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Tailor your resume for a machine to read because, humans no longer read them……
2009-06-30


I remember back in the days when getting a job meant going to the career center at the University and faxing my resume to a number provided on each job opportunity bulletin which was listed right next to the contact name and the person’s phone number. I would then follow up with a phone call and soon after I would get my interview. Then came the machine (aka, the computer) and things have changed in most cases…..forever. Humans no longer read the resumes and forget about calling and trying to speak to a recruiter, it would take you a 1-800 number and three department transfers before you get the job line (another machine). With unemployment as high as 11 to 14% in some locations, and the majority of us looking for career opportunities, it seems like getting your resume to be read by a human is merely impossible.
The moral of the story is that if the reality is that you will no longer interface with a human but instead a machine, you have to gear your resume to get noticed by the machine and have it get into the hands of the recruiter to call you for that all important interview. It is a process like so much of the things in life, but understanding this process and gearing your resume to the machine, is just how it is done nowadays. So what do I mean by this, well it is simple…..KEY WORDS! You may have heard this before, but the fact is it is the reality and too many of us have these great sounding resumes with all of these outstanding superlatives and adjectives to describe how gifted we are, but very few KEY WORDS that the machine will pick up on!
Then now is the time that we must understand how the machine works in order to beat it, otherwise it will beat our spirits and we will be defeated yet once again by the machine. It makes sense that there are thousands and thousands of resumes being submitted to job boards and corporate websites as there are as many career seekers unemployed. Human Resource departments and Recruiters require the help of a machine to sort out resumes of career seekers that closely match the needs of a particular position. The bottom line is that your resume will be read by a machine before it ever gets to be read by a human, that’s assuming it gets that far. How do you ensure it does?
Here are some ways you can ensure that your resume is read by both machine and then by the Human:
1. KEY WORDS, a recruiter will first “search” in their website databases or job board databases using words that associate a resume with a position or better yet a job description. These key words will eliminate resumes and will only identify and sort out those that make sense for the job description. Herein lies the conundrum to having your resume almost sound like the job description when in fact that is all the machine and the human (recruiter) are matching your background. Here is where you must tailor your resume to be read by the machine. When naming your resume don’t waste your key words using your name or a fancy title, instead fill in as many words that describe your professional background, here are two examples:
a. if you are an accountant use: Accountant, CPA, Excel, Quickbooks, Payroll, Accounts Payable. Rule here: Even though you do not have a CPA yet, you can still put in CPA as in you are studying for your CPA or you are gathering experience to attain one. The machine only picks up on CPA and will flag your resume to be read by the HUMAN.
b. If you are a customer service professional use: Customer service, bilingual customer service, Spanish/English, retail sales, sales support, client relations, kiosk experience, team building, communication.
2. JOB FAIRS, recruiters often attend career fairs to recruit career seekers for a department or multiple departments in their companies or to recruit for immediate or positions opening up. These Job Fairs or Career Fairs should be a must for anyone that wants to have their resumes read by a Human. This is probably the best means to bypass the machine! You will be bypassing the machine by having the immediate opportunity to sell your abilities and skills directly to the recruiter. Most recruiters will write notes on the back of your resume and some will even interview you at the fair. In many occasions, we find that recruiters will go back to their offices and review the resumes with the rest of the recruitment team, they will then contact you via email or phone and request that you submit your resume on their website. When they take the time to contact you, in many occasions they will FLAG your resume or identify it as “possible” and they may send it off to managers at other departments. This is how your resume will get read by a HUMAN.

We live in a time when machines are running our lives and in some cases like getting a career opportunity, the machine may hinder this if we do not understand how have them work for us and to use them. To get your resume read by the Human, use the machine effectively so that the next time a recruiter searches in a database your resume is not missed and you will get the call for the interview! Good Luck!

Rubicela Acosta
Send in your question to info@latcareers.com

How do I prepare for the interview?
2009-02-01
1:00 pm

To answer this question let me give you an example of a good career seeker and an average career seeker.

A good career seeker is a person that shows up in my office 20 minutes before their interview time. This person drove by my office in advance and timed their commute to ensure they arrived on time. This person visited my corporate website and learned about our services, read press releases and industry information. This person read over the job description and compared it to their background and skills and came in with solid questions. This person came prepared with examples of their work and came in with a plan of attack and determined to get the job.

An average career seeker usually arrives 5-20 minutes late and says he/she got lost. Minutes into the interview this person asks what we do and who we are. When I ask if he/she any questions regarding the position the answer is no. When I asked if this person has visited our corporate website, the person responds, no, ¡§I did not get a chance¡¨. At this point, this person does not have a chance. Typically this person forgets about their previous work experience and talks with no direction. One question they never forget to ask is how much is this position paying?

I hope by now you get the point. If not here are some tips on how to prepare for the interview:
„X Get directions, plan your trip and arrive early to the interview (this shows interest and respect)
„X Learn the name of the person you are interviewing with and get their title
„X (this shows attention to detail and respect)
„X Go to the company¡¦s website learn about their business, read press releases to learn about changes & management, visit their competitor¡¦s website and learn about them. Try to learn as much as you can about the company to see if it is what you want and to learn about the corporate culture. (these actions show dedication, respect for the company and real interest)
„X Review your job description and compare it to your resume. Look at your strengths and how these may be a match with the position. Look for weaknesses or skills that you lack and be ready to answer appropriately how this will not affect your performance.
„X Have a list of ¡§good¡¨ questions ready. Things that are relevant to the position and that do not focus on salary or compensation
„X Never ask for salary or compensation on your first interview, but instead focus on the job
„X Leave something to be remembered by ¡V a good statement, a business card, a thank you note-something that makes you different. My favorite has been Powerpoints with examples of projects, a creative presentation card or a thank you note with my secretary!

What is diversity, does it really matter?
2009-01-21
12:00

Diversity is a term referring to “differences” in the workplace. Diversity includes people of all ethnic backgrounds, sexes and disability, in short people that are different. Think of diversity as the one word that really describes humans. Look around and you will see in your communities that we are all different in some way (perhaps skin color, cultures, language, etc.). Diversity at the workplace is about being inclusive or including all people to reflect the communities that these companies serve.

Can you imagine working for a company in which all people are the same and you are the only one that is different? Imagine how you would feel and how the others would feel? Diversity is a very strong commitment for many companies because they understand the importance of having variety among their workforce. By forming diverse workforces these companies feel they represent and serve their communities better.

Diversity does matter and when you are looking for a career it is important to look at the company’s diversity strategies and policy. Examples of some companies that value diversity in the workplace can be found in our Diversity Partner section of our job board. These are companies that are serious about their diversity strategies and that are reaching out to all people to join their teams. Each company as you will learn has their own goals and missions in regards to diversity.

Have you ever looked at your employer’s diversity efforts/strategies? What do you think?

How should I look when I go to an interview? How important is personal appearance?
2008-12-31
2:00 pm

I can answer this question by giving you examples of real people that I have interviewed and experiences that I have heard from other hiring managers. I am sure that these may answer your question.

The first example that comes to my mind is what I like to call “the dreamer”. The dreamer is a type of person that never fails to show up when I interview. This is a person that wakes up in the morning and keeps dreaming he/she will get the job just because they show up to an interview. This person usually shows up to the interview in their jeans, tennis shoes and looks like they did not have time to wash their hair. Although jeans and tennis shoes may be ok for some industries, taking the time to shower and look neat is a must for an interview. Obviously, the dreamer never gets hired by me or most of hiring managers, so I am told.

The second example was shared to me by a good friend of mine that happens to be the hiring manager of one of the largest communications companies. She interviews hundreds of people to join their sales team. As a seasoned sales executive herself, she knows that in a sales capacity first impressions are a must in the industry. In her interviews she says the most important part is the first 5 seconds of meeting the career seeker. A person in clean neat business clothes or a suit merits an opportunity to interview. A person that did not bother to dress appropriately is dismissed after 5 seconds. In sales a suit and neat appearance is a must!

The bottom line is that as hiring managers we have many career seekers and limited time to make a choice. We consider a person’s appearance a reflection of their work ethics.
As a hiring manager, I don’t expect to interview people in Armani suits every time. I expect to interview responsible people that show interest and respect for my company. Hygiene is a form of discipline. If they do not possess discipline, they probably will not be a good fit. These people take the time to show up in a neat way, they wear appropriate business clothes or appropriate attire for the interview regardless of industry and they take the time to learn about our culture. If you are not sure about what to wear to the interview ask the person that arranged the interview.

Has your appearance ever taken away from your interview?