What advice do recruiters have for job-seekers? There were many great panels at Berkeley's Beyond Academia conference in March, 2015 and one in particular stood out: "The Recruiters's Perspective". The moderator and panelists were (or had been) recruiters at top-line companies like Microsoft, Genentech, Exponent and Medivation. Here's what I learned:
Resumes
The recruiters astonished the crowd when they admitted that they spend only 5-15 seconds reviewing each resume. Yes, seconds! The sheer number of resumes (usually 100's per job opening) precludes spending any more time. The good news is that they all agreed that every resume that came in the door gets seen by a human, which contradicts what I have heard from other companies where computer screening culls out the worst of the inappropriate applications. Bottom line: if you hope to get your resume read, it had better be neat, organized and have the skills and relevant experience for the job you are applying for highlighted and easily found.
Cover Letters
Cover letters are only read if there is something interesting in the resume. Be warned: one recruiter said he was tired of seeing letters saying "I'm great. You're great. Let's be great together." Use your cover letter to make your case for being hired, expanding on any relevant information, and covering any gaps between what the job requires and what skills you have. If you are lucky enough to get your cover letter read, it's your opportunity to sell yourself into the job. Don't waste words by telling them you are a highly motivated, strategic team player. Anyone can say that (and no one would say they are a lethargic, task-oriented loner.) Use your cover letter to explain how you are different from everyone else.
Networking
What's the alternative to having your resume being one of 100 that gets the recruiter's eye for 5 secs? That's easy - networking. The recruiters said that when they work with the hiring managers to write the job descriptions they'll often hear "By the way, I met this student at a conference who might be pretty good for this job. See if you can contact her." You have to network! The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 70% of jobs are filled by networking and a large number of jobs aren't even advertised. Get out there and start networking now. Here's a way to get started.
Active vs. Passive Job Searchers
When you are looking for a job, networking and sending out resumes, you are an active job searcher. The good recruiters know that there are many well-qualified candidates who aren't currently looking for a job - but might be persuaded if the offer were interesting enough. These are the Passives. Recruiters will do online searches, they'll look at professional and trade websites, and search through LinkedIn to see if they can find candidates with the right qualifications. Would you like to have a company recruiter call you and invite you to apply for a job? Sure you would. That's why it's important to maintain and update your LinkedIn profile, comment on industry and professional websites, and maintain your own blog or website. Even if you are still a student you can list your courses, readings, skills and interests. Publish online lists of news and comments about companies, industries or technologies that interest you. Establish a professional presence and it will pay off.
Culture Fit
Finally, the recruiters pointed out the purpose of the interview. Yes, you have demonstrate that you in fact have all the skills and experience that you detailed in your resume. And you'll probably be asked a lot of questions about how you've handled successes and setbacks. But you also have to show that you are a person that the interviewer wants to have around for eight or more hours a day, five days a week. Will you fit into the culture of the company? Are you pleasant and upbeat? You don't have to do a stand-up comedy routine, but you do have to show that you are friendly, optimistic and can get along with people.
There you have it. There's no better source for your job-hunting advice than hearing from the recruiters. Now it's up to you.
