In the throes of a job search it is easy and tempting to forget the little details that can mean the difference between further consideration or not.
In the throes of a job search it is easy and tempting to forget the little details that can mean the difference between further consideration or not:
Send thank you letters promptly. These should always be personalized, so get the proper name and title of everyone you meet – collect business cards with each interview for this reason. You should also write a follow up thank you to everyone you meet, not just the most senior person or the person with whom you had the best rapport. This is your professional face forward so be sure to write an engaging and thoughtful response, and of course, to check grammar and spelling.
Return calls in a timely manner. Same day is ideal and no longer than next business day is acceptable. If you are going to be away longer than that, leave some indication on your outgoing voicemail. If you don’t want to leave vacation plans on a home machine, direct callers to a number where you can be reached if it’s urgent. (If you decide to take cell phone calls on vacation, make sure you can be professional on the call. Otherwise you’re better off letting it go to voicemail.)
Respond to requests for additional info in a timely manner. If they ask for references, you should be prepared with a list that includes titles and contact info. If they ask for a writing sample, forward one within the timeframe requested. Keeping the hiring employer waiting shows a lack of interest or diligence or both. If you suggest an article the interviewer should read, forward a copy or the hyperlink. Make it easy for them to hire you.
Be punctual in all meetings. Always leave extra time to get through the building reception, especially in this era of heightened security. Leave extra time to fill out any paperwork at the human resource reception area. Leave extra time to get lost, for train delays, for traffic, for extra breaths outside the building.
Is Your Job Search Flexible or Just Unfocused?
As a recruiter, I’ve seen lack of flexibility on the recruiting side with employers clinging to every last detail in their ideal spec while perfectly good candidates get overlooked. As a career coach, I see jobseekers prematurely dismissing possible targets waiting for that perfect job. It’s true that you want to be focused in your job search (otherwise you dilute your efforts and come across as scattered and possibly desperate).
5 Questions to Test If Your Resume Is Recruiter-Proof
After recruiting in search and in-house for over ten years, I have read thousands of resumes. Due to sheer volume of resumes received and all the other things that vie for the recruiter’s attention in the hiring process – scheduling, interviewing, networking, reference checks, client debriefs, and more – the resume review process is ruthlessly quick.
Why Conventional Wisdom On Work Flexibility Is Always Wrong
In a previous post, I wrote about why employment statistics are always wrong. In a similar way, conventional wisdom on work flexibility is always wrong. It is impossible to generalize something that is inherently case-by-individual case. Therefore, any boilerplate advice or conventional wisdom is bound to omit a key consideration, underweight or overemphasize other considerations, or take too long-term or short-term of a view.
