The Worst They Can Say is No

Perhaps it's the optimist in me but I have a philosophy when it comes to applying for jobs.  You may find it a surprising one since I am on the receiving end of the application process but I believe it can work.  It's simple: apply for everything (although that does require some clarification).

I am not condoning the filling out of applications to every open job in a 50 mile radius but rather, I am encouraging job seekers to apply for positions they might otherwise pass over even though they meet most of the qualifications/requirements.  Case in point, most of the recruiting roles that I have been in have required a college degree (which to my own disappointment, I do not possess)...yet, here I am. 

What I lack in a formal (expensive) education, I make up for in wit and charm - uh, I mean, experience and skills.  You see, I started in the staffing industry as a coordinator.  With a little patience and a lot of drive, I soon found myself as a full-fledged recruiter.  By giving my best in the administrative role and taking initiative to learn the perimeters of staffing and recruiting, I was given added responsibilities which in turn led to doors of opportunity.  Today, I sit as a senior talent acquisition team member working for managers I love, on a team I love, supporting a client I love, for a company I love.  On paper, I may not have technically met all of the pre-requisites but I sold myself by means of a strong background with solid past performance.  Being in the right place at the right time helped too!  I still owe a good friend a fancy dinner for telling me about the position, otherwise, I may have never found it in the first place.

There I go getting off topic.  Alright, back on track - the point of today's blog is to reassure you that there is nothing wrong with applying for a job (or sending your resume) when you do not meet the entire list of requirements.  That is not to say that if there is an opening for a Director of Marketing, you should apply for the position just because you make up your own jingles for your favorite grocery items.  However, if you have been a Marketing Manager for seven years but the advertisement states that applicants should possess 10 years or more of marketing management experience - I say, GO FOR IT!  Or perhaps you have been an individual contributor for many, many years with no management experience.  This should not hinder you or cause hesitation to bid on a supervisor opening that you otherwise are the ideal candidate for.

Yes, recruiters in our day and age have dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes to sift through.  And no, we do not enjoy receiving resumes from candidates who are not remotely qualified.  Who's to say that you are not a diamond in the rough though?  Job descriptions are pretty standard.  What one hiring manager may write off as not the "right fit," might be a (duh!) winning match for another manager.  At the very least, you have put yourself (via resume) out there and may end up in the hands of someone who finds your credentials to be of value to their team or department.  You'll never know unless you try and trying should only take you a few minutes.  And after all, what's the worst they can do (file your resume away) or say (thanks but no thanks)?!  It's their loss anyways...right?!

The Objective of the Objective

A professional blog consisting of excellent written expression, intelligent banter and a helpful spirit.  In search of curious readers who will contribute to the success of this blog by means of clear communication and thoughtful inquiries.

Does the above paragraph strike a resemblance to the famous "objective" section of your resume (or perhaps a resume you have seen)?  That is my parody of the often useless, mostly dismissed objective statement (also known as a Summary or Profile).  You will regularly see this blurb of adjectives as the headline of the resume used to paint a picture of what the applicant's strengths are, what they will offer the employer and what their career goals are.  The only problem is that the details provided are typically vague and generic.

In my opinion, a few sentences that say you're a team player with strong organizational skills who wants to grow with the company are a waste of space to put it frankly.  Instead, this area can (and again, in my humble opinion, should) be used to detail specific accomplishments such as "consistently scored 95% on customer satisfaction survey scores month over month for two consecutive years." 

If you insist on including an objective piece, please be so kind as to tailor it to the position and employer you are sending your resume to; otherwise, it irradicates the purpose.  And of course the purpose for your summary is really to showcase what you are capable of based on past experience and proven indicating factors. 

So let's try this again....

Recruiter's Corner is a workplace blog written by Jessica Erickson, owner of Write Track Resumes.  Jessica has executed resume construction and revision for over 50 clients.  Write Track Resumes currently has 44 followers on Facebook with the goal of obtaining a fanbase of 100 within the next three months.  Jessica is also the author of another successful blog dedicated to subjects related to mostly motherhood and marriage.

And yes, it is important that you personalize each time you forward so that the information is relevant to the opportunity. 

Get your career on the Write Track by finding the right objective to your objective statement!

Step into my office...

Well, I did it!  I have officially created an employment related blog.  My goal is to provide honest, helpful guidance to those in the dark about where to search for jobs, what information to include on a resume, how to answer interview questions and much more!

As a recruiting professional, I have some of the answers; however, keep in mind, every recruiter or hiring manager is different.  This is not the best saying but "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is relatable because an applicant one recruiter might disregard as unqualified might be the perfect match for another recruiter.  Please note - I, in no way, meant to refer to anyone as trash by the above quote.  Although my pointers might not apply to everyone, I will do my utmost to provide generalized advice that will be applicable across the board as much as possible.

Another feature of this blog will be occasional "guest" bloggers from other recruiting and HR professionals.  This will hopefully even out the playing field and allow for feedback I might have otherwise excluded or neglected.

So - the floor is open and the mic is turned on.  Let me know what is on your mind.  I want to hear your questions, your frustrations, your successes.  It is important to me that my blog topics are centered on what matters to YOU! 

Looking forward to helping you get your career on the "write track!"

Recruiter Jess