3 steps to having a recruiter talk to you when you call

For any Job Seeker the key to success in working with a recruiter is understanding the recruiter gets paid by their client to find skilled, experienced candidates – they are not in the business of helping job seekers find jobs. So never ask a recruiter to help you find a job. Recruiters don’t help people find jobs. A recruiter helps their clients to find skilled and experienced personnel.

Any recruiter will talk to you if you have:

• the skills that they are looking for a current job order or
   
• if you have a skill-set and experience that they can market.
   

There are three simple steps you can take when calling a recruiter and they basically involve good telephone manners, common sense and a little preparation:

1. You should write a script to use when you make a call to a recruiter.
    
2. Introduce yourself when the recruiter answers the phone
    
3. Give the recruiter a quick synopsis of your skills and experience
    

Step 1: You should write a script to follow when calling a recruiter. All professional sales people and telemarketers use scripts when making cold calls – and that is what you are doing…making a cold call. The script will contain Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: When the recruiter answers the phone introduce yourself by name. Speak slowly and clearly…this is not a race. “Good morning, my name is Ric, Ric Ward.” Never start your phone conversation by asking “How are you?”

Step 3: And then give a quick synopsis of your skills and experience. For instance if you are a web designer you might say “I am an experienced web designer with 3 years experience using php and Dreamweaver and I am looking for work.”

Practice making these calls with a friend or family member.

I’ll be writing more about calling recuruiters in the coming days.

Richard (Ric) Ward
IT Job Coach

9 Steps to a great resume cover letter

Your Resume Cover Letter has only one purpose - to get your resume opened & read.

Your Resume Cover Letter must stimulate the recipient of your resume to open your resume and give you consideration. You are introducing yourself and saying that you have what it takes to do the job that they are trying to fill.

Cover Letter goes in the e-mail Message

In the age of e-mail your Cover Letter should go in the message of the e-mail and not as an attachment because it probably will not be opened and read as an attachment.

Keep your cover letter brief.

Assume that the person receiving your resume is busy - very busy. Be thoughtful and put yourself in their shoes. Keep your cover letter brief and to the point. You are not writing an essay or a novel. You are trying to communicate with someone who is probably very busy and you are competing for their attention.

There are 9 basic parts to a great Resume Cover Letter:

1. Your name, telephone number and e-mail address at the top of the Cover Letter.
    
2. Address the letter to someone in particular, if you can, or use To Whom It May Concern.
    
3. Name the position that you are applying for unless a file reference number is requested, then use the file reference number.
    
4. Briefly give an overview of your experience as it relates to the position being applied for.
    
5. In point form list the 3 or 4 most career highlights that relate directly to the job according to the ad that you are responding to.
    
6. Tell them that you have attached your resume that provides a detailed overview of your skills, experience, education, training and achievements.
    
7. Thank the person reading your resume.
    
8. Sign the e-mail with your name, home telephone number and personal e-mail address.
    
9. Add a PS to the note telling the recepient that you check your voice mail and email on regular daily basis.
    

Remember - your Resume Cover Letter has only one purpose - to get your resume opened & read.

Richard (Ric) Ward
IT Job Coach

The 11 basic components of your resume

Your resume is your story and your resume should effectively present present ALL of your career experience, education, training and most importantly your achievements in an easy to read format.

There are many opinions passed around about how long a resume should be, the information that shouldn’t be put in the resume, how many years back you should go when including jobs and so on.

All of these opinions are usually prefaced by "They say…".

I haven’t yet discovered who they are.

The basic components of a resume are:

1. Contact Information
    
2. Degrees, Diplomas & Certifications
    
3. Languages Spoken
    
4. Work Experience
    
5. Education
    
6. Professional/Technical Training
    
7. Awards & Prizes
    
8. Community & Volunteer Experience
    
9. Travel
    
10. Sports
     
11. Hobbies
     

In closing

Your resume is your story and should present your career experience, education, training and most importantly your achievements in an easy to read format. The length of your resume will be determined by your years of experience, not by an arbitrary one or two page limit.

Richard (Ric) Ward
IT Job Coach