There are a few techniques that you can employ (pun intended) to gently steer potential employers towards scheduling an interview, after you’ve sent them your killer resume. Here are some techniques that I’ve seen used:

1. Follow up your resume submission with contact-Keep a list of where and to whom you submit your resume and follow up with each one. In the current economy, your resume might get lost in a stack of 100 applicants. But an email or call can go a long way in helping yours to get pulled out of the stack and looked at more closely.

2.Ask for an informational interview- I have had two people contact me over the past six months and request an “informational interview”. This is an interview where you questions about the company. I’ve seen it used when people are exploring the industry, wanting to network or needing a job. Does it result in one? I can’t answer that. I can only say that if I had had an opening, I would have been more likely to hire one of the two people that I provided an informational interview to because their questions and comments impressed me. There is much to gain (including knowledge) and nothing to lose with contacting employers and requesting one.

3. Follow the employer on the social sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and Linked In (notice, I did not say stalk)-This shows your interest in the organization. Keep in mind that with larger organizations, the HR department may not even realize that you are a follower, but this will give you up-to-date information from the company and possible questions to ask during your interview.

Recently we were pleased to meet with Paul Knoch, an HR administrator with 17 years of experience in the industry.  Paul told us about the challenges and fun parts of his job, as well as how the economy is affecting current employees and applicants.

HDJ- What draws you to a candidate in an interview?

Paul- First impressions do count. I look for a confident demeanor as well as the usual first impression things like how they are dressed, if they are on time, etc.

HDJ- What makes the caution flag fly for you?

Paul- If someone appears really nervous (some nervous is normal) or if they interrupt. I had an applicant interrupt me many times on the phone and when she talked with the department manager, she did the same thing. When we didn’t hire her, she asked why. I told her why. By the way, she was interviewing for a customer service position.

In addition, someone who is trying too hard, who is overly friendly or tries to oversell themselves doesn’t work for me. Being too forward, taking a phone call during the interview (that has happened) or appearing distracted are also red flags. In a competitive market, those behaviors will quickly put someone to the bottom of the list.

HDJ- Do you have a lot of applicants right now?

Paul- It has doubled or tripled from a year or two ago. Also our turnover has decreased. So it makes it tough with not as many positions open.

HDJ- How have things changed?

Paul- One change I have seen is that people are less likely to quit a job even if they aren’t totally satisfied with it. With fewer jobs available, I think employees aren’t confident that they will find a better job so they are more willing to try to make things work where they are at.

Another change is that it’s an employer’s market right now with all the massive applicants available. Five or six years ago it was the opposite and employers were throwing perks out to entice employees to come on board.

HDJ- Have you seen many people apply from out of state?

Paul- Currently, fifty percent of applicants come from out of state. With our organization, people commonly come because they want to find meaning in their job. It’s not about money. It’s about being part of an organization that they care about and support.

HDJ-Has the recession made your job harder in any way?

Paul- The recession has been tough on all of us I think. I really feel for the people who call and share their life situation, hoping for a job even when we don’t have openings. It’s heartbreaking. I think most people who call are realistic and know we can’t create a position but they are trying to make contacts. One thing I have done is refer some to other organizations that might have openings through a network of emails.

HDJ- That’s certainly above and beyond. What’s difficult about your job?

P- Probably the most difficult part is walking the line between what state and federal laws require and what feels appropriate and compassionate in a situation. They don’t always line up. Sometimes I have to treat people based on HR laws and what I want to do is feel compassion and help people. Also, sometimes ADA and FMLA conflict each other. For instance, privacy laws say you can’t access people’s medical records. And yet, in a situation like FMLA, medical records are needed.

I have done things that I think are right and they may not necessarily be “HR-approved”. Sometimes you have to be courageous. It might mean talking to an employee about a situation instead of letting them go. It might mean that there is a grey area and I have to determine what is best, compassionate and within regulations all at the same time.

HDJ- What do you enjoy about your job in Human Resources?

Paul- I work with great people. There is a lot of variety and fun in my job. I interact, lead staff events, provide training, connect with them on social sites and more. Even the challenging part of confronting someone is good because I can help someone learn and grow and develop as worker-especially the younger people. To some small degree, I am helping with that.

Jobs are a big part of our life. But job satisfaction is less than fifty percent. And a lot of times it stems from how the employee is treated versus what they are being paid. So it’s very rewarding when things that I have intentionally done create a positive impact.

HDJ- This is great information, Paul. Thanks for your time!

by John Chase

Gone are the days of simply mailing your resume, receiving a call, shaking hands at the interview, and agreeing on a start date for that new job. The Internet has taken over the recruiting landscape, and everyone is required to submit a resume online. While that brings greater efficiency to the process for employers, it can be awfully maddening for job seekers.

But it doesn’t have to be that way if you know how to navigate the system. (And by all means, if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment).

Consider these tips before pressing “submit” to send your resume:

• Search job boards and the websites of employers that appeal to you.
• Print out the job postings that you’re interested in pursuing before you apply.
• Use a highlighter to mark the keywords and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities.
• Compare those words and phrases to the language that appears in your current resume.
• Figure out how and where to add the most relevant keywords to your resume, assuming you have the specific knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Applicant tracking systems will search for keyword matches — the more matches, the better, which often determines if a recruiter opts to view your resume.
• Once you’re confident that your resume reflects a strong match, go ahead and submit that targeted resume online.
• If the system requests a cover letter, write a short one that expresses why you’re a strong match and why you’d like to join the organization. This is a chance to tout your research on the role.
• Never submit a generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter. If you really want the position, you’ll customize all documents for each job.

Once you apply, get to work to find an internal referral to make a personal introduction. Here’s how:

• Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.
• Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn or Facebook, which boast a combined 60 million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection.
• Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.-
• Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.
• Follow up with a call or email to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, “Did you get my resume?” Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You’ll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the email.
• Don’t know the name of the right person? Cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn’t work, do a Web search on the term “recruiter” or “HR director” along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you’re trying to find. LinkedIn is another resource to find the correct name.
• Stay top of mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you’re welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who’ll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you’re politely persistent without crossing over to a pest.
• Ask them directly for advice on how and when to follow up. A simple question, “What’s the best way to keep in touch?” will give you the details you need to stay ahead of the pack.

These resume tips should help you in your job search. And if you haven’t already done so – file for unemployment.

About the Author

John is a DJ and radio producer by trade who has performed in the U.S., Russia, Germany, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and India. Through a strange twist of fate he found himself working in the debt consolidation and debt settlement field in Chicago. John has a great interest in charity work as well.

His other interests include fitness, science & technology, modern medicine, politics, world events and pop culture.

Article Source

Recently I met with Allison Rapaport, founder of Hospital Dream Jobs to learn more about her and why she started Hospital Dream Jobs. I don’t know about you, but I am always curious about the behind-the-scenes happenings with new businesses. I often find that founders have unique reasons for starting a business or cause, and often it is the result of something in their background, a story of something that happened in their personal life or the discovery of a passion for an industry that was previously undiscovered.

J-What motivated you to start the site?

A- In 2008 I found myself in the middle of the economic crisis which was unfolding. The company I was working for as VP of Communications was changing hands and moving many headquarter employees to New York. I suddenly found myself in a unique position surrounded by a department of analysts and managers who were quickly going to be on the job market, many for the first time in decades. Colleagues were asking for my advice on how to search for jobs, to critique/rewrite their resume and help them figure out how to search for positions on the Internet. Word spread and it was overwhelming how many people asked for advice. This was the first time I had shared the job search tips I had used for myself and was surprised to realize how much knowledge I had acquired over the years about how to market myself.

J- What happened next?

A- When the job ended, I finally had a little breathing room. I considered my own business, but was not sure which direction to go. Then my mother suggested an online job board. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made and the more passionate I became about the idea.

As I thought about a website and researched the competition, I saw that there was an opening for another job board – one that is focused only on healthcare, one that listens to job seekers and hospitals and can evolve quickly (small enough to do that, but large enough to have the capability) and one that helps people find their “dream job” whatever their definition of a dream job is.

J- What do you want to convey on the site?

A- It is important to me to convey that you can create your future – through considering possibility, establishing goals, learning something new, and asking for what you want. I thought our site could be a place that serves as a sort of cheerleader for job seekers. I know that searching for a job can be tough and I want to make it as supportive as possible.

J- Why healthcare?

A- Many happy memories! I am now the third generation involved in the healthcare industry. Both of my grandmothers were nurses and my mother ran a healthcare recruitment company for over 30 years. I grew up surrounded by the healthcare industry. I remember my grandmothers’ white uniform with a white cap, hearing the stories of the patients they helped during the day and seeing an occasional off-color comic strip. I also remember working in my mother’s recruiting firm, Hospital Recruiters, cutting out ads from newspapers all over the country and pasting them in a book. She would use these ads to call applicants and place them in jobs. This was before the ease of the Internet.

J- Sounds like you indeed are following your passion, Allison! Thanks for sharing!

“I think the needs of both the job seekers and employers are in getting lost in the current environment,” says Hospital Dream Jobs founder, Allison Rapaport. “My goal is to listen to their needs and have the website evolve to meet these needs.”

In 2008, Rapaport brought together her experience in web development, communications and job searching with her interest in healthcare to develop Hospital Dream Jobs.  Because she also had contacts in the healthcare and technology field, there was a natural fit with developing content for the site as well.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Hospitals/Employers are excited about the ability to search for qualified leads to fill positions and receive alerts from Hospital Dream Jobs with links to the resume of interested parties. They also enjoy the added coups of being featured via video clips on the site and on the Hospital Dream Jobs blog. The ability to set up a profile page with more about their facility is another popular option.

For job seekers, the site is a virtual goldmine as it not only lists jobs listed with Hospital Dream Jobs but also pulls in listings from other healthcare job sites. In addition, there are numerous job resources, including lists of top hospitals, educational podcasts, links to educational facilities/hospitals and a list of recruitment and staffing agencies. The site has 400 job categories and thousands of listings. The job seeker also enjoys the ability to upload their resume/cover letter, send and receive messages, save job searches, create job alerts and learn more detail about the particular hospitals that interest them.

The goals for Hospital Dream Jobs include:

1. Provide quality and a high quantity of healthcare job listings from all parts of the country.

2. Support job seekers as they progress in their career. Offer job listings, tools to track their job search, career advice and resources, and information to stay current.

3. Offer hospitals and recruiters great advertising for their organization and the ability to attract the best in personnel.

4. Maintain an environment that is personable and responsive for all users.

Join us today by signing up for a Job Seeker or Employer account!