This one is for the #Jobseekers

This one is for the job seekers. Lay offs suck. Been feeling a little speechless lately, not really knowing what to say or if I should say anything at all. I haven't personally been impacted, and trust me, that gratitude is not lost. Besides acknowledging how gut wrenching it can be to lose your job, it's also incredibly intimidating to start an unexpected job search process alongside thousands of others in the same boat. It can be exhausting and frustrating, so here are a few tips that could help get you noticed:

1. Create a new email address ONLY for your job search.

This is important for a lot of reasons, but to name a few:

A) It will help you keep track of applications and will prevent you from missing responses by having to sort through junk mail. As a recruiter, I've emailed, emailed again, and then called unresponsive candidates just to finally get a hold of them and be told they didn't see it in their inbox. Speaking of junk mail, CHECK IT and check it often. Most applications are collected and sorted through an ATS (applicant tracking system), so the response to your application may come from an automation and get flagged as spam. Your next job could be sitting right under your nose!

B) It gives you an opportunity to create a professional email. While I'm not one to promote judging a book by its cover, the fact remains that many employers WILL. So drop your old hotmail account with your highschool nickname and create one that is easy, neutral, and professional. Also, remember if it's a Gmail account we will often see the emails come through with the name you register to the account instead of your actual email. So I also recommend using your full name and not a shared email account so that employers don't get confused when they get emails back from "The Bell Family" or "Captain Underpants".

Don't use your birth year in it! We all know it's 100% illegal to discriminate based on age, but unconscious bias can be an unfortunate reality that some employers aren't even aware of. For that matter, I don't recommend using any identifier in the email that could trigger unconscious bias and give someone an excuse to eliminate you for a crappy reason.

C) Here's a sneaky one--- most ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) sort "duplicate candidates" by your email address because it's often a more unique identifier than your name. So if you've already applied to a job, you'll get flagged as a duplicate. Creating a new one is like a fresh start in an ATS, and may bring your application to the top of the pile.

2. Apply early!

While you see a lot of jobs posted for 30, 60, 90 days... that doesn't mean they are still actively interviewing. Many applicants are identified within the first few weeks of posting, but it can take an employer several weeks (or even months!) to complete the interview process, and most will leave the posting up until then. Many recruiters won't count their chickens before they accept an offer (or whatever that saying is), which means that posting might stay up even if they have already made a hiring decision!

The other harsh reality of postings that are lingering for months at a time is that an employer forgot to un-post or close it out, they aren't that serious about hiring for it, or they are leaving it up as an "evergreen" to continuously pipeline candidates even if there isn't a true opening. So while applying to these jobs anyways doesn't hurt (and it will almost definitely get you into their ATS to keep you in mind for future roles), the truth is that the early bird gets the interview!

3. Use common font and simple formatting for your resume!

I can't stress this enough...don't fall into the temptation of using unique text, formatting, or graphics hoping your resume will stand out. Most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will parse a resume to some degree, which means that it will take your resume and use it to auto-populate information into your applicant profile. So if the font or format isn't recognized, it will show up jumbled or sometimes not at all. You're much more likely to get skipped if a recruiter or hiring manager can't see or read your resume, especially when dealing with high volumes of applicants. Your best bet is to use a Word Doc with common font like Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc. and to keep it simple and generic so it's sure to come through how you intend it.

Ok I know I will have some folks on the creative and design side that might hate this advice. You can always make a website, portfolio, etc. that you can link to on your resume or ask to follow up with a more formally formatted resume that you think showcases your skills better. We want to see your experience, not a page of "cannot display image" or a resume that looks like you used Wingdings to create.

We can see what you save your resume as, especially if we download to share with hiring managers. So try to save it as something appropriate, and even better if you use your name and date so it sticks out of the bunch. PLEASE don't save it as something like "Katie resume Walmart" and then submit it to Amazon :) You get the idea.

4. Don't spray and pray, we can see it!

Ok first, what the heck does that mean? Spray and pray is submitting your resume to everything and anything and hoping for the best. But, playing the numbers game may be working against you! If you've submitted hundreds of applications with few responses, try doing the opposite by being more targeted. Most systems will organize the view by individual applicants, which means we will see your profile and resume along with ALL the jobs you've applied to over the history of that ATS.

So we can see if you've applied to 30 positions with the same employer, and it may impact your chances of getting a call. Why? Because recruiters will (unfortunately) assume things that may not be in your favor. They may think you don't know what you're looking for if you've applied to jobs across many different departments. Or if you've applied to an entry level role and then a Director level role, they may assume that you're not a fit for either because of the gap in experience and level. Recruiters look for the person who most closely matches the job. So if you're applying for a role that doesn't match your qualifications you'll get quickly overlooked, AND they may assume you're a little out of touch with your own skills and experience. Stay focused on jobs that match your experience and level, and you'll be more likely to get more consideration from a recruiter that's in a hurry.

Shameless DE&I plug:

I can't help but want to show the flip side of the coin that this advice CAN and WILL lead to disparate impact if taken too literally. Minorities are far less likely to apply to jobs when they don't meet every requirement...which means they are less likely to be selected...which means they are unevenly represented in the workforce. The reality is that Job Descriptions for many employers are NOT created as thoughtfully as they should be. So when I say "meet the requirements and level", I mean this loosely. If it says 5 years and you have 3.5... go for it. If it says MBA preferred and you have a bachelor's...GO FOR IT! These requirements are NOT set in stone, and half the time are a product of lazy or uninformed hiring managers who don't really understand their own role requirements because they aren't organizational design or compensation professionals. And that's ok. But it shouldn't stop you from throwing your hat into the ring. BUT if you are going to take this approach, then tailor your resume to the credentials of the job so you can best showcase the aspects of your experience that DO match. Use your resume to be your own champion! Which brings me to my next tip....

5. Have several versions of your resume!

Here's the reality: recruiters are often overwhelmed with applications (especially these days with recruiters being one of the first people impacted by layoffs). Some of the sexier or bigger employers are fielding hundreds and sometimes thousands of applicants for any one opening. This means they may spend a few seconds on your resume, so they need to see how your experience is relevant within their first glance. OR, if they are a really fancy employers they might even have AI (artificial intelligence) do the sourcing--which is looking to match key words from the Job Description with your resume. Taking the time to read the Job Description and tailoring your resume to hit on the key points will help you get attention from recruiters AND bots :)

Another unfortunate reality...a jack or jill of all trades may be less likely to get a job in a specialized space because they may assume you're good at many things but a master at none. You know and I know this isn't exactly science, but it is an unfair shortcut some hiring managers take. So if you're applying for a specialized role, pick out the best parts of your past experience that most closely relate and PUT THOSE BULLET POINTS FIRST! Applying for a retail job but your retail experience is a little dated? Highlight that experience first, and/or include a tag line that says "10+ years retail experience seeking retail management job". If not, a recruiter may not make their way past your most recent jobs to see your relevant experience, so make sure to put your best foot forward.

Unpopular opinion: Taglines are GREAT... when done correctly. Generic taglines that use buzzy words like "strategic thought leader looking to add value to the top line of a high-growth organization SYNERGIES SYNERGIES SYNERGIES" are not helpful. BUT -- maybe you're making a career shift, a tag-line like "Seasoned hiring manager with 10 years of retail leadership experience looking to transition into Talent Acquisition" will help us understand that you have relevant experience, but you're PURPOSEFULLY applying to this job because it relates. OR... maybe you've been a stay-at-home parent or taking time off for health reasons (frankly, none of this is our business...so don't get too detailed) and you are getting back into the workforce. A tagline that says "Passionate Retail Leader looking to get back into multi-unit management" will help us understand that you didn't just accidentally submit a 2 year old resume. You purposefully took time off and now you're ready to rock and roll!

6. Speaking of resumes...Give us the HOT DEETS about your employers and not just your role!

We all know your position title and daily responsibilities are super important, but so is the company that you did it for! Especially in highly competitive markets, hiring managers are looking for the best fit and sometimes the easiest to get up to speed, which usually means they are more likely to hire someone coming from a similar industry, size, maturity, or market.

Recruiters move quickly because they are looking at A LOT of resumes right now. We don't recognize the name of every company that exists in the world, so we need a little help identifying how your past employers relate and compare.

Larger employers are usually looking for someone who can operate at scale, understands best practices, and does well in structured environments-- so tell us how big your company was and how big your team was.

Start-up companies are going to look for someone who can be a little scrappy, build and implement change, and work quickly with less resources-- so tell us how old your company is and how much it grew while you were there.

Companies with a dynamic workforce or within a specialized industry are going to look for someone who has worked in similar environments and understands the nuance of their business-- so tell us what kind of company it is and the nature of their business.

Even who you reported into, managed, or partnered with can help recruiters identify whether the role's seniority or level is fit. So...tell us!

Here's an example of how to do this:

Testy Test Company, Chicago IL

Testy Test Company is a $30MM Clothing and Accessory retailer founded in 2014 with over 3,000 employees nationwide.

Jobby Job Title, June 2020 – May 2023

Reporting into the [VERY IMPORTANT JOB TITLE], responsible for building and leading a team of 2 managers and 3 analysts across [department or function here] during high-growth from 12 locations to 30 locations in 3 years.

• [Bullet points with all the fun stuff I did here].

Another quick shameless plug of my personal opinion and definition of DE&I--I love a good DIVERSITY of thought, opinion, idea, and background...so this isn't necessarily the "best" talent strategy. But it is a reality for many employers who have scaled back their teams and are looking for a "plug-and-play" candidate who needs less training to get up to speed. So if your experience at prior employers aligns well with a potential future employer, make it OBVIOUS! Your recruiter will thank you.

7. Whatever your location situation, tell us on your resume!

Post pandemic job searching has gotten a little confusing for the job seeker AND the recruiter. Understanding if you're local, willing to commute, or willing to relocate for onsite positions will help a recruiter understand if you're a viable option. Similarly, letting us know if you're open to remote, or sometimes ONLY open to remote, can be a huge time saver as well. A lot of applicants will get passed over for a role because they don't have a local address on the resume, and the recruiter may just assume they want a remote role or didn't pay attention to the location. If you are interested in relocating, or maybe you have recently relocated but still have your old address on the resume, then put it at the top and include specifically where! "HR Professional willing to relocate to Chicago, IL or Columbus, OH" or "HR Professional looking for remote opportunities" answers the questions for us right away so we don't just assume. Again, recruiters are looking for the best fit, especially in a competitive market, so anything you can do to reconfirm that you're a practical option is in your favor!

While I'm on this subject, let me do a quick rant. DO NOT PUT YOUR FULL ADDRESS EVER. There may be some applications, specifically government contractors, that require this as part of a more extensive application process. In that case, do what you need to do! But if you're putting your resume on a public site like indeed or zip, people do NOT need to know exactly where to find you. It's dangerous (quite literally) for so many reasons. Your state and city, or better yet, zipcode, is usually enough. My other shameless DE&I plug is that people may discriminate based on where you live. They need to know you're commutable to the location, they do NOT need to make assumptions about you as a person based on your neighborhood. And they definitely don't need to know exactly which unit you sleep in at night :)

8. Look for jobs that are sponsored!

While some larger companies may have contracts to sponsor all their openings on websites like linkedin, indeed, ziprecruiter, glassdoor, etc., many will only do it on a "must need" basis. This means it's probably sponsored because the job is a priority, an urgent need, a tough to fill role, etc. Their sense of urgency and/or lack of qualified candidates gives you a chance to shine! So if you see a role with a special banner or one that says Sponsored Ad, there's a good chance the employer did so for a reason that could be in your favor.

And if they happen to show the recruiter or hiring manager that posted and sponsored the job, doesn't hurt to send them a nice message to help you stand out.

One more DE&I plug: If you're a minority, apply for the jobs through Diversity specific websites whenever possible. Many employers who are trying to quickly and directly impact the representation of their workforce may be more likely to prioritize candidates who come from these resources. You could quickly get your application to the top of the pile if your resume comes through one of their diversity partners-- places like Diversityjobs.com are a great place to look.

9. When you do get a request for interview, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!

I know this sounds simple, but it's a common and EASY mistake to make. I can't even count the number of times candidates don't fully read the email for scheduling an interview, and it can reflect poorly on you as a candidate. Does it ask you to use a Calendly link to select a time? Then don't email the recruiter directly. Does it ask you to fill out several options for availability? Then provide several...not just one. Does it ask you to choose from pre-selected availability? Select one of the offered time frames, not a random Saturday morning :) Does it ask you to reply back and confirm? Make sure they know you'll be there and do it with enthusiasm! Moral of the story, every interaction you have with a recruiter or hiring manager is an opportunity to showcase your talent and professionalism, so following simple email instructions (and even things like spelling their names correctly when emailing back and forth) can make a big difference!

OK, last one but this is a BIG ONE!

10) Don't put your phone on DND for unknown numbers!!!

I get it....every "spam likely" call that interrupts my very important social media scrolling is very annoying. In fact, I think I've gotten 7 of them while writing this article. But, if you're actively looking for jobs, you need to be able to receive calls from unknown numbers. And if you're thinking to yourself, "I'll just save the phone number of the recruiter who will be calling me so I know it's them"...you might still be accidentally declining a future employer's call. If a recruiter was sick and someone is filling in for them, you may hear from a different team member from a different number! Or maybe that recruiter is traveling and using a mobile device instead of the office number on the confirmation email. There are lots of reasons you might be surprised by the number that is calling you. So if you want to be open to opportunities, that might mean open to taking calls from unknown numbers. Don't accidentally make it too hard to get a hold of you, or a recruiter or hiring manager might just quickly move onto the next!

Wow, for those of you who made it all the way to the end of this post...I am IMPRESSED. But most importantly, I truly hope some of these tips can help you land your next dream job!

Let me just end this by saying, as a recruiter who likes to think they are one of the "good ones", take it easy on us right now and DON'T take it personally. These harsh reality checks may not reflect my own personal recruiting style or philosophy, and aren't intended to call anyone out. But yes, there are bad recruiters who work for good companies, and good recruiters who work for bad companies. Don't let any one person sour you on the job search process. There are many reasons to not be interested in a company if they don't handle your application properly. But, sometimes it's just a reflection of an overwhelmed recruiter trying to do their job with little to no support, and many of these bad habits are unintentional or unconscious. So don't take it personally and DON'T let it impact your self worth!

I know it's so much easier said than done, but please don't let a rejection email frustrate you to the point of giving up. The job search process is tough no matter how good you are, and you'll likely get a bunch of rejections for reasons that you'll never really know or understand. But it happens to the best of us, and in fact, it happens to all of us. So be your own champion and KEEP ON KEEPIN ON because you've got this!