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Timebound Workplace

Job Search and Social Media Tips from Fishdogs

Today, I spoke to Craig Fisher, aka Fishdogs. He is a hot shot recruiter, social media strategist, speaker and founder of A-List Solutions based in Dallas, Texas.
 

What do you recruit for and what geography do you cover?

 
Our main business is IT staffing and executive search. We mainly cover the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. But we have clients with offices nationwide that we service as well.
 

How’s business and outlook for the year?

 
Business has been brisk since December. Our projections are good. We’ll set records. But last year started strong and then fell off as unemployment rose.
 

What is the key to your success?

 
Our clients like us because we have a good combination of technical and business knowledge. So we get under the hood and discover what the client’s real needs are. This usually differs substantially from the given job description.
 
We also talk with current employees and try to develop a personality profile that will work long term. Then we are able to really target specific candidates vs. sending multiple resumes to see what sticks.
 

What are the trends you have spotted in your field?

 
Sourcing is a bigger and bigger deal. I have been a full desk recruiter and did all my own sourcing. But I have also employed dedicated sourcers for specific searches. It’s great to have someone who can just churn out skill-qualified candidates.
 
Unfortunately you still need a good recruiter to vet these candidates thoroughly. And that’s where the process often breaks down. We find more candidates, but they are not vetted, pre-closed, etc. So candidate to hire ratio is no better. Maybe worse. It is taking longer to hire overall.
 

How much do you use social media to find clients and candidates? 

 
We use social media all the time to find clients and candidates. Most of our new clients come from social media. Many of our candidate or candidate referrals do too. For sourcing, Linkedin is by far the most effective. Linkedin is also good for creating groups of candidate and client communities.
 
Twitter is best for actual relationship building. You can have better conversations there than on any other platfform. I like to use Twitter to compliment my Linkedin and Facebook accounts. Facebook is becoming a better referral tool as I create more groups there for specific communities. But Twitter is still where the conversations take place.
 

How important are resumes and cover letters?

 
Resumes and cover letters are still very important. But they may begin to take more of an online or virtual form on sites designed to keep the information fluid and dynamic.
 

What are your best tips to jobseekers in a tough market?

 
Spread your digital footprint. Get your entire resume complete with keywords into Linkedin. Have a nice profile pic there too. Don’t just rely on submitting resumes to job boards. Grow your Linkedin network and reach out to people in the companies you want to work for. Contribute to the groups in which they participate.
 
Become a trusted resource of valuable information. Then ask to be referred in for positions with their organizations. Start a blog about the space in which you wish to be hired. Post good content and more information about yourself there. Occasionally refer your growing network to an article you have posted there. Position yourself as the expert.
 

Are job coaches, career coaches of any use to jobseekers?

 
Yes, certainly. Most good recruiters can help as well. But remember to use your head and speak to references before paying money to a coach.
 

Any other pearls of wisdom you would like to share?

 
A great way to grow your Linkedin network is to first follow those you wish to connect with on Twitter. Network with your targets there for a week or two before going back to Linkedin to ask them to join your network. Let them know you have been following them on Twitter and would like to connect on Linkedin as well. Remember to be a vaulable contributor on Twitter as well as Linkedin. Don’t just ask for help. Contribute first.

Related: Secrets of the Internal Recruiter, Interview with David Cherry from McAfee

 

 is a founding partner of A-List solutions, blogger at www.fishdogs.com, and host of the TalentNet Live #TNL recruiter forum. As a 15 year recruiting industry veteran, Craig is a social recruiting & new media branding strategist for job seekers and employers. Follow Craig on Twitter [url=http://twitter.com/fishdogs”>@Fishdogs

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Workplace

What is the Best Resume Format: Functional, Chronological or Combined?


 
The more resumes you look at, the more confused you can get especially since there are so many different formats to choose from. Most people don’t realize that the format is one of the most important choices when writing a winning resume. Get this wrong and you could effectively be hiding your own career highlights from the reader. 
 
The bad news is that you only get about 10 seconds attention from the person screening your resume so you best make a good first impression. The good news is that I have narrowed it down to only three formats worth considering. Here they are, complete with reasons why you should choose them and in what order the content should be in your resume.

 
The chronological format
 

The chronological resume is the most used out there, it’s the employer’s favorite as it is very easy to read and it’s hard to hide anything in it. It works brilliantly when you have stayed consistent in your career. As long as the job you are applying for is in the same field, the full chronology will be relevant to the reader and therefore the focus is on your experience.
 
Your employment history is actually in reverse chronological order and your current position will be at the top of the list. The chronological resume doesn’t work well when you have gaps or when you have shifted industries often, as it will expose your weak points.
 
• Objective
• Summary
• Experience
• Education
• References
 

The functional format
  

The functional format should be used when you want to draw attention away from your work experience due to job hopping, a very long career, a very short career, long gaps, re-entering the job market and so forth. The functional resume focuses on what you can do, what your achievements are and your core competence. 
 
This format is used by graduates, people seeking to change their career completely and anyone with employment gaps that don’t add any value to their experience. If you are looking to change industries, make sure to focus on transferable skills such as sales or people management. A word of warning; employers are known to raise their eyebrows when they see a functional resume so only use this format if you absolutely have to. 
 
• Objective
• Accomplishments
• Capabilities
• Employment History
• Education
• References  
 

 

The combined format

 
The combination format is exactly what it sounds like; it combines the chronological and functional formats to give you the best of both worlds. It allows you to use the tasty features from the functional resume but you can still fly in under the radar in the eye of the reader.
 
Examples of people that can benefit from this would be someone wanting to change careers and has some relevant skills for the new field. It can also be useful when someone wants to pack more skills in than the work experience section allows for or would not bring out adequately.
 
• Objective
• Summary
• Accomplishments
• Experience
• Education
• References
 

5 Housekeeping rules that apply to all formats

 
1. Make sure you put all your contact details on every page, make it easy for the employer to call you up for an interview.
 
2. You have to put exact dates against every employment and education. If you don’t it will look slightly dodgy and you have to be prepared for a lack-of-dates grilling.
 
3. All education and qualifications should be listed. The fact that you majored in art history doesn’t mean you can’t apply for a Java consultant job; it means you are trainable and can learn anything.
 
4. The layout should be pleasing on the eye and never distracting, allow for enough white space in between your text, boxes and bullet points.
 
5. Make it a habit to use a spel cheker, as your intended audience will swiftly delete a resume that contains typos.

 
Great, so which format do I use again?
 

If you can, go with the chronological as it’s everyone’s favorite. If you are shifting careers and possibly have transferable skills, go combined. If you have a short career or big holes in your experience, go functional.
 
Applying across state borders? Check out 3 Tips for Sending Your Resume to Another State.
 
Which format do you use and are you getting interviews?

Categories
Workplace

Top 5 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get the Job

People often ask me what am I doing wrong in a job interview? They’ve sent out fifty resumes, they’ve landed ten or so interviews, yet they’ve missed out on the job. This strike rate says to me that this person’s resume is working for them to a reasonable extent, so it probably does come down…

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Workplace

7 Resume Mistakes Candidates Probably Didn’t Realize

If you’ve worked long and hard on your resume only to find that it’s not getting the response you hoped for, it may be because you have made one or more common mistakes. Over my career, I’ve seen tens of thousands of resumes and I’ve seen just about every mistake you can imagine. But some…

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Workplace

How to Attract Recruiters with Your Twitter Bio

Signed up on Twitter? Struggling to get interest from recruiters, headhunters, HR and hiring managers? I’ve got the answer for you, fact is that your bio on Twitter will be critical to attracting new followers, it’s even been said that you will get up to eight times more followers with a good bio. Get it…

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Workplace

The Secret to Focusing Your Job Search

When looking for a job you cannot afford to focus on more than one specific area of opportunity. Most of us have a range of things we like to do, and are good at, and – often – have done. Sadly, that does not help in terms of finding a job. If you go to…

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Workplace

How to Write a Resume – Step No. 4 – Design to Inspire

Most published resume writing advice is focused on content. In this 4th post in my ‘How to Write a Resume’ series, I want to get you to focus on something I think is every bit as important – resume design. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it: Have you ever been…

Categories
Workplace

5 Ways to Finding a New Job after Being Laid Off


 
If you have just lost your job or have been out of work for a while – don’t worry – this is actually an exciting opportunity for you even though it may not feel like it. If you’ve been made redundant and haven’t been working for a while it can be easy to get discouraged by the tough job market. However, if you get smart about what you do and how to target what you’re after – you will succeed.
 
If approached in the right way, the situation you are in now – can be a blessing in disguise. Why not use it and take this time to ensure that what you do next is what you really want and what will make you happy.
 
Here are some tips to help along the way:
 

1) Don’t rush into your job search

 
Unless you are really clear about where you want to be and what will work for you – do not rush it. Take some time out to reflect, to think and evaluate. Make a plan. Identify the things that are important to you and which are of significant value to you. Don’t just rush out there filling in application forms anywhere you can get hold of one.
 
Spending each day on the Internet or at the Job Centre could be good if done in a focused manner but not if you are desperately trying to get out there. Job hunting without being focused can waste good energy, effort and time. It can also be demoralizing when you get rejected. The less clear you are about your direction, the more likely you will be scattered and rushed in your approach, the more likely you are to get rejections.
 

2) Evaluate your options creatively

 
Read up and find out about the areas that interest you. Get out and about and get talking and get experimenting. Talk to your friends, your relatives – anyone you can get hold of and whom you can learn from.
 
Think about what you are good at and focus on all your strengths and skills. Get to know yourself, your values, your talents and think about how you might like to use them. Do not neglect your passions. What you are enthusiastic about is really important. Finding ways to mould your talents into a future role can be really exciting and rewarding.
 
Try not to restrict yourself and remember that you do not need to follow or mirror what your friends and peers may be doing. Everyone is unique and has the right to find what is right for them. You will have your own options and your own set of possibilities. Exploring them can really help you get it right.
 

 

3) Don’t accept the first job offer you get

 
If you are good and you are clear about what you want, there will be more offers. If it’s the perfect role for you then fine – otherwise don’t accept second best. It is more important that you find the right role than simply taking the first thing that comes your way as you may regret it later. It might help you in the very short term but ultimately you will be unhappy and will probably find yourself back at square one again pretty soon.
 
You can save a lot of time and energy if you stop that cycle from occurring again. Be brave. To say ‘no’ to a job offer is ok. It’s totally fine and is a good idea if you feel it wouldn’t be the right type of job or place to work for you. Perhaps the next one is the right one – but if you had accepted the first offer, there would be no chance for that right one to get to you and be found.
 

4) Don’t give in to fear

 
Almost all of us are afraid of something. We might be afraid of failing or afraid of not being able to pay the bills. This is completely understandable but if we give in to our fears, we end up being driven by them. It can prevent us from really going after what we want and what we should be doing. Be aware of your fears for sure.
 
It is no good to ignore them or avoid them. However, do not let them take over your life and end up guiding you in the wrong direction. Being out of work can be a great time to confront your fears and deal with them. With some good support you can confront these challenges.
 

5) Stay Positive

 
This can be easier said than done. If you are angry, bruised, frustrated or depressed- whatever your low feelings may be – that is ok but do not dwell on them. You are not working and sure, that can be tough and be a challenge – but see it as something that you will overcome. You can take control of the situation and be the one who decides where you will go next.
 
Where you end up, how you handle the challenge, and where you will ultimately be is all up to you. Being made redundant or having lost a job can be the beginning not the end. It is in your hands to make the most of this and to turn it into an amazing opportunity. If it is too tough to face alone that’s fine – work with someone – a friend, a professional. That is what we do here at Position Ignition all the time. Help people to figure out what they want to do next, where they want to be and exactly how to get there. We see it through until they are at their destination. If you are positive and you keep moving forwards, there will be great progress in the right direction and you can land that dream job!
 

Conclusion

 
So, if you are out of work – do not let being laid off or having lost a job get you down – seize this opportunity and why not use the time wisely to get yourself where perhaps you may never have thought you could have been!
 
Have you been laid off recently or lost a job? How did you deal with this challenge? Do you have any tips or experiences you can share with us?
 
Related: Warning! Don’t Just Apply To Any Job after a Lay-Off.
 

Simon North is the founder of Position Ignition – a careers company dedicated to taking you to the next step inyour career. Simon is a career and transition expert with over 25 years of experience in helping individuals with their personal and professional development. He is passionate about helping people whether it is to find a rewarding career, make a career change or identify the right career plan and direction. For more information visit