The more we chat with candidates and friends, the more we realize that, unlike a Recruiter, the average employee doesn’t spend most of their time looking at resumes, reviewing LinkedIn profiles or gathering feedback from job interviews.

This got us thinking about a list of a few things we wanted to share with candidates and companies to make your matchmaking future more successful! Here is your insider look at the behind the scenes details from the life of a Recruiter.

 

Who Made Up the ONE PAGE Resume Rule? 

If your resume is a single page with 6-point font and enough text to rival the Canadian tax code, we can’t read it… literally. We open the document and it’s like walking into a brick wall. There seems to be a common misconception that your resume must fit on one page. Guess what, if you’ve had a full career with an interesting list of work experience, volunteer opportunities, achievements, and hobbies, your resume WILL NOT fit on one page. Here are our general resume tips:

  • Don’t fear a second (or even third) page if it keeps things readable
  • Keep your experience to 10 – 15 years (no need for your first job mowing lawns)
  • Remove any reference to highschool. Once you have a few years under your belt this is no longer relevant and can lead to increased chance of bias
  • Stick to one of two different fonts / text size; one for headings and one for the body
  • Update your experience based on the job you are applying for
  • Keep some white space in between sections and also in the margins
  • PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW STATEMENT as your opening section, giving a concise but detailed summary of what you bring to the table and how your skills will benefit any future employer.

 

Your LinkedIn Photo Shouldn’t Involve a Fish.

We’ve seen it all: blurry selfies, wedding photos cropped around a shoulder, outdated pictures of over 10 years and yes – even people holding up their prize catch! This might be appropriate – but only if you are a fishing guide.

LinkedIn is your professional first impression. It should look like YOU – AT WORK. Taking a clean snap shot on your smart phone is as easy as 1, 2, 3. In the absence of a professional head shot, make some time to snap that photo yourself so if someone meets you at a networking event they can recognize you.

Beyond the photo, please keep your job history up to date and align it with your resume. A LinkedIn profile that is completely different from the candidate’s resume can be a RED FLAG. Don’t risk a Recruiter or Hiring Manager checking you out online and wondering what’s real and what’s just bait (pun intended).

 

Meet a Recruiter, Before you NEED a Recruiter.

We can’t always control our work situations, and when you’ve been laid off or have just hit a wall and need to get out, you want options now. Here’s the deal: Recruiters work best when we’re proactive with you, not reactive to job panic.

Real Recruiter magic happens when you build a relationship with us BEFORE you need a job. If you are proactive and maintain an ongoing relationship with a Recruiter, when you need us, we will already have your resume, your background AND a bit of a relationship which makes our ability to advocate for you that much more expedient. 

If you are open to roles (but not NEEDING them) when a perfect role pops up, we can bring it to you to review. This allows you to passively keep an ear to the ground on market opportunities and strategically assess roles from time to time allowing for a good career check in and potential move if and when the time is right.

 

Blocking the Market – It Also Happens in Recruitment.

If you are applying to jobs on your own while working with a Recruiter, let us know. We don’t mind it as long as everyone is transparent. If you have applied somewhere directly, it removes the ability for us to advocate on your behalf. Recruiters don’t typically manage your entire job search – particularly if you are actively looking for work. But the outcome is generally better when we have coordinated efforts in order for your Recruiter to add the most value when it comes to leveraging our strongest connections.

If we don’t know you’re in the process elsewhere, we can miss important timelines in the interview process we are managing for you. We can also provide assistance in managing timelines and communication with other opportunities so you can have the most support in making a decision that feels best for you (without feeling rushed). Transparency helps everyone win. Time is of the essence.

 

Please Wear Pants in EVERY Interview – Even With Your Recruiter!

We are only sorta kidding because we have had candidates show up to our virtual recruiter meetings in pajamas. This may be the saddest advice we’ve had to give, but there are other INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE that we wished everyone knew:

  • Don’t lead with money by talking compensation right off the hop; build the relationship first.
  • Don’t talk trash about your current or any past employers.
  • Always have thoughtful questions prepared for your interviewers.
  • Understand the company’s values so you aren’t asking questions that don’t align with their values. (Guess what… your Recruiter can make sure that you aren’t heading into interviews with companies that don’t align with you!)
  • Dress for the job you want. We wish we didn’t have to say this but, make sure you are groomed, clean, and dressed appropriately.

A big part of a Recruiter’s role is making sure you are prepared for your interview, but if we have to go over basic hygiene … we might cry.

 

Sometimes, You Just Need to Talk It Out.

Not every conversation with a Recruiter leads to an application, and that’s okay. Sometimes, just having someone to talk to who knows the industry, understands your path, and listens without judgment, is exactly what you need.

We’ve helped people realize they’re already in the right role, and helped others reframe what success looks like. We aren’t therapists… but we are really good listeners. And we believe in your potential, even when you might feel unsure.

At the end of the day, we want to see everyone succeed and know that better results happen when everyone understands what’s really going on. Hopefully this peek into our world helps you collaborate better, communicate more clearly, and maybe even laugh a little along the way.

 

Every one of us, Recruiters, Candidates, and Employers, are all just trying to make the Insurance Industry as good as it can be, one Interview at a time!

 

Let’s Talk, No Pressure or Fish Pics Required

Whether you’re casually curious or knee-deep in job search chaos, we’re here for a real conversation.

Connect with a Recruiter at Sauce and let’s figure out what makes sense for YOU.