From the monthly archives:

June 2009

Q + A: What would make a recruiter want to read my resume?

by Stephanie A. Lloyd on June 30, 2009

in Cover Letters,I'm looking for a job,Networking,Recruiters,Resumes

This is part of an ongoing series in which I’m answering questions from job seekers. Please post your questions in the comments section below to be answered in future articles. Please include your name and location if you want to be addressed by name; otherwise the question will be attributed to “Anonymous.”

Cartoon by Hugh at gapingvoid.com

Stephanie,

I have a fresh question for you! I was reviewing employment opportunities on [a well-known website.] To contact a recruiter, this site suggests the following message as an example:

Hi Recruiter,

You and I may be able to help each other out. I’m a top-performing sales professional with 15 years experience in the semiconductor space in the southeast. I’m a senior-level professional who is just as comfortable running the show as getting my hands dirty. I’m looking to develop new markets and drive a quota-busting team to succeed. I hope to hear from you soon and look forward to working with you.

Best, Cheezy Desperate Job Seeker

Due to a recruiter’s workload, shouldn’t one’s message be a bit more truncated? What type of message would pull you in to view a resume?

I hope all is well with you!

Respectfully,

Kevin J. Acker, MA, Owner/Principal, Panoptic Consulting Group
Duluth, MN

§ § § § § §

Hi Kevin,

I’m glad you asked because that message is hokey and recruiters do NOT like hokey. The people who would send that message with their resume are the same people who would print their resume on blue paper with bunnies and MAIL it to a recruiter and I do not recommend doing any of those things.

I prefer a courteous and brief introduction: how did you find me/my firm, why are you contacting me, what do you want to do in your next job, and are you willing to relocate.

This way I can review the resume against current openings and see if I have anything for that person at the moment. If I don’t, but I’m impressed with the candidate, I’ll ask them to touch base with me once a month so that I can keep them in mind as new opportunities arise.

Hope this helps!

Stephanie

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Tagged as: Ask the recruiter, Cartoon by Hugh, Do you want this job or not, Get a life, I need a job, No stalking please, Recruiters

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Me + Stone Payton + Lee Kantor on High Velocity Radio

by Stephanie A. Lloyd on June 30, 2009 · 2 comments

in About the author,Branding,Customer Service,I work in HR,I'm looking for a job,Media,Networking,Radio,Recruiters,Resumes,Social Media,Workplace Issues

Yesterday I had the opportunity to join @StonePayton and @LeeKantor on High Velocity Radio.

We talked about using social media tools to connect and build relationships with people.

Correctly using social media platforms such as Twitter and blogs can help people find a job, and companies can use social media to find, attract, and retain top talent. We discussed how you can get started as well as mistakes people make – I revealed many of my own mistakes and believe me I have made a LOT of mistakes – and how to avoid them.

By the way, @StonePayton and @LeeKantor are hilarious! They kept me laughing throughout the entire show.

Click here to listen to the show! You can also find it on iTunes: search podcasts for “The High Velocity Radio Show.”

Or you can listen to a brief excerpt where we talk about social resumes. I personally recommend listening to the whole thing but I’m probably a little biased.

And oh! I almost forgot. @StonePayton is going out of town for some super-fun family vacations and he’s asked me to guest host his radio show for him. He obviously has absolutely no idea what he has just done. He is one brave man. I hope I don’t blow the whole thing up and forever ruin his entire radio career. It is a distinct possibility and I am so sorry in advance @StonePayton because you are a super nice guy.

Anyway I will be guest hosting High Velocity Radio live on the air at 10:00 am EDT on Monday, July 20, 2009, and my uber-talented friends and partners in crime Rock Star Career Coach + Resume Writer Miriam Salpeter and Executive Recruiter the fabulous Jenny DeVaughn have agreed to participate. We will have a roundtable discussion and the very brave @LeeKantor is actually on board with this.

I honestly don’t know what man in his right mind would be willing to be trapped in a studio with me + @JennyDeVaughn + @Keppie_Careers. Is there a Survivor casting call in Atlanta any time soon? Hey Survivor. I’VE GOT YOUR GUY.

Wish him luck because he’s going to need it and if he’s smart he’ll have some of his ninja friends and an extraction team on hand just in case.

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Tagged as: Blogging, Do you want this job or not, Get a life, I need a job, I work in HR, Interviewing, It's personal, LinkedIn, Online etiquette, Please stop doing that, Recruiters, Twitter, Yes I am actually being serious

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We don’t care about your hobbies.

by Stephanie A. Lloyd on June 27, 2009 · 1 comment

in I'm looking for a job,Recruiters,Resumes

April Dowling, author of PseudoHR, recently wrote Ten resume tips for the non-HR job seeker and she shares some excellent advice. She says, “Resumes are a way to get your foot in the door; here are a few tips to help ensure the rest of you gets through the door.”

I really like several of the tips April shares in her blog post:

Spell check – It’s included in every word processor, use it, please.

Italics – Italics are for names, movies, books etc; not for your job title or entire resume.

Hobbies – We don’t care, keep it job related. [A note from the management: we really don't care and not only that we think you don't have good judgement because you just told us the names and ages of all of your children and your cat. I'm sure they are all lovely but they belong on Facebook not on your resume.]

Past work history – Rule of thumb is ten years but if you don’t have that much history list the information that pertains to the job posting. If it’s a management position and you have management experience at McDonalds include it but if were just a burger flipper don’t include it.

Objectives – My personal preference on resumes, don’t include an objective. Your objective is to get a job, same as everyone else. Use that space to add information about your job experience.

You can read the rest of April’s excellent advice here. <– Clicking on this link is highly recommended.

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Tagged as: Do you want this job or not, Facebook, Get a life, I need a job, Please stop doing that, Recruiters

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101 random things about me

by Stephanie A. Lloyd on June 27, 2009 · 10 comments

in About the author

In My very first blog was the WORST. BLOG. EVER. And why you should write one too. The sequel. I told you to be interesting. Take risks. A lot of risks. Be NAKED. Be you on your blog. I also said that nobody wants to know 101 random things about you and I was talking specifically about Facebook in that instance but anyway I firmly believe that the very best leaders lead by example so I’ll go first.

1. I think dogs are better than people. 2. I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. 3. I had my tonsils taken out when I was 20. 4. I graduated from Florida State University. 5. With a degree in Economics. 6. Which I did not understand until my junior year and then I got “A”s. 7. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia when I was 27 years old. 8. I started running when I was 29. 9. A year later I became a vegetarian. 10. 2.5 years later I went back to eating meat. 11. 2+ years ago I became a veg-head again. 12. Because I saw Robert Redford’s Sundance documentary about the meat processing and packaging industry and it completely freaked me out. 13. I have a brother who lives in Colorado. 14. When I was five my mom accidentally (??) slammed the car trunk on my head and I had a big gash on my head but did not have to get stitches. 15. In college I had a dog named Buffett. As in Jimmy. 16. When my brother was born my parents got me a puppy. 17. I realized later it was a peace offering. 18. She was a Cocker Spaniel and I named her Samantha after my favorite show Bewitched. I was four.

19. I hate Florida. 20. My whole family lives there (except for my brother; we’ve covered that.) 21. Apparently I’m not that interesting; this is already becoming difficult. 22. I had braces in high school. 23. I also wore a back brace for Scoliosis (I looked totally hot. I KNOW.) 24. If I could look like any celebrity it would be Jennifer Aniston. 25. I get my eyebrows waxed every two weeks. 26. I hate strays and I hate plucking. 27. I have worn contact lenses since I was 15 and last year I learned that I am allergic to them. 28. My favorite shoes to run in are Nike. 29. I hate shopping but if I have to go my favorite mall is Phipps Plaza. 30. But Lenox Square now also has a completely awesome Nike store. 31. I have run five half-marathons. 32. I have completed all of the training for two full marathons. 33. I have run zero marathons due to injury (1st time) and illness (2nd time). 34. I believe that the third time will be a charm. 34. I have lived in 5 states. 35. And 8 cities. 36. And no my dad is not in the military. 37. Atlanta is definitely my favorite. 38. I started my own business when I was 36. 39. I am now 39.8. 40. It was the most liberating thing I have ever done. 41. I took ballet when I was 6. 42. I was the most uncoordinated child in the class. 43. I cut some of my own hair off the day of my recital. 44. On one side only. 45. Rarely did I get in trouble as a child but I did that day because my mom had to get my hair up in a bun for the recital. Sorry Mom.

46. In high school I was on the tennis team. 47. And track. 48. And cross-country. 49. And I was in the Spirit Club. 50. I refer to my hair stylist as The Hair God. 51. I used to call him The Hair Genius and upgraded him to a deity several years ago. 52. I have been going to him for nine years. 53. I hate wearing shorts. 54. Except to run, of course. 55. I love capri pants. 56. My favorite song right now is Somethin’ Special by Colbie Caillat. 57. I love my iPod nano. 58. It is green and on the back “Fortitude” is engraved because that’s what distance running requires. 59. My nickname is Tess. 60. For a whole year in high school I went by Megan. 61. It is not my middle name. 62. I hate wearing flats and I think the current ballet shoe trend is stupid. 63. I have watched the movie Raising Helen at least 50 times and I still love every minute of it. 64. Ok I wouldn’t mind looking like Kate Hudson, either. 65. I don’t like sweets. 67. At all. 68. I was not born on another planet. 69. I love pizza. 70. With extra cheese and extra sauce. 71. I also love steak. Filet specifically. 72. And I really really miss it. 73. My favorite time of day to run is mid-morning. 74. I hate getting up early. 75. I do not set an alarm. 76. I love coffee. 77. I hate making it. 78. I don’t like to talk to anyone before 10:00 a.m. 79. Except my dog Jake. 80. I love sushi. 81. My favorite roll is the Alaskan (snow crab). 82. When I was little my dad called me “Grace” because I was such a klutz. 83. I would actually walk in to walls. 84. When he learned that I was practically blind and needed to wear glasses he felt really bad about that. 85. I love vegetables and my favorite is spinach. 86. I think beer is for frat boys. 87. I am running out of things to say. 88. I need 9 hours of sleep every night. 89. My favorite flavor of Gatorade is Lemon-Lime. 90. In fact, I have never even tried any of the other flavors and I don’t want to. 91. I love NYC. 92. I do not miss being Platinum on Delta. 93. I love Lifetime movies. 94. The romantic comedies and dramas not the wife-beater depressing ones. 95. And, I am addicted to CNN and I’ve been on @RickSanchezCNN‘s show four times via Twitter. 96. I love winter. 97. I hate summer (probably part of the reason I don’t like Florida). 98. I hope someone reads this. 99. I LOVED college. 100. I hated high school. 101. My dog is on Prozac.

Ok now it’s your turn. Please write some random things about yourself on your shiny new blog [it does not have to be 101] and link to it in the comments section so I/we can read it.

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Tagged as: Atlanta, It's personal, My dog Jake, Yes I am actually being serious

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This is my completely awesome dog Jake.

June 27, 2009

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5 good things to do when you write on your blog

June 26, 2009

Since I keep telling you that you need to have a blog I should probably tell you some things to do with your shiny new blog. 1. Write about things you care about. Tell us what you do and how you do it and tell us how you feel about what you do and why [...]

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It’s the Career Carnival Blogging Event hosted by @Animal!

June 26, 2009

Today @Animal is hosting the fourth Career Carnival Blogging Event of 2009! Be sure to swing by the carnival to get some completely awesome career and job search advice and discover some truly excellent blogs! Contributors include moi, @Animal obviously, @beneubanks, @jerry_albright, @dawnbugni, @cincyrecruiter, @andygregorycpg, @Karla_Porter, and many more talented writers and career professionals that [...]

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dear pants. it’s not me it’s you.

June 25, 2009

In The top 10 worst Tweets of all time I gave examples of good tweets and bad tweets and I posted this blog post on Facebook and my good friend and colleague from our completely awesome work together at Deloitte the most spectacular @MargaretSutton asked me whether the examples that I gave were extreme from [...]

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