Mistakes? For one, using an 8-page long CV as their marketing pitch. A LinkedIn profile that has not been updated for ages. Believing recruiters find jobs for people. The truth?
Let’s be clear. Job hunting is for most people very stressful and an uphill struggle.
If you are among the unfortunate who is unemployed because your recent employer thought they could do better without you, it’s a terrible time. Self-confidence often goes down and down a bit every day.
Unemployed? Read my take in an earlier blog: Sometimes we recruiters forget that looking for a job is the hardest thing.
When do you use a 2-page resume and when an 8-page CV?
Resume and CV are what we in Asia call “same same but different” – a Tinglish (Thai-English) phrase that simply means similar.
It’s a fact and proven through research that recruiters use 7.4. seconds to check your resume. Read my blog here to see for yourself.
The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview
Call the resume a summary of your CV. In fact, the word resume is French and means a summary.
The 2-page resume is your marketing pitch. It’s the document you use to get attention, to attract recruiters and companies to reach out to you.
The long and many-page CV is what you keep on your personal computer and update with new proud achievements, new title, new job. You know what I mean.
It’s from the CV that you pick relevant data for your two-page resume when you want to present yourself for a job opening.
It’s always a good idea to print your CV and bring it along for the job interview. But, please, keep it in your briefcase until the recruiter asks if you have a more detailed “resume”.
Only then will it make sense to hand over the detailed resume.
A reason to remove your profile on LinkedIn
Sorry to be blunt about this, but if you are not taking care of your LinkedIn profile then better delete it. Yes seriously.
It’s better not to be on LinkedIn at all – than being there with a badly created profile.
The headhunter speaking
Read my blog: Delete your LinkedIn profile if you don’t use it.
LinkedIn has since its beginning 19 years ago continuously added new features and algorithms.
Very few people have such an interest and motivation to be on top of what LinkedIn does. But being a LinkedIn follower and writer, I for one follow religiously.
- The background image is free for all and no longer a paid feature for Premium account holders.
- You can edit your headline (the text just below your name) to brand yourself with function, industry, and unique selling points.
- If you are taking a break, use the new Add Career Break.
- You can remove the code of characters and numbers added to your URL, to have a clean good looking LinkedIn URL.
- Record a personal message in a 30-second video and replace your photograph.
If you want to learn more about LinkedIn Best Practices, then join my free evening webinar. Details on www.tomsorensen.in.th/webinar/
Recruiters find people for jobs – not jobs for people
It is out of the bag and I’m sorry for being the messenger here.
If you have ever tried to talk to a real person, a recruiter or headhunter, you too probably end up in the category of Headhunter Haters.
I was one of them more than 20 years ago when I sometimes desperately wanted to introduce myself to recruiters.
No one ever told me that this is not how the recruitment industry works. Yes, recruiters are paid by client companies to use as much time as possible to find candidates for their clients.
It’s better if you read this personal story of mine, two of them: Once, I hated headhunters (8 reasons why). And the: Why headhunters don’t return your calls.
You will cry, you will laugh. Enjoy.
