Archive for category executive recruiters
Are You Over-Sharing On LinkedIn?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters, job search, linkedin, social media on February 6, 2012
LinkedIn—that all-purpose gathering place for professionals, recruiters, and employers—allows you to converse with like
-minded experts in your field, learn about industry-specific topics and events, post resume information, and send private messages to employers in hopes of securing that perfect job.
However, if you’re divulging too-personal details, or letting others have uncomfortably close insight into your job search, it can take longer to find a suitable job - or you can be blacklisted entirely by recruiters.
If you’ve started to confuse LinkedIn connections for your Facebook friends, it’s time to take a step back and consider whether you’re harming your job search.
Here are some signs that you’re wading too deep into personal territory on LinkedIn:
1 – Posting negative comments about your job search in a LinkedIn Group.
While it’s perfectly normal to be frustrated with a job search that’s taking too long, LinkedIn is not the place to blow off steam about prospective employers, HR contacts, or recruiters.
Yet, you can peruse Groups forums and find this type of activity nearly every day, with disgruntled professionals posting information about negative exchanges with employers, and the occasional rant against a particular company or hiring manager. Read the rest of this entry »
Who’s Viewed Your Profile on LinkedIn – And What Do They Want?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters, linkedin, linkedin profile writing services, recruiters, social media on January 20, 2012
Scroll down the sidebar of your LinkedIn Home Page, and you’ll eventually notice the blurb that asks “Who’s Viewed Your Profile?”
If you click on it, you’ll see a page entitled Profile Stats, which is designed to show you other users that have looked at your information.
To get a glimpse of who is searching for you, you’ll want to leverage Profile Stats.
Start by changing LinkedIn Profile Settings (hover the mouse near your name at the top of the page to click on Settings).
Click on “Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile” and choose Your Name and Headline (recommended) to allow others to see YOUR information when you review THEIR profiles.
Now, on to the good stuff: there are common categories of users who are surfing your Profile (right now!). Go to Profile Stats to see the types of LinkedIn users who are looking for you – and why: Read the rest of this entry »
What You Should Know Before Contacting a Recruiter
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive recruiters, leadership resumes on August 2, 2011
Considering contacting a recruiter to find out about executive or leadership jobs in your field? Many job hunters assume that forging connections with recruiters will put them closer to lucrative, high-level positions that aren’t otherwise advertised.
However, a successful recruiter-job seeker relationship doesn’t just happen. It’s important to understand the relationship among all involved parties (the recruiter, company, and you), get your resume in top shape, and to be ready to deal with potential objections.
These tips will help you be ready to work effectively with a recruiter—with better results from the relationship and a faster outcome for your job search: Read the rest of this entry »
Is Your Leadership Resume Ready for a Recruiter’s Call?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters, executive resume writing on September 8, 2010
It’s happened! You received a call out of the blue from an executive recruiter who is searching for a great candidate, and he wants to see your leadership resume quickly.
Add a resume title, using as many specifics as possible that reflect your goal, such as CFO and Board Member, Vice President of Operations, IT Director, etc.
Next, you’ll need to write down ideas for a summary of your background and why you’re qualified for this particular position. The key to writing an effective summary is to tweak it and keep it flexible during the executive resume writing process, as different ideas will spring to mind that you can weave into this section.
In addition, your leadership resume summary needn’t be an actual paragraph. Some people find it easier to write short, brand-focused headlines instead.
Remember to review your summary after finishing your resume as well. You might find that you’ve uncovered more information to add—forming the basis for a well-rounded, powerful introduction to the rest of your executive credentials.
2 – Make a list of success stories to be listed as achievements.
Here is where you’ll need to spend the bulk of your time. Analyzing your contributions to each employer in each leadership role is critical!
Start by jotting down ideas and key points that you’d make in the interview, taking special note of the metrics behind each story and the impact of your work on the company.
Flesh each out to a small paragraph, cutting out extraneous details, until you have a sentence of 3 lines or less that describes your executive role, the context behind each accomplishment, and the results.
Repeat this process a minimum of 3-5 times for each job that you’ve held in the past 10 to 15 years to fill in your leadership resume, adding as many details as possible, while keeping your sentences brief.
Finally, add these stories in bullet-point form for each job, then finish by writing a basic job description that introduces each executive position—describing the number of employees you’ve supervised, budgets managed, business unit growth, and other contextual details.
3 – Get feedback on your leadership resume update.
This is an important step, but it’s one that many executives miss. Colleagues, spouses, bosses, and friends can help you to recall any important projects you might have omitted, or leadership qualities that you should demonstrate in order to be considered for the job.
You can also rely on others to help you proofread your new executive resume, as typos and other errors can escape even the best writer who is pressed for time.
You’ll want to go back over what you’ve written in detail, keeping what others have said as a guide, in order to emphasize some points about your leadership skill and bring in others.
That’s it! Now, take the time to compose a short note to the recruiter that points out your main qualifications and the reasons you’re interested in the job. Your new leadership resume can help do the rest of the talking.
Why "knowing" recruiters won’t help you in your search
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive recruiters on July 26, 2010
I was recently asked by a prospective client if I “knew” any recruiters. Well, I do maintain strong relationships with recruiters in various fields, but there seemed to be a disconnect in the question.
You see, finding a recruiter is only part of the effort you’ll need to undertake in order to be successful. Recruiters find candidates, not jobs. Let me repeat that again – a recruiter will NOT set out to find you a job.
Recruiters are in the business of locating desirable candidates to fill requests by the client companies that pay their fees.
Therefore, they will have little reason to scour the corporate world to find new job openings for you, but they may be interested in your qualifications. The key word here is “may.”
If you offer a straightforward career trajectory with a wealth of industry experience, you may well be a sought-after candidate by recruiters.
However, if you plan to change careers, your work history is spotty, or you are currently unemployed, you may find that recruiters are not able to convince their clients of your value.
What does this mean for your search? You’ll need to spend time finding the right audience for your resume, rather than just shooting off a mass email to thousands of recruiters (or finding someone who “knows” a recruiter!).
And above all, remember to use the same level of professional courtesy that you’d deliver in the context of an interview. Recruiters are dealing with intensities of the job market just as you are, and will remember their interactions with you.
Should you work with a recruiter?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive recruiters, executive resume writing on March 29, 2010
Considering contacting a recruiter for your job search? You’ll need to first understand how this relationship works, then locate and nurture the best sources of recruiters for your field.First of all, your best option is to contact more than one recruiter during a job search.
For jobseekers who don’t grasp the overall strategy of recruiting, this may seem confusing. Can’t the recruiter you called just find you a job?
Working With Recruiters, Part III: 5 Tips for Finding and Approaching Contacts
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters on June 18, 2008
If you’re conducting an active job hunt, you’re probably aware that working with a recruiter can be an effective method for your search. However, finding a recruiter that specializes in your field can be a daunting prospect. Where should you look? How do you know what to expect? And what precisely should you be prepared to provide?
Finding and effectively collaborating with recruiters is mostly a matter of sharpening your networking skills (which is a good idea during any phase of a job search!).
Read on for some ways to expand your options and locate key professional recruiting contacts that may also be looking for YOUR expertise:
1 – Avail yourself of professional organizations in your industry. These associations can be a boon to the active job hunter, as they frequently offer job postings, member networking events, and other resources that can help you tap into unadvertised positions.
Recruiters who source candidates from a particular industry will often attend professional association meetings. Where allowed, recruiters may introduce themselves with the idea to stay in touch, although most won’t solicit members directly.
If you don’t attend association meetings, there’s never been a better time to start. Perform an Internet search for organizations in your industry, and attend some of their events in order to familiarize yourself with potential new resources for your transitions.
2 – Consider automating part of your search. Recruiter distribution services abound on the Internet and elsewhere. What do they offer? For most, this is a combination of fast access to recruiters, plus ease of use.
When evaluating different distribution services (a few are ResumeRabbit, ResumeMachine, Resume Zapper, and ResumePromotion). Be sure to compare distribution coverage (as in the number of major metropolitan areas), plus the number of recruiters that the service claims to have in their network.
Two caveats should be mentioned in conjunction with resume distribution: first, not all recruiters appreciate receiving an emailed resume, and may not respond, and second, if your resume isn’t a fit for current openings, you may not receive the same level of personal consideration had you contacted the recruiter personally.
In addition, if you aren’t a great candidate for the requirements of the market, distributing your resume to recruiters won’t increase your chances of success. However, in terms of time savings, this type of mass distribution can definitely cut some corners.
3 – Use online social networks to find additional contacts. This method also allows you to view recruiter qualifications and specializations. For example, if you’re concentrating on getting out of the mortgage industry, contacting a recruiter who works exclusively with technical sales professionals would not be a fit.
Conversely, most recruiters who maintain profiles on LinkedIn or other social networking sites will delineate what they are looking for in a candidate, and this can save you some time.
4 – Build your own online profile to make it easy for recruiters to find YOU. If you don’t already maintain your own LinkedIn profile, this is a great time to jump on board. Visit www.LinkedIn.com to build an online presence, add connections from your email address book, and start looking around to see what else is offered, including plenty of job postings and professional advice.
You can also view my LinkedIn profile here, and be sure to connect with me to find out how many recruiters are in my network.
5 – Send a brief query that indicates your interest, and then follow up. After you’ve identified recruiters that specialize in your field, it’s best to attach a resume for perusal, or point to your online profile to give the recruiter more information. Follow up with a phone call to gauge the level of interest and start building a relationship.
I recommend sending out a short, pointed letter of inquiry, rather than a wordy description of your skills. Recruiters are by definition quite busy, and they’ll appreciate your brevity.
To summarize, finding recruiters takes the same type of activity that you would typically engage in for a job search.Be prepared, just as you would be to approach an employer, to review your goals in some detail and decide if there’s a collaborative fit.
ExecuNet Article – Working Effectively With Recruiters
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive recruiters on August 16, 2006
The topic of working with recruiters comes up frequently in my line of work. For every person who has actually used a headhunter, there must be at least three who are unsure how to start or believe that this is the solution to finding a job with minimal effort.
This ExecuNet article brings up excellent points for candidates seeking the services of a recruiter: http://tinyurl.com/gfpay
To reiterate, recruiters do have your best interest in mind and are trying to make that perfect match happen. Establish a good working relationship with one or two headhunters in order to benefit from this arrangement.
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