​Hiring Secrets from Recruiters

Recruiters can ease the process of matching you up to a great employer by facilitating the interview and follow-up process. As go-betweens, recruiters often learn things that candidates don’t about hiring decisions. While recruiters make the hiring process go more smoothly, it’s still up to you to skillfully sell your value as an employee. Keep these hiring secrets in mind to stand out favorably and increase your chances of securing the perfect job offer.

Your Resume Might Need Adjustment

Being able to make a great impression over the phone or in person is fantastic, but won’t get you anywhere if your resume blends in with everyone else’s – or worse, gets discarded before it’s even looked at. A majority of recruiters and employers use some kind of Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which uses scanning software to filter high volumes of resumes down to the most qualified candidates.

The problem is, these systems rely on keywords to narrow the volume of applications down to the most relevant applicants. If you’re not using the precise phrases the system is programmed to look for, your resume could get trashed before a living person even sees it.

You can avoid this by optimizing for ATS programs yourself and tailoring your resume to incorporate the specific keywords used in the job description. You may also consider hiring a specialized resume writer, who can assist in making your resume powerful, memorable and visually pleasing. Recruiters and hiring managers look at dizzying numbers of resumes, so you should make every effort to ensure yours stands out. Ultimately, the best way to get your resume in front of an employer is by working with a recruiter so your resume isn’t lost in all the online applications.

Your Social Media Presence Matters

You can count on hiring managers trying to find out more about you, and what easier way than to look online? The most direct way to find out more about an individual – their personality, how they think, what their temperament might be like – is on social media. Don’t count on an employer sticking to just your LinkedIn profile. They’re also going to look at any other platforms they can find you on, especially Facebook. Make sure any publicly available posts give a clean, positive impression of you, and set the rest of them to “private.”

Details Do Count

The importance of first impressions has long been emphasized in just about all job-seeking advice, and it can’t be overstated. While it’s natural to be nervous about being evaluated so closely, you can boost your confidence by preparing properly. Feeling prepared will empower you to project yourself as a likable person and a capable employee. Here are a few things to remember:

• Observe basic interview etiquette like arriving on time and turning off your phone.
• Research the company you’re interested in working for to develop a familiarity with their key terms, overall culture, mission statement and core values, and other details. You’ll already be expected to know basic things about the company, and demonstrating knowledge from doing more than skimming their website will set you apart from other candidates.
• Prepare a list of questions you want to ask. Asking relevant questions will show you are engaged and enthusiastic about the position, and provides an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge in your industry.
• Find out some things not to say or ask here, like whether your current job or boss is terrible.
• Brush up on your interviewing skills by practicing with a friend, family member, or career coach so the process flows naturally for you – you’ll be less likely to hesitate or feel caught off-guard.

Weigh Your Salary Ask

It’s common for employers to ask job seekers their expected salary during an interview, and even as early as the application process. It can be stressful to ask for a specific amount, since aiming a little high can get you passed over in a hiring decision while asking for too little can paint you as underqualified.

As with researching the company beforehand, you can take a lot of anxiety out of this topic by doing your homework: look up industry trends for salaries in your area. You’ll find out a general range of reasonable salary expectations, and can adjust your salary request according to your own experience level and skill set. Don’t be afraid to self-advocate for a fair salary fitting your qualifications, but remember to negotiate. Staying firm on a higher amount could cost you a job offer, while some employers may actually be open to paying a higher salary upon discussion.

Knowing these hiring secrets will improve your ability to land the job you want. Working with a recruiter is also an asset when going through the hiring process. For example, eHire recruiters gather our candidates’ salary requirements and preferences up front and then match them to the right businesses. We also lead negotiations for you in order to get you a salary package that’s truly fair and competitive. To find out more about how we pair highly-qualified job seekers with enterprise and high-growth tech companies, contact us today.