Risk

Whew! What a frustrating week. My job as a Corporate Recruiter is very rewarding, and frustrating at the same time.

We keep hearing about the high rate of unemployment almost every time we turn on the television or read the paper. So you would think that finding people that are interested in working would be easy right?

Last week I called and emailed about 300 people. All of these people have their resume posted on Monster. For those of you that don’t know what Monster is it’s a giant database of resumes. Job seekers choose to put their resume there to let recruiters know that they are looking for work. If I actually call 300 people can you imagine how many resumes I actually reviewed?

This week was more frustrating than most. I left a lot of voice mails, and followed up with emails. That’s pretty typical. The frustrating part was how rude the people I talked to were. Most of the resumes that I called on have the last employer listed in 2008. That means that these people have been out of work for almost two years.

Now I know that the position that I am recruiting for is not the right fit for most people. It’s B2B, Outside Sales, 100% commission and 1099. So I expect that about 75% of the people I talk to will pass on the opportunity, and I am completely ok with that.

After this week I am wondering what happened over the last two years? I have been talking friends that are recruiters and they have the same frustrations. I have also been talking with people that I know that are out of work. Their frustrations are high because they are tired of being told they are “over qualified”. What exactly does that mean? I know what “over qualified” meant three years ago, but I have no idea what that means today.

When I was looking for a job, I was just as frustrated as the people I know. I was equally shocked at the way I was treated by recruiters. Now I am recruiting again, and trying to find a way to bring balance back to recruiting.

I recently read an article on ERE. The Electronic Recruiting Exchange, called “It’s Time to Hire Tiger Woods” http://www.ere.net. The title of the article caught my eye, so I just had to read it. I was really glad that I did. It talks about hiring the “over qualified” candidates. Yes there are risks involved, but no great reward ever came with out risk.

At what point do we, as recruiters start taking a risk? It’s time to start talking with those “over qualified” candidates. Are they going to be a fit? Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Maybe they will be a great resource for referrals. Remember everybody knows somebody.

When are job seekers going to stop being bitter, angry, and rude? If we are not willing to give each other a chance, how will we ever be able to help each other? Recruiters may find that dream candidate, and job seekers you may find that dream job, that you never knew you wanted.

Risk is a very scary thing. It’s uncomfortable, and there is no guarantee. Think about the times when you took a risk, what was the outcome? How did you feel after that? I know that every time I’ve taken a risk there has always been a great reward.

Job searching

In addition to being a Life Coach, I am also a Corporate Recruiter. I spend the majority of my day on the phone talking with job seekers.

Looking for a new job/career in 2010? Make a list of things that are important to you about your next opportunity. Make a list of things that are non-negotiable. Commute, pay, benefits, time off, environment etc. What's THE MOST IMPORTANT to you. Then start a list of things that are important, but not deal breakers. Once you know that you will have a better idea of the type of job you want.

There is ALWAYS a discussion about salary during the interview process. Be as honest with the recruiter/hiring manager as you can. If your minimum salary is $80k then tell them that. If your minimum salary is 10.00 per hour then tell them that to. While companies are doing everything they can to save money they will pay for the right candidate.

Remember interviews are your opportunity to learn as much about the company and the manager you will be working for so ASK QUESTIONS. We like it when candidates are interested. We want to know that you did your research. Do let the interview process be all about the company getting to know you. Remember you want to make sure that the company is a fit for you. You want it to be a win/win on both sides.

Be dressed professionally for your interview. Guys slacks and a button up shirt as least. Girls slacks and a nice blouse. Ask the dress code if your not sure. Keep perfume and cologne to an absolute minimum. There is nothing worse than being in an interview room with someone who bathed in their perfume. Especially if you are allergic to it. Always take a resume with you. Yes they have one, but it's nice to show that you are prepared.

Always, always, always follow-up with a Thank You email, letter or voice mail. I did have a hiring manager that no matter how much he loved a candidate, if they didn't send a Thank You email or letter he wouldn't hire them.

I hope that these things help you with your job search for 2010.