3 Steps to Keeping your Options Open

Regardless of your comfort level at your current job, you never know when you might suddenly be looking for a new career, sometimes unexpectedly.  Your company might get purchased, you might lose a huge client, you could get fired, your boss could get replaced…the possibilities are endless.  There are a few easy steps you should take to keep your career network open, regardless of your current status, since it could change tomorrow:

1. Build & update your Working Resume - Use this ‘working resume’ as an opportunity for you to keep yourself updated on what you’re doing & accomplishing at your job.  Too many times I’ve seen candidates stay at a company for years and years, but when it comes time to build their resume, they’ve forgotten all of their major accomplishments!  Were you the top biller in the 4^th quarter of 2011?  Go into your working document resume and write a short bullet about this.  Awarded good citizenship award in August?  Make a note.  If it comes time to actually begin looking for a job, it will be extremely easy to go in and clean up this version of a resume, rather than having to write one from scratch.
2. Build a relevant LinkedIn profile.  The phrase “If you build it, they will come” was made famous in the movie Field of Dreams, and it’s relevant to your online profile as well.  Upload your experience, education, and activities onto LinkedIn, and use LinkedIn as your professional network, only including things that you would want a potential employer to view. (I discourage you from connecting your twitter feed, especially if you’re updating twitter on a Friday at 1 in the morning)  Include a professional profile picture, and join several LinkedIn groups such as your school’s alumni group, or any professional associations related to your chosen field.
3. Reply to any headhunter that contacts you.  LinkedIn is the lifeblood of recruiters, and they will find you online if you’re visible.  My advice is to reply to them all, even if you are not willing to interview for a job.  Letting them know that “you’re not ready to actively interview, but would love to find out about the type of positions that they specialize in, and keep in contact for future opportunities.”  Many (good) recruiters appreciate this, and would be willing to have a 5-10 minute conversation about your dream job, so they could keep you on file.

That’s it!  By taking these three simple steps you’ll keep opportunities open for without exposing yourself to your current employer as someone wanting to leave your current position.  By taking these easy steps you won’t be too far behind if you all of a sudden you find yourself in need of your next opportunity.

Resume Tips

I’ve recruited for almost ten years now (dear god I’m getting old…) and over the past year of reading more resumes than ever before, I thought it might be good to try my own hand at writing a quick help guide for people that are trying to get responses on their resumes and applications.  Now, I can’t promise that you’ll get the job or anything like that, all I know is that there are things that compel me to call a candidate, and there are things that turn me off from calling a candidate.  Here’s my advice:

Make sure your title matches the description of the position that you’re applying for.  Now, I’m not telling you to lie about what your title was at the company, but if you’re applying for a “Technical Analyst” position, and you are a “Desktop Analyst” then do yourself a favor, and change the title to Technical Analyst, you’re not lying and it will help your cause.  Same with “Sales Executive” and “Account Executive” etc.

Your cover letter should only be used to answer any questions that will be addressed instantly from your resume.  For example, if you’re applying for a job out of state, explain why/how you’re going to get there (although I’m currently living in NY, I have family in Los Angeles and a place to stay once I arrive.)  If you’re applying for a job that isn’t even close to what’s on your resume, at least acknowledge it in the cover letter (Although I don’t have experience as a food scientist, etc etc.)  If nothing else, you might at least get a second look at your resume.

Find out the name of the person handlng the hiring.  While most companies don’t publicize who is the person quarterbacking the recruiting, you can usually call the main number and get transferred to someone’s voicemail, and hence, have a name to address when you email.  (LinkedIn has made this even easier.)  I almost always respond to someone if their email starts “Dear Mitch” vs. “To whom it may concern,”  Which leads me to next point.

Whenever possible, email someone directly with your resume, and send your resume as a word attachment vs. pasting it in the body of the email.  Nothing can be more frustating for a candidate is if you actually get a response, but find yourself in a vicious game of phone tag with the recruiter.  If this is the case, it always helps to leave times that you can be available to speak.  A lot of Recruiters will just add you to their calender at the time you tell them.  Also, if contacted, respond in kind.  If someone calls you, call them back.  If someone emails you, then email them a response.

If you do get a response on your resume with questions, do your best to respond from a computer.  It doesn’t look professional to respond to an inquiry with a quick statement from your phone.  I hate it if I send a professional inquiry, and get an instant response that looks like “sounds great!” –sent from my iphone.  It’s just a turnoff for me.  No smiley faces in any emails or correspondance (but you knew that…)