Last week I posted words that are common to job searchers. They may have heard them networking or read them in articles and have been unsure about what they mean. I have provided a best practice for each word.
Interview—an opportunity for both the company and the candidate to learn more about each other. Through question and answers both sides look for answers to questions that will show more about qualifications, skills, and experience of the candidate; and the candidate learns more about the needs of the company. Both use the information to decide if there is continued interest to continue the candidacy.
Job boards—Internet sites that list job postings in companies. Job searchers can search for jobs based on a job title, location, company, and other criteria. Additionally, they can post their resumes on the sites to be viewed by recruiters using search criteria similar to the job searchers. Spending too much time on the job boards can lead to frustration. Use of the job boards should be used in conjunction with networking.
Keywords—the words in the job posting that show a skill or experience that the company is looking for. Placing keywords from the job posting will alert the Application Tracking System (ATS) your résumé matches the requirements of the job. Using as many keywords as relevant increases the match.
LinkedIn—an Internet social media site that has profiles of the members. The profiles include name, contact information, companies worked for, skills, experience, awards, memberships and members of the owners’ networks. It can be used to search for people in companies, do research about companies, and job postings. It has been said that if you aren’t on LinkedIn, you don’t exist to recruiters. LinkedIn benefits your passive and active job search.
Metrics—the numbers on your résumé expressed as dollars and percentages to show how you saved money, made money or saved time for your employer. It is evidence of claims you make on your resumes. Hiring managers are looking for metrics when reading resumes because they are indications of the quality of your work. It is best to only use the metrics that are relevant for the position.
Networking—the best way to get a job. It has been said that over 85% of all jobs are obtained by networking. Networking involves meeting people of all types not just people in your field. The larger your network, the better chances you have of a job. However, networking is not a one way street; it is a relationship that must be nurtured unselfishly. It isn’t about you, it’s about what you can do for them before you ask for help.
Objective statement—formerly used on a résumé to show what you are looking for. This has become obsolete as the company knows that you are looking for a job. What they want to know is what you can do for them and not what they can do for you. Use a qualifications summary instead.
Punctual— whether it’s an interview, a meeting with a member of your network, or anyone, arriving on time is the only way to arrive. It shows respect for the relationship and the time of the other person. It indicates you are reliable and have time management skills.
Qualifications summary—three to five short statements on a résumé that contain specifics about your skills and achievements that are relevant to the position and show you are the best qualified. It replaces the objective statement because is show what you can do for the company.
Next week, I will finish the list. But in the mean time, I hope you benefit from this list.
How can I help you in your job search?
Image: freedigitalphotos.net Stuart Miles
