Special Note to Readers: My recent article How to Make a Potential Employer Fall in Love With You sparked some reader controversy. Various writers took me to task for telling job searchers to use a cell phone number. They disagreed with my stand that I don't want to receive phone calls from job search candidates. Others praised the article as a great resource for job search.
One of my readers, John Budzinski, wrote a response, from the candidate's viewpoint, that is well worth your reading time. He wrote, "Your column, How to Make a Potential Employer Fall in Love With You, does have many good points. While many of them fall under the category of ‘common business sense,’ the article is worth reading for anyone in the job market. However, these points derive from the frustration Human Resource and Hiring Managers have with the mountains of resumes they must search through to find those few 'qualified' candidates they will call to interview. Let me give some feedback from the other side of the desk." Thank you, John, for your candor and humor. Personally, I wish all of my job candidates were just like you.
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Want a job search persective from the other side of the desk? I have been in the job market for two years. I have sent out more than 800 resumes, either via email, snail-mail, or company websites. Through my efforts I have had close to 100 phone interviews in 18 states and more than 35 face-to-face interviews in 10 states. (From all indications I get from others in my situation and from recruiters, this is a terrific response rate.) My efforts resulted in two job offers; one I stupidly turned down and the second was withdrawn 3 days after it was made and accepted. From this experience, I feel I am more than qualified to give a perspective from that other side of the desk.
First, I would love to address a person receiving my correspondence by name. It would help if companies list a name in an ad. While I have long graduated from using, “To Whom It May Concern” to a little more respectful, “Dear Recruiter” or “Dear Hiring Manager”, I would like to send a professional business letter.
After all, companies want employees who are good communicators. Let me show you I am and that I can write a proper business letter. Make it a little easier for me. I really don’t want to make that “stalker” phone call to get simple information like names and addresses. (It amazes me why such information is left off of company websites and off ads.)
Second, clean up your job descriptions. Don’t be so Charlie Brownish with them. If you want an MBA, say so. Don’t say, “Nice to have”. Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you have a laundry list of must haves, list them. Do some creative editing and leave off the nice to haves. Save those to be discovered in the interview when you ask me, “What else should I know about you that makes you qualified?”
Believe me, if I do not have that MBA, I will not send you my resumes and you will be more productive by spending ‘quality time’ with totally qualified candidates’ resumes you do receive. If a job lists 10 qualifications your company requires of candidates and I have 9, I don’t send my resume unless the one qualification I don’t have is listed as “optional”. Please, don’t waste my time and I won’t waste yours. Help me help you. I do care and I don’t want to be remembered poorly the next time I sent a resume to you that has all of the qualifications you require for a job with you.
