There are many job boards available to job seekers today. Most everyone has heard of the Big 3: Careerbuilder, Monster & Indeed, but were you aware that all the major job boards get bombarded with fake resumes?
When you upload your resume onto a job board, you rely on the integrity of that entity. Unfortunately, on a regular basis, all the major job boards get flooded with fake resumes, particularly in IT related fields. These resumes are typically uploaded by unscrupulous 3rd party consulting / staffing firms that use them to bait employers/Recruiters into contacting them, they'll usually respond to the inquiry stating that the person you're reaching out to is no longer available but they have a variety of qualified candidates they'd be happy to submit.
These cases create a hindrance to qualified, honest job seekers by bogging down the system, wasting employer/recruiter time, and making it difficult to determine which resumes are genuine and which are not.
For example; today I logged on to a job board to search for a specific Human Capital Management software experienced consultant. I entered my key words and the search resulted in about 250 resumes from the last 6 mos. Of those resumes, about 50% were fake. I counted 4 resume variations (4 identical resumes), all with different names and all in different metropolitan areas. It usually takes a few minutes to pick up on the fact that a resume looks familiar, and realize the last 2 resumes you reviewed were almost exactly the same, with the same employers, the same key words, the same experience and summary, just the name and location were different.
This fraudulent activity makes it so time consuming to find the right people that Recruiters are often turning to LinkedIn as the main source for qualified candidates.
If you are not on LinkedIn, set up a profile! If you are on LinkedIn, make sure your profile resembles your resume, has all the appropriate key words, and mentions in the "About" section that you are open to employment opportunities if it is safe for you to do so.
If you are loading your resume onto a job board - try to differentiate yourself from the fray by putting something eye catching in the Summary section like "Available For New Projects In June!".
Oddly this is a little discussed or recognized phenomenon. In conversations with some of the job board representatives, they are often unaware of the issue until a client who uses their service to search for resumes brings it to their attention, at which time they will conduct a search and remove the duplicated resumes. Hopefully the more these issues are reported, the sooner the job boards will make a consistent effort to remove fake resumes from their sites.
Showing posts with label resume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resume. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Posting Your Resume to the Job Boards
After you have created your eye-catching resume you will want to post it to the job boards for everyone to see. There are a number of things to consider and remember when utilizing internet job boards. Having your resume on the internet is a great way to get noticed and get broad-based exposure if that is what you’re looking for. If you want to keep your job search confidential, posting on the job boards is not advised. Even though it says “Confidential” it doesn’t take a nuclear engineer to figure out who you are. Consider instead, opening a Linkedin Profile if you don’t already have one. You can make numerous industry contacts, and have employment discussions under the radar of your current employer by using Linkedin.
Which Job Boards to use?? The top 4 are:
Dice will be more focused on Technical careers while the other 3 have opportunities across a huge variety of industries.
(I am not provided compensation from these sites)
Posting your resume to the job boards is simple. Just register by following the new user information and the steps for uploading your resume. Each site varies on the amount of information they would like you to supply for your “profile”.
What information should you supply???
That depends on how much you want to give. Some information is mandatory, if you are uncomfortable providing certain information skip-it, if you cannot skip it you can sometimes fill in the blanks by using zeros. (ex: Address 000 Main St, or phone 000-000-0000)if that doesn’t work, use another site.
If you do not want to provide your telephone number, make sure it is not listed on the resume you upload to the job board or it will be visible there, same goes for email address, name, physical address etc. If you do provide your phone, its best to list what times you are available to take calls.
I’ve said this before but it’s worth saying again: when naming your resume document, use a combination of your name or name and date. (ex: CLester2021.doc) Keep in mind that not all people are able to open a PDF, so upload your resume in word.doc form whenever possible. Before uploading your resume make sure all the dates and information is correct and there are no spelling errors!
Key Words: Key words are words that Recruiters frequently search for that are related to specific industry knowledge. For instance, I regularly search for Epic Systems Analysts, so I will use key words that relate to the specific module and knowledge that ideal candidates would have: Epic, Ambulatory, Implementation, build. Make sure you are using key words in your resume so it gets noticed.
(Side note on key words: Some people actually do not list the EMR Systems they have experience with because they are concerned it will limit their opportunities. Actually, the truth is quite the opposite! If you have spent the last 5 years on a Cerner Implementation you want to make sure you put Cerner in your resume and every module you worked with in your job. See my blog about resume building for more info.)
Title: When filling out “Title” ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS put your desired job title or current job title in that line. Be generic if you want to but do not leave it blank or put things like; the date, your name, some catch phrase, etc. Recruiters look here when searching the job boards for specifics. If you leave it blank or use unrelated information your resume may get over-looked
Salary expectations: This can be a sticky subject. In some instances providing a desired salary could eliminate you immediately. I’ve seen some crazy expectations that have caused me to simply pass on a candidate. In the HCIT industry a Clinical Analyst that has been working as a consultant may have been been making 150K + every year… however if that Clinical Analyst wants to transition into a permanent role with salary and benefits 150K might be unreasonable. The flip side of that scenario is under-selling yourself. If you are a Clinical Analyst for a hospital and you’ve been making 65K, but you could be making 100K as a traveling consultant you may not get fair market value for yourself if you list your current salary. Best bet is to leave that blank and have that conversation with each potential employer after doing industry research and hearing what they have to offer.
Education: This is similar to the last paragraph, it may help or hinder you depending on the position and the recruiter reviewing resumes. If you have a high level degree and are seeking a high level position, by all means… list your degree!
Travel - Yay or Nay: If you do not want to travel make sure you specify that on your profile or you will get numerous calls inquiring if you will. If you are open to 50% travel or more I would suggest you put “road warrior” to improve interest in your qualifications. If you are willing to relocate, make sure you list that and the cities you are open to moving to.
Employment Status: This space allows you to show if you are interested in Fulltime permanent employment, Contract, Per Diem etc. Normally you can select more than one option. Each site is slightly different but the break down is normally understood as the following for our industry.
Permanent- fulltime employment as a salaried employee . Contract or Project – this could be W2 Hourly or 1099 for a specific amount of time Per Diem – this could mean part time, paid for the time in which your services are required or term engagement
References: I highly suggest you never list references on the job boards or on your resume. That puts the cart before the horse. There is no need for references to be conducted until after the interview process is complete. Listing references on the job boards or your resume also opens up the people you provide as references to unsolicited phone calls regarding their own qualifications and career interests.
Interests & Hobbies: Your interests and hobbies do not belong on the job boards unless they directly relate to your career.
Job Searches: You can set up a search on the major job boards for opportunities that match your criteria. That information will be sent to your email regularly depending on how often you want to be alerted. This is a very useful tool!
When using job boards to search and apply for positions DO NOT apply for positions you are not qualified for. Pay close attention to the required qualifications when reading job postings. It is a waste of your time and the recruiter's time if your qualifications are not a match for the position posted. If you have had 6 months of experience in go-live training and you send your resume to a position that requires extensive clinical application build experience and certification, that is not a wise use of your time and energy. Focus on the positions that are within your skillset or slightly above your last job responsibilities to more quickly find your next engagement.
When to remove or update your resume: If you find the career of your dreams, remember to go back to the job boards and remove your resume. I often run searches for resumes that have been on the boards for 6 months or more to drum up candidates that may not have been called in a while. If you are a consultant and tend to leave your resume up on the boards, remember to update your resume with each new engagement so it doesn’t get stale.
Keep in mind that Recruiters sometimes look at hundreds of resumes a week, the more precise you are when filling out information on the job boards the more likely you are to be contacted.
By carefully and responsibly using the job boards and Linkedin you should be able to get the exposure you desire to land your next great opportunity.
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Resume Tips- How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
What to put down on paper: Resume Tips
Let's discuss Resumes. I've seen so many horrible resumes I don't know where to start... so I'm going to start from the top of a resume and work my way down.
Include: Name, Address (city / state), Phone, email (& linkedin, Twitter, Blog etc link if you have one)
Omit: SS#, marital status, number of children, health or any other personal information that could be used to discriminate.
Objective lines are no longer necessary or desirable. Put that info in your email or when necessary a cover letter.
Summary: In a paragraph or two, sum up the total of your best qualities (example: Accomplished, Versatile Technology Consultant with over 13 years of experience. Industry strengths relevant to: Healthcare Information Technology and Small business technology. Experience includes the following skills: etc)
Work History: Name each company you've worked for, dates of employment, job title and at least 3 bullets of your main responsibilities, try to include a bullet at the end about a milestone with that company (example: Earned the Presidential Sales award 4 years in a row). If you have a technical career remember to include what technologies you used...for instance; instead of "worked as a builder during the EMR implementation" you might want to say "provided build assistance with the implementation of Epic Ambulatory". Even if you have listed your technical skills in the Summary section of your resume, it is important to reiterate in the work history so the reader knows how recent your experience is with specific technologies.
Education: Listing High School education is not important. College education should be clearly listed. If you attended but did not graduate, make sure you put "degree not complete" or "in process". Include any important certifications or trainings in this area as well.
Awards and Affiliations: list any business awards you've received and any memberships you may have to work related organizations.
Volunteer work: (This is optional) list any relevant volunteer work you've done
References: Do NOT include references on the resume. Put: "References provided upon request" No need to provide references until you're to that stage in the interview process.
Font: Use a simple font like Times New Roman or Ariel, don't go with fancy letters or fonts like Comic Sans because it is often more difficult to read and doesn't appear professional.
Your resume (depending on how many years you've been in the job force) can comfortably be 2 full pages long. If you have a highly technical career, longer is acceptable. Keep personal information off the resume. If the potential employer wants to know your hobbies they'll ask.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, you want to be thorough but not overly wordy. Don't try to over-sell yourself. Get enough information out to intrigue the reader into calling you for an interview, then you can WOW them!
7 more tips:
1. SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! I've had clients turn down people for simple spelling mistakes. Remember that some industry terms may not come up on spell check, so always go through the resume carefully before you submit.
2. Do not give reasons for departing jobs, cover that in interview
3. Stick to bullet points, paragraphs of information can be overwhelming
4. Update your resume regularly
5. If you are considering work in more than 1 industry (ex: Sales OR Management) its a good idea to create different resumes for each industry to highlight those particular skills.
6. If you have changed professions over the years there is no need to put information from 10+ years ago. For instance, if you worked various restaurant jobs until 2005 and since then you've been in Nursing, no need to put any experience before 2005 on your resume because its not relevant to your current job search. If you don't feel like you have a handle on how to create a eye catching resume, hire someone to help you.
7. Do not email a link to your resume if you have it available on a web site without including a resume in document form. Providing your resume as an attached Document in PDF or .DOC format is ALWAYS preferable.
Include: Name, Address (city / state), Phone, email (& linkedin, Twitter, Blog etc link if you have one)
Omit: SS#, marital status, number of children, health or any other personal information that could be used to discriminate.
Objective lines are no longer necessary or desirable. Put that info in your email or when necessary a cover letter.
Summary: In a paragraph or two, sum up the total of your best qualities (example: Accomplished, Versatile Technology Consultant with over 13 years of experience. Industry strengths relevant to: Healthcare Information Technology and Small business technology. Experience includes the following skills: etc)
Work History: Name each company you've worked for, dates of employment, job title and at least 3 bullets of your main responsibilities, try to include a bullet at the end about a milestone with that company (example: Earned the Presidential Sales award 4 years in a row). If you have a technical career remember to include what technologies you used...for instance; instead of "worked as a builder during the EMR implementation" you might want to say "provided build assistance with the implementation of Epic Ambulatory". Even if you have listed your technical skills in the Summary section of your resume, it is important to reiterate in the work history so the reader knows how recent your experience is with specific technologies.
Education: Listing High School education is not important. College education should be clearly listed. If you attended but did not graduate, make sure you put "degree not complete" or "in process". Include any important certifications or trainings in this area as well.
Awards and Affiliations: list any business awards you've received and any memberships you may have to work related organizations.
Volunteer work: (This is optional) list any relevant volunteer work you've done
References: Do NOT include references on the resume. Put: "References provided upon request" No need to provide references until you're to that stage in the interview process.
Font: Use a simple font like Times New Roman or Ariel, don't go with fancy letters or fonts like Comic Sans because it is often more difficult to read and doesn't appear professional.
Your resume (depending on how many years you've been in the job force) can comfortably be 2 full pages long. If you have a highly technical career, longer is acceptable. Keep personal information off the resume. If the potential employer wants to know your hobbies they'll ask.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, you want to be thorough but not overly wordy. Don't try to over-sell yourself. Get enough information out to intrigue the reader into calling you for an interview, then you can WOW them!
7 more tips:
1. SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! I've had clients turn down people for simple spelling mistakes. Remember that some industry terms may not come up on spell check, so always go through the resume carefully before you submit.
2. Do not give reasons for departing jobs, cover that in interview
3. Stick to bullet points, paragraphs of information can be overwhelming
4. Update your resume regularly
5. If you are considering work in more than 1 industry (ex: Sales OR Management) its a good idea to create different resumes for each industry to highlight those particular skills.
6. If you have changed professions over the years there is no need to put information from 10+ years ago. For instance, if you worked various restaurant jobs until 2005 and since then you've been in Nursing, no need to put any experience before 2005 on your resume because its not relevant to your current job search. If you don't feel like you have a handle on how to create a eye catching resume, hire someone to help you.
7. Do not email a link to your resume if you have it available on a web site without including a resume in document form. Providing your resume as an attached Document in PDF or .DOC format is ALWAYS preferable.
8. Eliminate the use of "I" - instead of "I was responsible for the design, build and implementation of Epic Cadence" - Just say "Responsible for the design, build and implementation......".
UPDATED More Resume Tips!
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
UPDATED More Resume Tips!
- Use the same font throughout the resume. You can change size to indicate a new section (ex: SUMMARY, EXPERIENCE etc) and bold the font to highlight employer and title but use the same font style
- Stick to black & white! Leave the colorful resumes to the people applying for Marketing or Artistic positions.
- Dont include a photo, your picture is unnecessary.
- Have a friend or colleague that has similar industry knowledge proof read it!
- When naming your document, use a combination of your name and the date to make it easily searchable by recruiters when they save it (ex: CLester2021.doc)
*Copyright - Expressed permission must be granted by the blog owner to recreate, copy or use this material*
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