When I recently interviewed recruiter, Audrey Chenoff of Starpoint Solutions, my intention was to not only investigate what recruiters look for when screening job candidates, but, also to bring that information to you with actionable steps.

Therefore, you will find my recommendations after each question and answer.

Q: How is recruiting for a Fortune 500 corporation different?

A: When I recruit for a Fortune 500 company, I scan to see if the job seeker has worked for a recognizable company. Another Fortune 500 company would be ideal. It is important that the job seeker have that type of experience in order for me to present them for a position.

Recommendation:

There is not much you can do about sidestepping lack of experience with a Fortune 500 corporation.

Yet, perhaps counteracting this lack of Fortune 500 exposure in a cover letter would be a great tactic. More importantly, ask yourself, why do you want to work for a Fortune 500 company? What are your goals with your personal job search? Pay? Work/life balance? Location? (Sometimes what we desire is closer than we think or packaged differently.)

If you have worked for a Fortune 500 company then you need to make the companies prominent on the resume. While most Fortune 500 corporations are recognizable, it cannot hurt to add a snippet about the company’s profile (especially if they are not Fortune 500 but a reputable organization).

Also, don’t bury those company names on the second page of a resume. You should always begin employment on the first page, especially if listing Fortune 500 corporations will give you an advantage in your job hunt.

If you worked for a Fortune 500 company a long time ago but it’s not your latest employment, refer to that Fortune 500 employment in the resume’s summary or in a cover letter.

Q: What other important aspects are you scanning for on a resume?

A: Stability in employment: no gaps, technical skills, similar job titles.

Recommendation:

First, create a resume that immediately displays your career chronology (after a brief Profile or Summary). Second, if technical skills are important for you to perform your job, place technical skills on the first page of the resume.

Q: What do you dislike seeing on resumes?

A: Personal information (hobbies, marital status, religion, etc.), and a resume that obviously conveys the job seeker has placed very little effort in preparing it. The resume is still an important document. You would not believe how many job hunters leave off vital information that I gather once I call them.

Recommendation:

Leave personal information off your resume. Period.

Next, stand out from those who spend little effort in resume preparation by taking care with your resume. Have others, preferably including a career professional (one from your college, even if you graduated 30 years ago), review it for you to eliminate typos and evaluate the formatting. [See Job-Hunt’s Guide to Resumes for more help.]

If you can, hire a professional resume writer to help you, or write your resume with the goal of outdistancing other job seekers who may be qualified, too.

The goal when preparing a modern resume is not only to prove that you are qualified, but to show why you are better qualified than the next candidate.

Q: Where do you source job candidates? Where should job seekers be?

A: LinkedIn is definitely a social networking tool job seekers should be using in their job search.

Recommendation:

If you have not set up a LinkedIn account, do so immediately! No need to sign up for any special job seeker program on LinkedIn right away.

First, complete your profile, include keyword-rich content, make the LinkedIn profile public, and launch your networking efforts. According to this comment, most of the recruiting is done on LinkedIn. Social media is not a fad—it is the new way to communicate and market businesses online—job seeker marketing is no different!  [See Job-Hunt’s Guide to Using LinkedIn for Job Search and Guide to Social Media and Job Search for more information.]

Q: Once you have interviewed a candidate, should they follow up with you?

A: I don’t mind if a job seeker follows up with me. I know some recruiters don’t like it.

Recommendation:

Since some recruiters don’t like job seekers to follow up, don’t “burn your bridges.” Ask the recruiter at the end of the interview if you may follow up with them before you “harass” them on your own volition. [See How to Follow Up after a Job Interview for more ideas.]

Q: What advice do you want to give job seekers who want to enter the Fortune 500 market?

A: Because to Fortune 500 companies experience at that level is important, young job seekers need to invest in internships, attend great schools, and network. Older job seekers need to play up their job stability, and ensure that their achievements are easily detectable on their resume.

Recommendation:

Career marketing begins before graduation. Any new graduate who will soar above the rest would have most likely begun to strategize networking opportunities, personal branding, and internship possibilities before graduation.

For the mature job seeker, I say that there is no other way to outshine a flaw than by overshadowing weaknesses with strengths. Don’t lie on the resume. Don’t exaggerate. Don’t talk gibberish. Do, however, promise that you will execute the job well above the others and earn credibility by highlighting relevant accomplishments.

About the author…

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, Job-Hunt’s Fortune 500 Job Search Expert, is owner of and principle writer for CareerSteering.com. Rosa is also quadruple-certified writer, holding the Master Resume Writer certification (a certification held by only 26 other resume writers, world-wide), Certified Expert Resume Writer, Academy Certified Resume Writer, and Nationally Certified Resume Writer. You can follow Rosa on Twitter at @ResumeService and connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook/CareerMarketing.

The post Straight Advice from a Fortune 500 “Gatekeeper” appeared first on Job-Hunt.

To Fortune 500 employers, talent sourcing and retention is “the name of the job search game.” So, if you’re considering mining for a new job or career in this tough territory, think special talent marketing and not just job qualifications.

You can expect hundreds of job seekers will be vying for the same executive positions that you are after. You can imagine that your most intimidating competitor is someone who has developed an enticing personal brand and a no-nonsense job search arsenal.

Consequently, you must raise your job search tactics and beat your competition in the trenches. Get it? Ready? Great!

Here are 5 weapons/tools and tips you will need to get started…

1. A list of Fortune 500 companies:

Compile your top choices based on your value offer and career trajectory. Then, plot how to make a connection with a hiring authority (research, network, recommendations, and more research).

2.  Network, network, network:

Social networking is one important channel. If you haven’t already, set up your LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, right away.

LinkedIn:
Many Fortune 500 recruiters use LinkedIn to find talent. Of all the ways my clients tap into the hidden job market, LinkedIn seems to be the most effective way online. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is set up so that your headline includes your target job title, years of experience, and a tag line that offers value (makes a promise.)

Twitter:
Follow Fortune 500 companies. Use the Twitter “find friends” search, or check Job-Hunt’s list of employers recruiting directly on Twitter A good place to start up, Job-Hunt’s list of employers who recruit using JobHuntOrg/employers-recruiting.

Offline:
Tapping into the hidden job market is not as impossible as it may seem. Yes, it is work but it is work that will pay off! Click on over to Job-hunt.org’s article on how to tap into the hidden job market.

3.  Leadership/Networking Resume:

You will need two resumes for your Fortune 500 Job search. One resume version will be a one page snapshot of the most vital information such as employment and select achievements, which will serve you best for networking purposes.

You will also need a branded, full-blown resume which can be 2 or 3 pages and sometimes may even include an addendum which could chronicle your credentials, public speaking appearances, authored articles, etc. This second more elaborate resume will be best received by someone who has shown interest in learning more about you as a job candidacy.

Be sure to customize both versions of your resume for each of these employer whenever you submit it to anyone at that employer.

4.  Networking card:

These are simple to make. Your name, contact information, target job title and industry, and links to your online profile or resume. Better yet—why not add a QR code (Technology!) which takes someone to your online profile, a webpage with your contact information on it, or…

5.  Network pitch:

Clearly and concisely articulating your experience and value offer in any situation is critical. With some defining and refining, I am sure your message will be transparent and magnetic. Read more in Job-Hunt’s Guide to Job Search Networking.

Bottom Line

Great! You have your weapons ready. Now you are ready to begin mapping out your Fortune 500 Job search. Good luck!

About the author…

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, Job-Hunt’s Fortune 500 Job Search Expert, is owner of and principle writer for CareerSteering.com. Rosa is also quadruple-certified writer, holding the Master Resume Writer certification (a certification held by only 26 other resume writers, world-wide), Certified Expert Resume Writer, Academy Certified Resume Writer, and Nationally Certified Resume Writer. You can follow Rosa on Twitter at @ResumeService and connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook/CareerMarketing.

The post Build Your Fortune 500 Job Search Arsenal appeared first on Job-Hunt.

But, scary as those words are, they do NOT end your career. You can — and you WILL — recover!

Before we dive into some actionable steps you can begin today in order to inch closer to employment status, it is necessary we reframe your thinking and “‘jolt those heart muscles.”

Without the right mental shift, your job search steps will not yield optimal results.

The Mental Preparation

First, accept that being terminated happens to the best of us! Do not allow it to chip away at your confidence and self-esteem, my friend. If you were let go due to company restructuring, understand you must market yourself as if your tenure just simply ended. That is all.

It is not your job to make excuses or defend your former employer’s decision to terminate your employment. It is your job to present your best self and to advocate for yourself by promoting your qualifications.

Yet, even if your actions did lead to your termination, you can rebuild your career. You can!

The Barriers

I bet you’ve heard that most companies are searching for employed candidates. Yes, unfortunately, there are some companies that have adopted this type of criteria in the candidate-sorting process. However, there are still companies out there that have not opted to create more barriers for the unemployed.

More importantly, if you package your candidacy magnetically — you will be irresistible — and you will earn an interview invitation, despite your unemployment.

A great marketing tactic is to focus your resume on all the years that you have exceeded expectation. This will provide you an opportunity to overshadow your hiatus from paid employment.

The Quick Fixes

Five options for re-entering the job market:

  1. Volunteering  

Volunteering is a great way to not only garner activity to include on your resume, but it is also an excellent way to keep yourself busy and to nurture a healthy attitude. If you are tactical enough in your search for a volunteer job, you can align your volunteer experience with your career goal.

At the very least, you will garner or hone transferable skills (skills that lend weight to your profession), which you can leverage once you are employed. And, you will add experience to go at the top of your resume, above the job with the employer who terminated you.

  2. Temporary Employment (a.k.a. “Temping”)  

Working for a temporary employment agency can provide both income and an opportunity to check out other employers and industries.

For a few days to a few weeks or months, depending on the needs of the agency’s candidate, you can gain experience and fill the “unemployment gap” in your resume.

[Learn much more about this option in Job-Hunt’s Guide to the Temporary Work Option.]

  3. Freelancing or Consulting  

Are you in a position to provide your expertise by working as an entrepreneur? You can register your DBA (“Doing Business As…”) name, and launch a website, prepare some business cards, and start consulting. Read the US SBA’s Choose Your Business Name for more information about registering a DBA.

Of course there is more to being a successful entrepreneur than this, but we are discussing the minimum you need to perform to legitimately demonstrate you were trying to keep yourself active in your field.

[Learn more about this option in Job-Hunt’s Guide to Freelancing and Contracting Jobs.]

  4. Join Associations/Organizations  

Perform a Google search for an association in your field. There are many benefits to becoming a member of an association such as tapping into resources for career development, often including job postings, and staying abreast of the latest news and developments in your industry (maybe even promoting your consulting gig a little further).

Also, by becoming a member of an association relevant to your career, you will not only create “activity” you can include on your resume and talk about during an interview, BUT you will be networking with professionals of like interest (and most of them will be employed).

 5. Part-Time Employment  

If you have been looking for employment for a while with no success, have you considered accepting part-time employment in the interim?

In my quest to help job seekers, I have found many part-time opportunities in fields where only full time jobs were once the norm. This is partly due to budget constraints, I am sure, but also due to changes in demand and need.

The Job Search Plan

Research and target companies selectively. It is understandable that when you are out of work you would seek any employment with any company.

Instead become more strategic in your job search:

• Research and match your qualifications with the best opportunities.
• Invest considerable time in mapping out employers of interest near your home (location can be a big factor in the hiring process),
• Customize your job search documents so that your fit with opportunities is more persuasive.
• Interview well. Many job seekers make it to an actual interview but then they never receive a call back! Hone your interview skills. You can arm yourself to ace the interview and survive the “why-did-you-leave-your-last-job” question.

For more about acing job interviews, read Smart Answers to Interview Questions and Smart Strategies for Answering Behavioral Interview Questions to be well-prepared.

Bottom Line on How to Recover After Being Fired

Remember that being fired happens to almost everyone at least once. The key is to move on by facing the situation, dealing with your feelings (read the Job Loss Recovery articles for help with the emotional aspects), and getting on with your career. You can do it!

More on the Transition from Fired-to-Hired:

• How to Recover From Job Loss
• Laid Off or Fired?
• How Employers View You Being Fired
• In a Job Interview, Answering Why You Left When You Were Fired
• Resume Example: Just Fired
• Beating the Job Search Blues

About the author…

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, Job-Hunt’s Fortune 500 Job Search Expert, is owner of and principle writer for CareerSteering.com. Rosa is also quadruple-certified writer, holding the Master Resume Writer certification (a certification held by only 26 other resume writers, world-wide), Certified Expert Resume Writer, Academy Certified Resume Writer, and Nationally Certified Resume Writer. You can follow Rosa on Twitter at @ResumeService and connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook/CareerMarketing.

The post Tips to Recover From Being Fired appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you are an “old-timer,” you will probably be resistant to the idea of integrating social networking into your job search campaign.

If you are a “youngling,” you are probably using social media but are not too sure how to leverage it in your job search.

Whoever you are, whatever your age, and whatever you do, know that strategically sculpting your digital image is an advantageous job search effort.

Fortune 500 employers and recruiters will search your name online (even if merely out of curiosity).

By developing a positive online presence, you will influence employers’ perception of who you are! Therefore, adopting a proactive approach and governing your online image will net you the desired vantage point during an interview.

Some Tips and Cautions:

1. Before you jump online, prepare off-line:

What is it you desire to convey or reinforce online? Gain clarity on this matter because if your job target is unfocused, your online branding will be confusing to employers.

Focus your online content because fortune 500 employers don’t just search for qualified job seekers who can fulfill any job. Fortune 500 employers are discerning and selective and desire to hire the best person for that particular role they need to fill.

Perform the following analysis before you “relocate” to the digital world:

• Determine the job titles that most interest you.
• Check for the keywords you consistently see throughout the job ads for the jobs you want.
• Research the companies you desire to work for; the company culture and the kind of employees they desire. Then use this information to focus your online writing (content development).

2. Use effective online venues:

Begin with LinkedIn:

According to most current research, LinkedIn is leading the way in social networking mediums that recruiters and employers use to source candidates.

In my own experience as a job search expert, I have witnessed success in landing coveted job interviews through networking opportunities via LinkedIn. I have also interviewed recruiters who have reinforced LinkedIn as their “go-to” source of good job candidates.

3. Ensure effective online profiles:

Keep your resume “in synch” with your Profiles:

Keep your profiles fresh and “in synch” with your offline job search documents, like your resume. Employers often “verify” the information on a resume submitted for a job opportunity with what they see in public profiles, like LinkedIn and Google. They assume that few people will inlude falsehoods in their profiles since the people who know the truth about their experience will see the misrepresentation in the profile.

Fortune 500 employers are very aware that people often “exaggerate” what is included on a resume, so they check profiles to verify what is on the resume. Make sure your profiles and your resume agree on the facts, timing, accomplishments, etc.

Don’t simply repurpose your resume:

Select portions of your offline/printed resume to include in your profiles, and reword them in a more social manner for your online profiles, keeping your list of keywords in mind (see Step 1). This strategic step of not placing your resume entirely as is online will ensure the recruiter need to contact you to gain more information, creating a need for further contact and perhaps a real conversation.

Be sure to make contacting you easy by including your phone number and email address in your online profiles.

Bottom Line

After you have taken the above steps, you have begun to shape your online image so that Fortune 500 employers understand you are the right fit for their company. Read the Fortune 500 Gatekeeper Interview article to understand more about what Fortune 500 recruiters are seeking from you.

About the author…

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas, Job-Hunt’s Fortune 500 Job Search Expert, is owner of and principle writer for CareerSteering.com. Rosa is also quadruple-certified writer, holding the Master Resume Writer certification (a certification held by only 26 other resume writers, world-wide), Certified Expert Resume Writer, Academy Certified Resume Writer, and Nationally Certified Resume Writer. You can follow Rosa on Twitter at @ResumeService and connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook/CareerMarketing.

The post Shaping Your Online Presence for a Fortune 500 Employer appeared first on Job-Hunt.