized digital search front so that you’re not going back to the drawing board on a daily basis.

The Definition of Insanity

Posted by matt at 3:39 am

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein…or wait it was Mark Twain…Confucius! No…Doing the bare minimum of web research it seems only American author Rita Mae Brown and the original text of NA bare actual documentation. What’s this got to do with job hunting, you ask?

There just may be some insight into the way we operate on a professional level that can explain why so many of us fall into this suggested trap. Most of us are wired at an early age to persevere. “Try harder”! “Practice makes perfect”! These are great anthems with a single purpose in mind; endure the learning curve on the way to mastery.

But what does this have to do with searching for a job? A few items that require some mastery come to mind. Interviewing skills or writing the perfect resume. Creating your elevator pitch and anticipating that killer question from a prospective employer. But what about getting the interview in the first place (in this job market!). Can you really continue firing resumes into the digital abyss? Enter insanity. If you’re just submitting your resume and praying for returns you could be betting on a pretty low conversion strategy.

So, what’s the answer? Step back, take a deep breath and come up with a plan. The resources at your disposal will be unique to you but the framework for a plan is generally the same.

1. Know your target(s). Know exactly what you want to do? Great! You’re one of the few. Most people have a variety of skills that can be applied to a number of different positions. Understand which jobs are easily within reach, just in reach and positions you may have to stretch for.

2. Know your timeline. It should be aggressive enough that you’re striving but not so unreasonable that you’re doomed for disappointment. You’ll need to have a firm grasp on your financial health to determine whether that less-than-glamorous temporary position is a means to an end.

3. Know your resources. Have an internet connection? Great and not so great. Millions upon millions of job postings on the internet make the finish line seem a perpetual mirage on the horizon. I don’t mean to suggest you shouldn’t submit your resume to open positions. Definitely do so. But this is merely the beginning of a self-branding campaign.

From here comes the creative part. Human beings are social creatures and look for connections to guide decisions. Separate yourself from the other job seeker resumes queued-up in already stuffed email accounts. Network! Network through your friends and all the professional connections you have. Most importantly create new connections (including recruiters). Also make sure to join new groups, take a class, or volunteer. This is a two-pronged strategy aimed at (1) your position targets and (2) expanding the scope of your professional perspective.

4. Map your plan. Put your plan on paper, keeping your timeline and resources in mind and start scheduling activities to support your plan.

One thing to keep in mind. Networking comes a little easier for some than others. If you’re in the latter category, it gets better. Practice makes perfect.

For more interview tips, trends in job hunting and employment, visit the StratStaff blog.

The Job Hunt. Should You Ever Settle?

Posted by matt at 5:05 pm

Accept no less than you’re worth. Strive to be fulfilled and passionate about your career. Sounds like good advice, right? But even during booming economic times there is competition. So just how much should the economic landscape affect your job search when the marketplace is flooded with talent? Or better yet, should it affect your strategy?

A recent labor department report shows yet another  unexpected rise in unemployment benefits claims of 412,000 last week – that’s 34,000 more than were estimated. The good news is that we peaked at 659,000 at the height of the recession, so it would seem we’re at least heading in the right direction. But what kinds of questions should you be asking yourself while job hunting during these “tough economic times”?

Are you unemployed? How bad do you need the income?
Making decisions about career from a position of strength is always best. When unemployed you’re already at a disadvantage and don’t have the luxury to hold out. Find the best-fit job that will pay the bills. This way you can continue to look for the job that contributes to logical progression on your resume.

Working but not necessarily towards your goals?
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to break into the right industry, the right company, or earn the right title. Often the best thing you can do is try to get close. Ideally this means you’re getting closer to the right professional networks and hopefully sharpening related skills.

How realistic are your expectations?
Just because your career goals are somewhere in the stratosphere doesn’t mean you can’t be practical about the time and effort it will take to get there. Do your homework. Talk to professionals that have earned the position you’re after so you better understand the playing field.

Trying something “different”
Are you an out of work Ruby Programmer thinking about trying your hand at sales? Maybe you’re a successful (recently laid off) Advertising Account Executive curious about Nursing? There’s no good advice here except to know yourself. Jumping into a new adventure is a privilege as a human but also a bit of a gamble. You took some time arriving where you are, so don’t sell yourself short making a hasty decision.

For more information on job searching and recruiters, visit the StratStaff blog.

The Recruiting Insider: Why I am a Recruiter

Posted by Krista at 11:06 pm

To say I was green when I graduated college is an understatement. What I did know was that I needed a job ASAP (this much I gained from my degree in Economics). I also knew that among my strengths were excellent interpersonal skills, a great work ethic and I absolutely knew that salary and compensation were my biggest motivators. Sales would be my gig. But knowing what you want and knowing how to get there are two different things altogether.

I chose to strike off on my own through a sea of internet job postings and classified ads just to see what would stick. But by NOT using a recruiter I was missing a very important resource. After dozens of interviews with dubious opportunities I took a position in commission-only coupon sales with promises of franchise rights and riches. I actually spent 18 months in that position as a top performer, but alas did not own my own company and certainly was not rich! It was during a day of hardcore residential cold-calling that I received a call from a recruiter. As a legitimate recruiter, he explained the process and his role in detail, the most important point being that as a contingent fee recruiter he would be paid by the company and not by me.

A job seeker’s experience with recruiters can be a different version of (hopefully) the same relative experiences. Recruiters have a relationship with the hiring organization. Recruiters understand the playing field and know how to guide a candidate. My recruiter set expectations by explaining the interviewing process and how I could best prepare. He even gave me general suggestions in professional dress, best practices in presentation and most importantly told me what not to do. Don’t be late. Don’t fidget. Don’t show up in anything but a suit. As you may have guessed, there is a happy ending to the story. I got the job and after years of experience I now realize the important role the recruiter played. The rest is history. I performed well in that position, received several promotions and gained valuable experience that I bring to the table everyday when I speak to job seekers. At this point, I’ve forgotten the recruiter’s name but I’ll never forget the experience!

Employment Rising?

Posted by admin at 5:28 pm

Though it’s a small percentage (1 point) the Monster Employment Index climbed to show year-over-year growth rate at 14% in May.

Check out the report

New Grad? Check out our survival kit

Posted by admin at 11:15 pm

Survival Kit Link

Does Goal Setting Work?

Posted by admin at 8:50 pm

Source: Hardy, 2010, article Goal Setting Doesn’t Work

In a recent Success Magazine article Darren Hardy discusses the pitfalls of goal setting – mainly, the activity of JUST setting goals. Goals without an action plan, without metrics or most importantly without an introspective glance at the root cause of poor performance. What may seem obvious to everyone else can often become an unconscious pattern of behavior for you and I. Yes…Hardy’s solution for changing behavior and expecting different results takes WORK and the only way to truly get started is total accountability for our actions as well as the results of those actions. Hardy offers a helpful tool called “The Wheel of Life” to aid in finding balance and gauging success.