5 Tricks Recruiters Use to Find You

5 Tricks Recruiters Use to Find You How many times have you been called up by headhunters in the last 12 months? Did you ever ask how the recruiter got hold of your details? This article lists some of the most common ways recruiters find you. When called up by a recruiter, most people are baffled and have no idea how they were identified. The curious amongst us have to ask in order to avoid sleepless nights. When prompted, the headhunters are likely to say that you were recommended by somebody who “wants to remain anonymous but rest assured, they have only good things to say about you”. This is however rarely the case. Giving referrals of current colleagues without their permission is risky business and most people avoid doing this. Therefore the recruiter has most likely employed craftier techniques to find you. The 5 main methods recruiters employ to find you: 1. Application The obvious one, you send your resume out for a job you have seen posted on the recruiters website or a job board. The bad news is that in my 7 years experience of permanent recruitment, I rarely saw placements made from a direct application. Not sure whether this is because the wrong people apply or the recruiter not fully grasping what he or she is looking for. 2. Database Recruiters will have your details on file if you have ever sprayed your CV out for whatever jobs (very easily done as most postings on job boards are from agencies). You will be on their database, thanks to their CRM software they should have a pretty good idea of what you do/did. But your contact details are likely to be out of date so it can take some time for a recruiter to track you down. 3. Social Media LinkedIn and other networking sites are veritable goldmines for headhunters. Before the advent of such sites, they had to map out companies by slowly extracting information from every person they spoke to. Nowadays, most of your colleagues will be listed and all it takes for an industrious recruiter is to pick up the phone. Remember that by putting your details on LinkedIn, you have told the world what you do and you are fair game for headhunters. 4. Employee lists This happens less nowadays but still very useful for the resourceful recruiter. Sometimes a disgruntled former employee will offer a list of their colleagues, complete with mobile numbers, email and even home address details to the highest bidding recruitment agency. I have seen instances where entire teams have been ripped out of one company and put into another through the use of employee lists. If you are a manager (and you want to keep your team) you will want to ensure vital information like this is not readily available to download from your intranet. 5. Cover story This method is used when all else fails. The recruiter will call in to your company, pretending to be a client or a colleague from a different office and asking for the person that does your job. The sharp headhunter will single out a ‘soft target’ such as the IT support guy or the canteen lady and lay on a cock and bull story as to why they need the information ASAP. Sometimes they get lucky but most of the time this will be a very time consuming exercise and may not lead to anything. Conclusion Don’t be offended by a recruiter using ‘creative’ ways to find the right people. This practice is after all highly appreciated by their clients (who needs somebody to do their dirty work) as the CVs offered will be very different to that of their direct applicants. Remember that any recruiter can sift through applications from a job advertisement but only a few are good enough to pro-actively sniff out the best people in the market. I would recommend you stay close to this recruiter as he or she is likely to be just as pro-active working with companies â€" thus ensuring they have the best vacancies for candidates like yourself. How do recruiters get hold of you? Please share your story! Related: 10 Ways to Get Yourself Headhunted.

Executive Resume Writing Service UK

Executive Resume Writing Service UKThere are many advantages to using an executive resume writing service in the UK. While you may be the best candidate for the job, it is often possible to find a candidate that you have not even interviewed or who does not want to interview. In this case you can use the knowledge gained from the executive resume writing service to ensure that your potential new hire has all the relevant qualifications to take on the role.The best people to hire in this situation are those with back-end skills and the ability to navigate a company or organization in a top position. For example, a CEO or Chairman of a board of directors would have a lot of experience in dealing with senior management and probably a good track record of getting things done. On the other hand, a portfolio manager with an executive resume writing service would have knowledge of the process and would know how to go about arranging interviews for potential hires.In the UK, there are also s ome advantages to using the services of a professional, as these people can take a few minutes out of their busy schedule to speak to potential candidates personally. Such times are not likely to come up and if they do they can arrange an appointment to discuss the options or credentials of an applicant. This saves time, money and energy, and helps to ensure that every possible qualified person is being considered before a final decision is made.The writers that offer executive resume writing services are usually very experienced at what they do. Because they have worked for other companies before they know exactly what to do and what type of questions to ask, so they can present the most appropriate answers for their clients. It is often very difficult to do this alone and in the UK experience such skills have become much more common. A specialist will also know how to write in a way that is easily understood by a layman, so no-one feels intimidated by a long document that is litte red with jargon and technical terms.The best clients for executive resume writing services are those with sufficient experience of working with senior staff in organisations and high-ranking positions. These people will also usually have backgrounds in HR, so they will be able to offer advice that can help people who are just starting out in the career track. By taking on such a client, you can guarantee that the information you are receiving is up to date and accurate.An executive resume writing service in the UK can usually be found by searching the internet. In addition, they can be found by conducting research at local businesses that specialise in recruitment services. There are many online companies that offer expert advice on this topic and they have a full knowledge of what clients can expect to receive.These companies offer highly skilled staff that have proven themselves over time. They also have years of experience and are qualified to undertake an extensive process. The people that are available to take on such jobs are often those who have a lot of experience working for others, have shown the necessary skill set and have demonstrated professionalism throughout their careers.So for individuals with a high level of expertise and knowledge of organisations and top managers, executive resume writing services in the UK can be the answer to your problems. These people will help you find the right person, where they will be able to offer all the relevant qualifications that you need to find a good candidate for the job.

Partner with Recruiters to Manage your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Partner with Recruiters to Manage your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Recruiters are an integral part of the hiring process at most companies. There are several things you need to understand about them. They are people who like dealing with people. Most recruiters became recruiters because they are social and like helping others.   In general, they are very nice people. They change jobs frequently. We all know with the ups and downs of the economy, recruiters are the first to be laid off when things get bad and the first to be hired when things turn around. They connect with mostly everyone in organizations they work for and carry those connections from company to company. Therefore, they have very large networks. Recruiters are often the person in between you and the hiring manager. If there’s anyone you want to share your personal brand with, it’s recruiters. Connecting on LinkedIn with recruiters When you locate a target company that looks like a good potential employer for your services you should do the following: Go to LinkedIn advanced search and perform a search of the title field for recruiter in the name. I actually use the following search string “recruiter OR Talent OR Human Resources OR HR” as some organizations do not use recruiter in their titles or may not have someone in HR dedicated to recruiting. Identify a recruiter and send them a connection request and that state why you want to connect A good example is as follows: Dear insert recruiters name, I am very interested in a marketing position at xyz company (if there is a current position open mention it). Are you the recruiter who handles these kinds of positions? If not, could you direct me to the recruiter who does. Could we set up a time to talk about your organization? In the mean time, please accept this invitation to connect. Your name When the recruiter receives your invitation three things will happen: They will look at your profile. That is your #1 goal! You will know if they looked at your profile by monitoring the Who’s viewed your profile section of LinkedIn. Almost every time, the recruiter will accept your invitation to connect. You will now rise higher in their searches because you are now a first degree connection. Also their network of company employees are now your 2nd degree connections. You now will be able to see full names of employees in the target company!! If they like your profile, they will likely reach out to you for a short conversation via e-mail or over the phone.   They may forward you on to the recruiter who handles the positions you are looking for. What if they accept my connection but I never hear from them? Send them an e-mail or LinkedIn message. You are now a first degree connection on LinkedIn. Cultivating Relationships Recruiters need you as much as you need them. They are looking for referrals. When you talk with them, always be polite and courteous. Always complete the conversation with how can I help you? Remember that recruiters move around. Keep track of their career moves using LinkedIn Contacts functions or websites like Nimble.  Be helpful to them when you are not looking for your next gig. I cannot stress enough that building long term relationships with recruiters will pay long term dividends. What have you done for a recruiter today? Author: Marc Miller  is the founder of  Career Pivot  which helps Baby Boomers design careers they can grow into for the next 30 years. Marc authored the book  Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers, published in January 2013, which has been featured on Forbes.com, US News and World Report, CBS Money-Watch and PBS’ Next Avenue. Career Pivot was selected for the Forbes Top 100 Websites for your Career. Marc has made six career pivots himself, serving in several positions at IBM in addition to working at two successful Austin, Texas startups, teaching math in an inner-city high school and working for a local non-profit. Learn more about Marc and Career Pivot by visiting the  Career Pivot Blog  or follow Marc on  Twitter  or  Facebook.

Living in Excess What I Would Do if I Won £100K

Living in Excess What I Would Do if I Won £100K What would you do  if you won   £100K? We went through the normal answers travel the world, shop til we drop, have an epic party. I think it is in human nature to indulge where excess is, but this also makes people lose sight on the more important things. This brought us to a deeper conversation: what SHOULD people do with money that they have outside of their necessary spending? 1. Upgrade and Step Up People make the mistake of confusing excessive spending with upgrading their lifestyle. Stepping up in life, within reason, gives you pressure to keep it up. So it is not completely bad to move up from a rented apartment to buying a house, I probably just wont spend on a 10-bedroom mansion. 2. Invest and Harvest I  know   £100,000 isnt much to some people, but to me thats a lot of money! Investing a portion of it will surely return dividends in the future, and continuously growing it means that you would never have to come back to life without it. Invest it in one of your passions and see if it has the potential to make money. Many people go through life hoping they can do that, so if you get the chance, you should grab it. 3. Save for a Rainy Day Save a portion that will remain to be untouched. Think of your current spending and multiply it my the number of months that you think will be enough for you to stand up on your feet. In a more practical sense, think of what amount will help if you lose your source of income. 4. Give I really believe that giving rewards you threefold. Even if it is a small amount, set aside a portion of your money for charity. I know I havent won yet, but it is good to throw it out to the universe. Ha! Also, this advice does not just apply to winning tons of money it also applies to that bit of dough left behind from your paycheck after your monthly budget. Win or lose, it is best to keep these basics in mind. I hope I win though! LOL

How to Find Clients For Resume Writing

How to Find Clients For Resume WritingIn order to be successful at writing resumes, the following information is necessary: the prospective client's name, company name, job title, telephone number, and address. Once you know this information, you will need to fill in all of the fields on your resume as closely as possible.The first step in how to find clients for resume writing is to find potential clients who may want to hire you. There are many different ways to do this, including referrals from former clients, word of mouth, referrals from friends, and more. The most important thing to remember when gathering this information is that the work must be applicable and valuable to a potential client.Second, you should base your resume on the client's lifestyle and financial situation. The life style of a client is very important, because a client's lifestyle can make or break the prospective hiring decision. People with financially secure lifestyles will have a wider variety of needs in a professional to hire.Your current job status is also important, because it provides information about your ability to perform the job and the type of compensation you are likely to receive. A recent employee with a long-term contract is likely to receive higher compensation than a person who recently joined a business. This is true even if the client's income is similar.Next, your resume must not only show the things that the client's needs, but it must show them why they should hire you. For example, if a client needs a writer to write an educational brochure, the brochure must represent the client's values. It must explain what the brochure is intended to accomplish, how it will be used, and how it can benefit the client.Lastly, the information in your resume must support the client's needs, but it must also add to the potential benefits of hiring you. For example, if a client needs a writer to do a business plan, the plan must list all of the client's achievements, present a n opportunity to learn, and highlight the benefits of hiring you.If you are looking for clients for resume writing, it is important to learn how to find potential clients for resume writing. Not only will your resume be informative but it will also give you a great deal of credibility when presenting to a client. A client's resume is an important part of your resume, and it is a very good idea to get a lot of practice first before starting to write a complete resume.Learn how to find clients for resume writing, and then find work for yourself! Making a resume is an essential part of marketing yourself, and writing resumes can be as easy as learning how to find clients for resume writing.

Leveraging Technology for your Job Search - Vol 1 - CareerAlley

Leveraging Technology for your Job Search - Vol 1 - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan Most (if not all) job searches must leverage technology to be successful these days. Even the low tech methods require that you have a resume in Word, pdf or some other electronic version. But to be honest, successful job search requires technology these days. Ive written a number of posts on this topic, but the technology changes and improves so often these days, it doesnt hurt to provide updates from time to time. Even CareerAlley is now mobile ready if you view it on your smartphone (or Blackberry) browser (take a look). Too much to cover in one article, so consider this volume 1 for now. So whats changed, new or not covered before? Podcasts: Most of you are aware of podcasts and many of you watch (or listen) to podcasts in some way, shape or form. There are free podcasts you can leverage in your job search: Secrets of the Job Hunt Great topics (the link to the left will take you to the podcast in iTunes) complement the Secrets of the Job Hunt website. Depending on the topic, which range from job search strategies to advice for recent grads, each podcast runs 2 to 25 minutes or so. You can listen to these while sitting in front of your computer (a few are video podcasts) or while using your iPod, this is a great way to get valuable information to help in your job hunt. By the way, did I mention that these are free? JobDig Another podcast for job search, the link to the left will take you to the podcast in iTunes (JobDig offers other formats as well from their podcast page at JobDig Podcasts). These podcasts (also free) range from 4 to 10 minutes or so and complement the JobDig.com website. Topics range from job advice to job search tips. Also worth a listen. The Savvy Jobseeker One more for you (and yes, the link to the left takes you to the podcast in iTunes), The Savvy Jobseeker (website = savvyjobseeker.com) also provides free podcasts with topics that range from Tips to landing a high-paying job to How to choose job references. Each of the podcasts range from 14 to 30 minutes or so. Smartphones: This is not just about the iPhone anymore. There is now a long list of smartphones out there on just about every cellphone provider network. From Apps to web-browsers, you can leverage your smartphone to stay mobile in your job search. Three are listed below, just the tip of the iceberg. All have their pros and cons, so make sure you understand this before you make your choice. Google Nexus One At the writing of this article, Googles Nexus One is the latest entry in the smartphone category. Using Googles Android phone operating system and available on several carriers, the smartphone functionality that will help you in your job search: access to email on the fly, voicemail, job search apps (like CareerBuilder), social networking as well as productivity apps (to do lists, calendar, etc.). Palm Pre Another new entry into the smartphone category, Palms Pre (and now the Pre Plus) is a good alternative for a smartphone, offering all of the essentials you will need to keep your job search mobile web access, email access, social networking (including LinkedIn), productivity (to do and calendar) and apps. At the moment, only available on the Sprint Network (which boasts a 4G network). Apples iPhone I could not cover this category without covering the iPhone (my personal favorite). With the exception of the ATT network, which is passable at best, the iPhone still offers the best selection of apps specific to job search (from free to paid apps). Integrated email, visual voicemail, web-browser, productivity (to do lists, calendar, etc.). Other Tech to consider: Twitter Yes, you can use Twitter for job search. There are countless Twitter members who offer leads, advice and more (CareerAlley is one!). You can follow those Twitter members that offer the best match for you job search needs. You can check Twitter on your computer or your smartphone. Good luck in your search.

The Resume Box

The Resume Box 12 Flares 12 Flares This is a guest post from Eric Leist, a Public Relations major in Boston Universitys class of 2010. Eric blogs over at Meghan Biros firm Talent Culture and on his own blog, EricLeist.com.  You can also find him on Twitter @EricLeist. See this box? Get in it. It might be a little cramped in there. Oh, and there’re thousands of other people in the box too. But don’t worry. There’s room for you. Go ahead. Squeeze in. You want a job, don’t you? You want a strong personal brand? Then just get in the box. That’s what I hear whenever I attend a resume workshop. And let me tell you, as a college student, I’ve attended a lot of them. The fundamental issue I have with resume workshops is that they assume everyone is the same.   Then, they suggest different methods based on the workshop leader’s personal preferences. That leads me to believe that hiring professionals all have different personal preferences too! This conundrum leads me to one conclusion: There is no way to write a resume that fits everyone’s likes and dislikes. So whose preferences should your resume reflect? The jobseeker’s. Too often, job hunters fall into the trap of squeezing their experience into a standard format. As a result, everyone ends up looking the same. I’ve seen great paper resumes that use color, cool video resumes, and smart narrative slideshow resumes. They all work for the individuals they represent. Resumes don’t have to be any particular style. I’m not suggesting anything too crazy, but I think resumes have basic requirements rather than mandatory formats. 1) A resume should be easy to follow with a logical organization. 2) It should reflect personality and experience. 3) It should have a consistent, unified look and feel. Sure there are ways to stand out with standard resume templates. Sure the standard templates work for most peopleâ€"that’s how they became standard. But in this economy, a jobseeker’s goal is to give potential employers a reason to set his or her resume aside from the towering pile of others. They might want to think about breaking out of the box to achieve that goal. PHOTO: http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofoddy/1439796614/ Let Eric know what you think about his guest post!  Have you had the same experiences at resume work shops?