Yolanda M. Owens
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Media Buzz
  • Speaker Booking
  • Career Coaching
  • Contact
  • Blog

5 Things Recruiters Look for in a Resume

6/23/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
Yolanda M. Owens is an author chick who's fluent in humor and employer dating issues. Her book How to Score a Date with your Potential Employer parallels job searching with dating from the lens of a corporate recruiter.

Picture
5 Things Recruiters Look for in a Resume
By Yolanda M. Owens

Have Recruiters Seeing STARS!
You've heard people say that when they met that special someone, they saw fireworks. Well, when a potential employer reads your resume, they should see S.T.A.R.S. (Simple; Truthful; Assertive; Results-driven; Swagger). 

A resume should be intriguing and informative, alluring yet accurate, should tell a story, but leave room for conversation and the reader wanting more. So how do you accomplish this without sounding cliche, self-absorbed, or like you're trying to hard? Follow the S.T.A.R.S. guide below and win the attention of recruiters who will be screening your resumes.

Simple = Skip the fancy formatting! Recruiters respect the fact that you're innovative and have a knack for clipart and textbox formatting. But at the end of the day, just keep it simple, sunshine! Be more graphic about the skills and deliverables you have to offer than showing off your flair for
clip art.

Truthful =
Make your resume sound interesting but keep it accurate. In other words, save the embellishments for your outfits. Most companies conduct background checks on your resume information, so that little white lie could banish you to the unemployment line.

Assertive =
Don't be afraid to toot your own horn! That's why they call the resume a brag sheet. It's an opportunity to show what you've accomplished. But keep it professional and relevant to the position(s) you're applying for. You don't need to list every accomplishment you've made since your third grade spelling B! 

Results-Driven =
Focus on your deliverables and quantify them. This will make you stand out among the competition. Anyone can say they make widgets. But if you say you made widgets 25% more efficiently while saving the company $10k in production costs, you'll get more attention.

Swagger =
Having swagger means taking that extra step to tactfully get someone's attention and getting them to want to know more about you. This means showing you put some thought and effort into your resume before dispatching it. A well-crafted, thoughtful resume is the first step in demonstrating that you've got game.

2 Comments

May 20th, 2011

5/20/2011

 

First Post!

1/23/2011

16 Comments

 

Fatten Your Professional Little Black Book Online and Off

Picture
In a time where everyone is living their lives out loud and unfiltered, it's hard to determine the professional comfort zone when networking.  Whether tapping into your six degrees of separation or in cyberspace, you need to establish some professional boundaries.  Recruiters and hiring managers realize times are tough, but that does not give job seekers a get out of jail free card for invading their personal space in the name of professional networking; you need to know your role.

So let this be your litmus test.  The next time you decide to call, email or "friend" a random stranger on a social network, ask yourself, how would you feel if this person did the same thing to you? Blindly contacting someone you don't know who could possibly take you out of the unemployment line with a 30-second elevator pitch is the equivalent of drunk-dialing an ex minus the personal connection. Can you say stalkerish? And do you honestly think this makes a great first impression?  Sure it demonstrates the size of your moxy, but doesn't bode well for you in the personal judgment department.

So what is the protocol for networking (online or off) with people you've never met in the job search process?  I call it my social algorithm: six degrees of separation + a common denominator +3 contacts = trust.  In other words, in order to effectively network with individuals you don't know (without being labeled a stalker) you need a connection to their social circle, share something personal in common, and have at least three contacts with them to win their trust.  You can't expect someone who doesn't know you from a can of paint to miraculously recommend you for a job based on a blind friend request, phone call, meeting at the grocery store (fill in the social scenario blank). You have to build a rapport with them and earn their trust through the social algorithm.

So how do you get these types of vitals on said stranger who could hold your future employment in their hands?  Channel your inner 007 and legitimately use your cyber stalking skills for your intelligence.  Do a search for said stranger on LinkedIn to see who they're connected to and if you share individuals in your social circles.  If you do, contact that connection and ask them for an introduction to said stranger so you can elevate your status from stranger to acquaintance.  Now, don't assume that since the introduction has been made you have free access to immediately ask this individual to hook you up with an interview while you're in town the following week.  You have to build a rapport.  Dig deeper on LinkedIn, Google, or just ask your connection where this person went to school, whether they have kids, play the tuba...The angle here is to find out something personal you both have in common so there's a connection and a conversation piece other than the weather and the fact you need a job. 

Now that you have this information in your arsenal, you need to employ the secret phrase "Flattery will get you somewhere".  Use these common denominators to stroke the person's ego and get on their personal level.  Set up an informational interview to find out more about what they do for a living, ask them to be your tour guide next time you visit their city, give them a list of great restaurants for the vacation spot they'll be heading to for the holidays.  This is far more subtle than the blind contact elevator pitch and will get you more traction in the long run.  You'll know the equation is complete once you've had three meaningful contacts with the person.  By then you'll have established enough common ground to talk about your credentials and how your new acquaintance can help you build upon them
.


16 Comments

    Author

    About Yolanda M. Owens
    Author Chick. Recruiting Sensei. Gen Y Guru. Education Enthusiast. Intern Whisperer.  Read more tips in her book "How to Score a Date with your Potential Employer".

    Archives

    June 2016
    February 2015
    June 2012
    May 2012
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    Career Advice
    Employment Search
    Etiquette
    Fashion Etiquette
    Job Hunting
    Job Search
    Networking
    Social Networking

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.