recruiting – Page 2

Why do Recruiters Hate Phone Screens

May 16, 2017

Okay, I’m back! Recruiting got busy for a minute so I took a much needed break. During this heavy recruiting season my disdain for phone interviews has increased. Trust me I’m not the only one! It amazes me how many people want jobs and those that get the opportunity to interview don’t prepare themselves.

Phone interviews can be tricky because you have to put a level of energy and preparedness into a conversation where you can’t see the person. If you want to get your dream position, most likely a phone interview will be a part of the equation. Here are some tips that will guide you in preparing for a successful phone interview:

Familiarize yourself with the company
- This is almost a deal breaker for me. To know that a candidate is “interested” in a position with a company they know nothing about is truly disappointing. Research the company website, use LinkedIn and other social medias sites to find out about the organization and it’s inner workings as much as you can.
Smile and stay engaged
- Make sure you are energized and smiling before you get on the phone. This can help translate your interests and level of engagement to the interviewer.
Know your resume
- Please make sure you are familiar with the work you’ve done (i.e. dates, companies, major projects, project results, etc.). If you don’t have a copy of your resume readily available study your work history, so you are better prepared.
Be able to give specific examples
- Not only are hiring managers looking for results-oriented individuals, recruiters are as well. If a question begins with, tell me about a time… or give me an example of… it requires an example that is specific (Behavior, Action, Results).
Have questions prepared
- Nothing like asking a candidate if they have any questions and they say, “No, I think you’ve answered most of my questions” or “No, I don’t have any questions”. If you are interested in a position you should ALWAYS have questions. Not only is the company interviewing you, but you are interviewing them as well.
Send a thank you note
- Follow-up notes are scarce these days but I believe in them for all stages of the interview process. Even if it’s just a phone interview, thank you notes can separate you from other candidates.

I hope these tips get you started on the right track to becoming a better phone interviewee!

Loyal…

January 24, 2017

I intended to write an article today about office potlucks and how they are the bane of my existence (to come at a later date), but I ended up in a discussion recently regarding the level of loyalty employees have to their employers, of which, is rarely reciprocated. My close friends and colleagues are well aware of how passionate I am about leadership and constructive behavior in the workplace. It is with this, Chris Brown’s song, ‘Loyal’ came to mind.

There is a mutual descent of loyalty in the working world today. Companies are outsourcing, avoiding the maternity/paternity leave conversation, bucking against flex time, decreasing overhead as much as possible, and the list goes on. At the same time, employees are taking on entrepreneurship opportunities and hopping to various companies as they see fit. Being in recruiting for over a decade I can truly see both sides of the coin. I have experienced the pain of organizational disloyalty and it definitely hurts the workforce in a major way.

While loyalty and trust is a two-way street, the bigger part of that burden in my opinion, is on leadership. A major gap in employee/employer trust is lack of sufficient leadership. In HR you see everything, for the most part, and a majority of relational issues in the workplace stem from inadequate management. I’ve have been exposed to so many companies where managers do not get the necessary training to manage people, especially in a way that is human and understanding. I’m not stating that people should be able to do whatever they want and the company just has to deal with it. Depending on the environment, if a company has a person working above capacity, meeting deadlines, attracting clients, and making a positive change in the bottom line, why wouldn’t said company want to be flexible and extend a few liberties to encourage the employee to stay the course.

This is where loyalty comes in. For the employees that put their all into their work, as much as they think it counts towards their future, companies don’t seem to hesitate when they make changes and send employees home with a pink slip and severance. Employees seem to have gotten a good glimpse into this scenario, which leads us to the “job hopper.” I hear so many hiring managers say, “I don’t want to see candidates who switch jobs every 18-24 months.” I understand the sentiment but as I mentioned, many companies lack the leadership to retain loyal employees, don’t foster growth and development, or provide resources to be successful. In those cases, I would have left the company too. On the other hand, employees shouldn’t be so quick to throw away the benefit of the doubt with regards to their employers, creating a track record of not being able to complete things long-term (a top reason for a rejection when pursuing a job these days).

The best way to build a bridge of loyalty and trust is to be open and honest. Lots of things can be solved if employers and employees have conversations from the beginning that foster a healthy and trustworthy relationship.

What are your thoughts on loyalty in the workplace? Share in the comments.

If it doesn’t fit…

January 3, 2017

Happy New Year!!! Glad to be back in the saddle again. I took a much needed break over the holidays and I’m back! While relaxing and catching up on movies, shows, and documentaries, I watched for the second time, OJ: Made in America. I remember vividly, the actual trial while in high school. One of the most prominent figures of that controversial trial was, Johnnie Cochran. This is not a post to share my specific opinion on the events of the crime, trial, or outcome. I want to specifically focus on the sound bite of Johnnie Cochran.

The most contentious part of the trial, was the famous closing statement of the defense namely, Johnnie. If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit…I remember it like it was yesterday. I want to take that statement out of the vile context of a criminal trial and use it for impact for what I’m about to say. It’s a new year AGAIN and most Americans are still unhappy with their work. How much time must you waste to pursue your passion and do the work that makes you happy and fulfilled?

I want to encourage all of you, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” Johnnie Cochran. Free yourself from the bondage of just collecting a paycheck. All of my posts to this point have been about how you can skillfully maneuver through your career and techniques on how to maximize your potential and achieve success. It doesn’t matter if you have goals or resolutions if you are not complimenting them with hard work and tenacity. If you don’t see yourself growing, becoming an adequate fit for the company culture, maintaining healthy relationships with clients (internal and external), etc. then it’s about time pursue other avenues. I’m all about making things work and being loyal but loyalty doesn’t stand a chance against a company’s bottom line, insatiably, or misguided leadership.

Typically, I’d have a few key takeaways for next steps. In this case, I just want you to be FREE. What are you going to do to create the path to your purpose and not just collect a paycheck?

Hotline Bling: Getting Companies to Call you Back

November 3, 2016

I recently attended a scholarship breakfast for a local school of business in the area. A top businessman was the keynote speaker and the topic was “Disruptive Leadership.” It was really interesting to hear about leadership, uncertainty and strategies on thinking ahead and preparing for change and industry advancements. To sum up the talk, sometimes to get things done things have to be disrupted. I thought this discussion could definitely apply to job seekers.

As you look for job opportunities there is a measure of uncertainty, because once you express your interest in a company or position, often times you are left wondering what will happen next. If you want the “Hotline to Bling” you need to implement a disruptive leadership approach to job searching. You can’t just sit there and wait! Let’s think outside the box and be unique. As a recruiter, I love when quality and qualified candidates reach out to me via various mediums it show grit and well, disruptive leadership. In a situation where there is a mound of uncertainty, a candidate took the time to find me and express interest, that’s AWESOME! All of the jobs I’ve had in my career have been because of God and the guts to go out and get what I wanted. Here are some things that you probably already know but that stand as reminder of what you need to do for companies to call you back:

Use Social Media
- There are literally conferences that recruiters go to that teach them how to use social media to find great candidates. Reverse engineer that and initiate engagement with recruiters or hiring managers on social media for your benefit.
Go to Networking Events
- Networking events have become much more results-oriented than those random career fairs at large conference centers. Let Google be your friend and find out what’s going on in your city to network with companies, in person.
Pick up the phone!
- Some online job descriptions say ‘no calls please’ but those that don’t are fair game. Pick up the phone and call the recruiter or hiring manager (don’t stalk them and call repeatedly but you can call to see the status of your application if you hadn’t heard anything in a while).

Now that I’ve reminded you of “disruptive” things to do, what are are you going to do to get your hotline to bling?

Style Resume: Faith Wimberly

September 29, 2016

Career and Style Summary:

The Career Salon is proud to feature Faith Wimberly, for our Thursday, Style Resume Series. Faith serves as one of the Lead Recruiters for Sales Empowerment Group. She is an MBA with a broad range of experience in Business to Business sales, Corporate Sales Recruiting, Leadership, and training both in corporate America and in the non-profit sector. Faith currently serves as Founder of The Empowerment Group, a nonprofit that focuses on community development. She has won various awards, one being “40 under 40” from WVON radio station for her work with mentoring girls and working with women in the community. She brings a variety of experiences in the work place that allows her to connect with people and help them reach their goals. When Faith, is not at work, she can be found hanging out with friends and family, traveling, laughing, singing, and spending quality time with her husband and two beautiful children. The Career Salon is honored to highlight such a mover and shaker!

Experience:

What’s your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?

I am currently a Senior Lead Sales Recruiter for a small boutique recruiting firm, in a hip area of downtown Chicago. Lots of good eats and hang out spots in this area and great shopping as well. Since college I have spent most of my career in a professional Sales role, but I have also done recruiting as well. I have been in my current role for over two years and I love it. I am pretty certain, connecting and helping people via finding their dream job, and helping clients hire top talent is where I am meant to be. My career, all of my experience and quests landed me here and I am happy camper. This role is going to open doors for bigger opportunities in my career. #StayTuned

Education:

Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?

My mother was pretty stylish growing up and so were both of my Aunts. I especially loved playing in my Aunt Sissy’s shoes and clothes as a child. Like most, I appreciate certain trends and I follow fashion bloggers and Hollywood to check out what’s hot and best for me. I love a good mix of Trendy, funky, classic and chic. Hip hop (old school) was always an influence as well.

References:

Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?

Some of the designers I love are Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Diane Von Furstenburg, BCBG, Marc Jacobs, Elie Saab, Givenchy and Tracey Reese. Of course, being more practical (hello? Lol) I tend to shop at Top Shop, Nordstrom (who always has super different styles from different designers to try), H&M, Zara and gotta love a quick stop at Forever 21 to piece some things together.

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how?

I think it’s important to be true to who you are and to always be the best representation of yourself both inside and out. In my line of work, recruiters come a dime a dozen, and being a fashionista isn’t very important depending on the industry. However, it’s always important to stand out with confidence no matter what your style may be. That speaks louder than anything else.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?

This is a great question. I have wanted to be and do different things throughout my life and I have always been of the mindset that it’s never too late to try! I wanted to be an Attorney, a real estate mogul, owner/operator of community centers throughout the city of Chicago, radio personality, you name it. I think my dream at this point is to be the captain, owner, and operator of whatever it is I do. I want to be CEO and call all the shots, while being a resource for others and helping people.

What’s the best career advice you could give someone seeking a new career?

Talk to people in the field and reach out to them. Network and connect with others via LinkedIn and other avenues. Never be afraid to step out, introduce yourself, and sell yourself. No one can sell you, like you can. If you can afford it, seek out a professional resume service (I have just the person you need :)) and invest in yourself and your future. Lastly, never, ever give up. You may have a million interviews and get NO’S… But always KNOW, that NO’S lead to YES and a door will open just for you!

Quote that keeps you motivated?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” -Philippians 4:13

Thanks Faith, for stepping into the salon to chat!