How to get to “yes” or 5 things not to do in your job hunt
As a recruiter at Generator Group, I recruit people for highly sought after jobs in the outdoor industry. As someone who reviews hundreds of resumes and interviews dozens of candidates a month, the nature of my job forces me to say “no” a-lot. Your goal as the candidate is to avoid rejection and get to the “yes”.
Avoid these 5 things and make it harder for a recruiter or hiring authority to say “no” to you.
1. Don’t answer the phone when it wakes you up.
I borrowed this one from Penelope Trunk, founder of Brazen Careerist (http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/04/09/job-hunt-roundup-7-tips-ive-collected/)
I know people get giddy for interview call backs like they get giddy for good-date callbacks. But the combination of giddy for phone calls, and sleeping late because you’re unemployed could be lethal.
Time magazine reports that “the morning haze you experience when the alarm clock goes off is known as sleep inertia, and it clouds your brain more than sleep deprivation. The impairment is most severe in the first ten minutes but can linger for up to two hours.”
In this global economy, I once called a candidate with an East Coast phone number who had recently moved to Paris. She answered the phone at 4 a.m. Paris time in a haze. It was not a productive call for either of us.
Bottom line: Let the call go to voicemail and go get some coffee.
2. If you are a consultant (or designer) and you have a website, make sure it is a good one.
I have worked with consultants who have worked with strongly branded companies like Burton Snowboards and The North Face. They enthusiastically tell me to check out their website for more information on the work that they have done. One candidate even told me proudly that he had built the website himself. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the website had terrible graphics, misspellings and failed to articulate a value proposition for his consulting services.
Bottom line: Your website is a reflection of you. If it is bad, invest in a professional to make it better.
3. When a tough interview question comes your way, answer it with a positive bent.
I do not want to know how terrible your last boss was, nor do I want to hear about the failings of your last company. This causes me to wonder why you were involved with an unsuccessful organization or project. I have heard candidates speak of failed projects and companies that lost funding in a positive light, pointing out little successes along the way and wonderful learnings that they applied to subsequent, more successful endeavors.
Bottom line: The economy is depressing enough. No one wants to hire Negative Nancy.
4. Don’t apply for jobs you are not qualified for.
I recently had a candidate ask me to help her get an interview at Nike for a job she really wanted. She told me she met 9 out of the 10 criteria on the application. After reviewing her resume, I wondered if we spoke the same language. She did not meet any of the criteria.
Pretend like you are the hiring manager and your success depends on the success of the candidate that you are about to hire. Would you hire you for the job? Be objective about your background, skills and experience and how they line up with the job description.
Bottom line: Filling out job applications is about as fun as getting a root canal. Don’t waste your time (or mine) applying for jobs that you don’t qualify for.
5. Don’t include personal information or obscure hobbies/skills on your resume.
I do not need to know that you are married, in good health with three children. I do not need to know how much you weigh. Nor do I need to know that you “collect vintage mannequins” or that you have the “ability to cut art out of buffalo, rabbit, and lamb by hand”—unless you are applying for hand crafted rabbit fur slipper designer job. On the flip side, if you are applying for a VP of Sales at Newton Running (www.newtonrunning.com), and you just completed the Ironman, by all means highlight this on your resume.
Bottom line: Keep your resume professional and relevant.
Our core purpose at Generator Group is to help people and organizations achieve their full potential. We do this by connecting up and coming companies like Nuun (www.nuun.com), Blueseventy (www.blueseventy.com), Revision Eyewear (www.revisioneyewear.com), Massif (www.massif.com), OluKai (www.olukai.com), and Rapha (www.rapha.com) with top executive talent, in addition to our work with industry leaders like Under Armour, and adidas. Whether you are looking for your next exciting career opportunity or need a superstar to fill a key role within your organization, contact us for help in achieving your full potential. Search all of our jobs or learn more about how we can help your company meet strategic goals at www.generatorgroup.net or follow our blog or connect via twitter.
-Cody Johns, Recruiter
