How to Hire and How to Get Hired

In the span of merely six months, I went from looking for a job via submitting 15 applications in one day to hiring my office assistant via going through 190 applications; from waiting by my phone for the slightest glimmer of a response to feeling helpless to respond to each application. I have experienced both sides of the sword and these are the tidbits of wisdom I have for you all to ponder.

For Employers

Looking for the best ways to widdle down your large pile of applicants? Try the following:

For a quick look that should take about 15 seconds:

• Any words or names that are misspelled.
• ALL CAPS or no capitalization at all.
• No punctuation
• A notation of “references available upon request” rather than listing references. (This is a personal peeve of mine. All applicants should place at least one reference number on an application or resume. If there is no reference, that says to me that they do not want their previous experience to be considered.)

For a deeper look that can take about 30 seconds:

• Less than one year spent at two or more jobs.
• Any disrespectful responses to why the individual left their previous jobs. For example “manager was not a good leader”. This is both not a complete sentence and is also not a good reason for why the individual left the position.
• No previous experience in the field.
• No previous education in the field.
  
  (NOTE: When you know the applicant is not suited for the job, take the time to thank them for applying and that you have decided to go with another applicant. It’s easy to create a template email to use for such situations. You can also BCC and send a mass email to many applicants simultaneously to help reduce time spent. No matter what you do, always respond to an applicant. The applicant wants to leave a positive impression and so do you.)

After spending up to 30 seconds on each application, you should have at least half of your work complete. At this point, narrowing the selection to the final 10-20 depends on the job you are trying to fill. This selection process can be done through an assessment, survey, an HR-driven point system of the applicant, etc.

Now that you have your final group, you are ready to start learning more about the individuals beyond their standard 8.5” x 11” form.

Use Social Media.

• I fully believe in utilizing social media to learn more about a future employee. Many times, you can learn more about a person by what they post in a global forum than what they place on a resume they think you will not read.
• As a hiring manager, a vast majority of my applicants are in their 20s and 30s. Of all applicants I have researched, 100% of them have Facebook profiles. Even if your applicant pool ranges from age 20-80, you will be surprised at how many applicants you can find. The fastest growing population of Facebook users are in their 30s-40s.
• Another great social networking tool is called LinkedIn (available at http://www.linkedin.com/) LinkedIn has proven to be an interesting concoction of Facebook and a professional resume. It allows other members to provide recommendations and networking opportunities.

Go beyond basics.

• During the interview process, try questions like, “What book are you reading now?” “What is a goal of yours?” “What is something you are working on right now?”.
• Open ended questions give you a better view of the applicant's professionalism and their personality. It also gives a nice change of pace in an otherwise stressful situation.

For Future Employees

If you have not read the previous tips, please do. Don't be misled in assuming employers are not already doing things like checking your Facebook or calling references. Most employers do read resumes, employers do contact references and employers do utilize social media to research applicants.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

• I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attire. It's not shallow to judge professionalism on appearance – it is necessary in order to create a positive first impression.
• Don't let finances keep you from looking professional. You will be surprised at the amount of new and barely worn professional clothing one can find in a thrift store. A majority of my wardrobe was purchased for under $10 a piece, yet I'm able to wear name brand apparel.

Give the hiring manager an email OR a personal visit, not both.

• One visit is all it takes to associate a name with initiative. If you repeatedly visit the hiring manager, initiative can seem like desperation.
• If you know of others already in the organization, you can ask them to verbally mention your name and how wonderful you are. However, don't have them continuously bring up your name and don't ask them every day about the selection process. Your name may be memorable, but for the wrong reasons.

Be respectful of your previous employers.

• The biggest turn-off for an employer is disrespect. If you’re thinking of a very funny joke at the expense of your previous employer, save it to tell your friends after the interview.
• If you are working in the same industry as your previous job, your future employer likely is already familiar with the nature of your previous employer.

On a personal note, I had an interview where I was specifically asked about my previous employment. I knew they knew about the nature of my previous job and I chose to stay neutral and be thankful for the experience. I was able to say that the experience I acquired allowed me to be an ideal candidate for this new job, which was very true. This helped me stand out among the other applicants and ultimately helped me snag the job.

Your interview starts as soon as you leave your car.

• Be very nice to the administrative assistant. They aren’t just the person calling the hiring manager to say you are here – they are watching you. They are watching to see how you interact with others, how polite you may be, how nervous you may be, and how disrespectful you may be.
• Hold doors for those behind you. You may be opening the door for your interviewer. (Or their boss.)

Be early.

• If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you should have called 20 minutes before your scheduled interview time to say you’d be late, then quickly apologize in the beginning of the interview without telling a 10 minute story about how horrible the commute was. (If you hated the commute, that may be all the reason the manager needs to not hire you!)

Thank the manager.

• A thank you goes a long way. Before (or after) the interview, ask the administrative assistant for a business card so you can have the hiring manager’s name and business address. Send a (neatly) hand-written thank-you for their consideration and the opportunity to interview for the position. Try to send it on the same day so it will arrive sooner.
• Do not fold your resume 5 times to fit inside of the card. They already have it; they don't need another one.
  

So what tidbits have you learned on your professional journey?