I keep hearing stories about how irrelevant resumes are today and how people are getting their jobs through social media but pretty much 99% of all jobs are applied for with a resume.   You can pay someone a lot of money to professionally do your resume but frankly if you’re willing to put in the time you can do just as good a job if not better if you remember that a resume’s intended purpose is to get you a phone call or interview.

I never have and never will take credit for something I didn’t do because I am proud of the value that I have brought to brands and companies and I believe they speak for themselves.   I also believe that the business world is too connected to lie about what you have done because eventually someone somewhere is going to learn the truth.

I am a damn good Internet marketer and consultant but there are a lot of things I bring to any job that I can’t express in a resume such as my ability to quickly diagnose problems and find customer centric solutions (ohh I like that a lot I have to use that on my resume).  I also am a very good listener but where I really excel is in my ability to drive business forward while eliminating the bullshit distractions that we have to deal with everyday.

Now a lot of people will tell you to customize your resume for the job you are applying for but I have had a lot of HR people tell me that they can see right through that and often it results in your resume being tossed in the round file.  The best thing to do is just tell the truth about where you have been and what you have done.  Once you get in front of people you it’s then up to you to convey your enthusiasm for the job by telling what you have done but more importantly how you did it.

Resumes are always going to be relevant for job seekers but in today’s job market you also have to understand that HR people are usually overwhelmed with resumes for open positions.  Even if you know in your heart you can do the job and it maybe a great fit there is no guarantee that you’re going to get a call back.  Hang in there and keep pitching; refine your resume over time but never ever try and be someone you’re not and never ever take credit for something you didn’t do.

Related articles

• A Lie-Detector Test for Resumes (entrepreneur.com)

With more and more college students reporting record levels of debt at graduation and the lack of jobs one has to wonder if they are actually being challenged in college and learning or whether they are just going through the routine to qualify for a job ?   Facebook is hiring MBA marketers left and right and Apple too will only hire people with advanced degrees for marketing positions.  On top of this they require, like most new start ups, that employees relocate to one of the highest cost of living areas in the world Silicon Valley where finding a place to live on a six figure salary can be a challenge.

You never where talent is going to come from but one thing I have found over the years is that “pirates” or “linchpins” often don’t come from MBA top schools they come from social media, BLOG,s and experience.   They are most likely the ones who find corporate bureaucracies a way to stifle innovation and all too often they want to actually “do it” rather than have meeting about “how to do it” and get others to weigh in with their own personal agendas.

If you’re in college and not learning anything and being challenged to think then why the hell are you there ?   Chances are you’re going to learn more working for a company that has some great people to learn from and you won’t have to worry about paying tuition and having a mountain of debt when you graduate.

The other key thing to remember is that for every new millionaire and billionaire in Silicon Valley there are probably 50 people working hard who are not making that kind of money.  These are the people that go to work everyday, contribute and make it happen.  They probably make a good living but when they read about how the new found wealthy in the area are driving up prices they wonder if they will ever be able to afford a great place that just meets their needs under 2,000 square feet.

Steve Jobs, who I admire greatly, was a great business person but he was great because he knew what he wanted and had the power to make it happen without having to worry about Board approvals.   Mr Zuckerberg has done a great job with Facebook but frankly one has to wonder if Facebook is really worth all those billion and if society is overvaluing the companies contribution to the business world.

Hire people who are Linchpins and Pirates but please don’t require them to have degrees; rather, look at the person instead and if they want to work remotely than let them do it as long as they contribute.   I don’t think Mr Jobs or Zuckerberg would hire themselves today.

Here are some things that we wish every executive recruiter should know

(1) It would be nice to be treated with common business courtesy.  This means that you keep us in the loop even when we do not meet your clients needs.

(2) Don’t try and sell me on a job that is a level or two below my current experience.  Nobody wants to hire someone who has more experience and knowledge than they do.

(3) Compensation is important but today what’s more important is the culture of the company and the management style of my potential future manager.

(4) Get to know us a little bit more rather than just a brief phone conversation.  Find out what value I can really bring to a potential employer.

(5) Please do not contact me at work via eMail or phone.  There is a good chance that I work in an area with very little privacy.

(6) If you want to find out what type of person I really use LinkedIn to read my posts and read my BLOGs to see what I know.

(7) If I travel a couple of days for a full day of interviews at least have the courtesy to “get back to me”.

(8) I understand you work for clients not us but that does not mean you can drop us like a bad habit when we are no longer a candidate.  Remember what goes around comes around.

(9) Don’t talk to me about “company loyalty” in an era when employees are more often than not numbers on a spreadsheet.  As a good business person I will always listen to new opportunities.

(10) The best jobs are one in which we have a great boss and work for a company that we believe in.  If I am happy at what I do than it’s not about money or title it’s about being fulfilled in a place where we spend a LOT of our time.

(11) I want to know about work life balance from you because I can’t ask it during the interview.  I am willing to do whatever I have to do for my employer but I also realize that we don’t live to work; we work to live.

There are still a lot of people who are out of work and running out of options and unfortunately some recruiters will pounce on these people lifting up their hopes only to drop them off a cliff when are not in contention for open positions.   When these people are out of work their self esteem suffers and having a poor executive recruiter only adds to the despair.

There are some very good executive recruiters out there and when you find one my advice is to always stay in contact with them and let them know what you’re doing and where you are.  As for the poor ones just let it go.  It’s best not to burn bridges but understand that in the end they will get exactly what they deserve.

You ARE good at what you do and you DO add value to organizations so don’t let anyone drag you in the mud !

Related articles

• How to work with a recruiter on LinkedIn (cbsnews.com)
• If This Isn’t How You Recruit, You’re Doing It Wrong (inc.com)
• Social Media and Recruitment (gautamblogs.com)
• A Plug for Recruiters (ttswebtech.wordpress.com)
• Using Recruiters (aceresumeblog.com)

(1) The first thing to remember is NEVER put anything on the Internet that you wouldn’t want any potential employer to read.  I am not talking about commenting on their marketing or branding in a constructive way what I am talking about are personal comments or social media posts that can get you in trouble.

(2) Even if a job is perfect for you you’re still going to be evaluated by the people you meet in an interview not on the potential value and ability to do the job. I recently interviewed for a job that was an absolute perfect fit for me and one which I could have really provided a LOT of value to the company but I lost out to another candidate “who has a slight edge”.  Don’t swell on it and move on.  Unfortunately a lot of people can be threatened by Linchpins who are ready to ask “why?” and “Why not” and companies all too often want someone who can “fit in”.

(3) Unless you are really desperate don’t apply for a job you don’t want working for a company  you don’t want to work for.  I received a call from a company looking for a VP of Marketing that marketers psychic connections and immediately told them I did not want to work for them even though the money was great.

(4) Ask a lot of questions about the company and its culture.  What time do people usually start work and leave ?  How long do people stay with the company?  Do you usually promote from within ?  A woman I know recently took what she thought was a great job only to find that she is working 10-12 hour days and has no life now causing her to break up with her fiance.  Work to live do not live to work even if you have a great gig.

(5)  Even when you think you have aced an interview never take anything for granted.  On a recent round of first interviews I was told how everyone loved my background and what I said but a week later I in competition with another candidate who eventually got the job.

Companies make you go through a LOT to get jobs today but right now it is a buyers market and they pick and choose who they want.  Never compromise who you are to get what you want.  Give it your best shot and look back and say “I gave it my best shot and can hold my head high”

Related articles

• Hiring staff – How to interview a job applicant (premierlinedirect.co.uk)
• Use Social Media for Job Search Success in 2012 (thejobsearchtimes.com)
• The number one thing you are doing that is keeping you from your dream job (certificationconnection.wordpress.com)
• Top 10 reasons why talented marketers leave your company (newmediaandmarketing.com)
• Social networks are not broadcast media (newmediaandmarketing.com)
• Brands struggling with social media (newmediaandmarketing.com)
• 10 Fundamental Tips for Social Media Community Managers (hubspot.com)
• The 10 bottom line truths around social media marketing (newmediaandmarketing.com)
• Are You Really Working Your Internet Marketing Business? (ngap.net)

In my career I helped a lot of small agencies get into the companies that I work for and get a lot work (and billings).  However before I started my consulting company, which is doing very nicely thank you, I was a bit taken back when I asked some of the people I worked with at the agencies for help.  There was no help from them at all.  In fact one agency I worked with opened up an office close to where I live and the owner, who I know very well, didn’t even bother to call me and ask if I would have been interested in joining his team.  Welcome to cold water thrown on the face reality.

Now I don’t buy into this whole personal branding bullshit but I do buy into that the fact that people get to know you via what you do and say on social media and the Internet.  I have three BLOGS that I publish and have built up quite a following via social media.  I get great feedback yet in over 3 years of writing and accolades from peers I have yet to have someone pick up the phone or send me an eMail saying “we want you to work for us”.  The reason is simple, most people are afraid to hire people who are smarter than they are and people who can be Linchpins and disrupt the system to provide real results.

So does that mean that you should give up ?  Not at all.  As Steve Jobs said “never stop listening to your inner voice”.  If you want a career then you need to stand up and you have to be willing to loose the love.  If you want to “fit in” than don’t be surprised when all you do is fit in and check off boxes as you become a task manager.

I love consulting because I work for a great client who listens to me and lets me be a Linchpin.   As for the agencies who I thought were my friends ?  Well what goes around comes around and when a couple of companies asked me for agency recommendations I left them off the list and in fact even recommended that a company not hire them.  No, it was not out of spite it was out of common business and personal courtesy or lack thereof.  You see how people treat you when you need them is a good indication of just how good they really are beyond their technical knowledge.

Related articles

• Steve Jobs: Love What You Do (blogs.wsj.com)
• Steve Jobs wouldn’t hire Steve Jobs (bripblap.com)
• The Do’s & Don’ts. (rvsocialmedia.com)
• Careers Advice – The Words of Steve Jobs (sheridanconsultancy.wordpress.com)
• [INFOGRAPHIC] Steve Jobs’ career: passion all the way (heidi-miller.com)

When you interview for a position the job is not about you, it’s about how you can help the company achieve their strategic business and marketing objectives.  Based on this the types of questions that you should be asking involve communicating “how can I help you ?”

Here are some questions that candidates should ask;

1. How can I help you achieve your strategic objectives in the coming years ?

2. What are your brands strategic goals ?

3. Do you see my skills as a good fit to help the brand meet their needs ?

In other words your trying to demonstrate that you are the answer that this employer needs to fill this position and you’re more interested in helping them than what this job can do for your career or resume.

One more thing…

I recently interviewed for a position with a very big company here in California.  As I walked up to the interview room I passed rows and rows of cubes in what could be best described as a cube city.  At the end of the day I just knew in my heart that I did not want to rent a cube in cube city and that I was head and tails more talented than the people I met with who were at the Director level.

As I reviewed the online assets for this brand I realized that they indeed needed a LOT of help but, to me, it also indicated serious issues with resources needed to bring the brand into the 21st century.  When you interview for a position and they want you to build “best in class” make sure that they are going to give you the tools to do what you need to do.  Nothing is worse than settling into a position and finding out that you don’t have the necessary support and resources to do make a difference.  You’ll probably spend way too much time developing Power Points and going to meetings to explain why you need the resources and by the time you convince people you’re probably going to need a lot more resources.

I realize that in this economy job offers are hard to come by but going into a new job where you are unhappy is not going to make the day any better.

It is estimated that for every job opening HR people receive over 250 resumes.  While a good company will develop an easy way for HR people to at least acknowledge that you applied for a position most don’t believe it’s necessary in a buyers market.  So here are some things to expect when looking for employment in today’s job market:

1. Don’t expect to hear back when you apply for a job even if the job seems perfect for you. It’s not you it’s just that a lot of companies want someone to fill a space at the lowest possible cost.

2. Very few organizations want to hire some who is smarter than the hiring manager. Most everyone lives in fear of loosing their job and if you’re smarter than the person you’re going to be reporting to there is a good chance you’ll never get your foot in the door which spells doom for the department and company.

3. There are very few really good executive recruiters. Some executive recruiters act like they are your best friend when your in the running for a position with one of their clients but as soon as you are not in contention they act like they never heard of you.  However there are those who above and beyond.  I am working with a wonderful woman in Chicago who is the best recruiter I have ever worked with.  She cares and spends time coaching candidates which is rare today.

4. Even if  you a lucky enough to get an interview don’t expect to hear back –  The hiring process here in the US usually requires weeks of meeting all the candidates and sometimes a full day of interviews with a lot of people.  If you don’t please all of them any one of them can sink your candidacy even though you know you could do the job and add value.

5. While you’re looking for work make sure you stay up to date on what’s happening within  your industry and keep learning.  Read all you can get your hands on and stay connected to others within the industry.

What is especially frustrating to a lot of people is getting past the first two doors only to hear nothing from anyone for weeks at a time or hear “you’re no longer being considered”.  People tend to think “my God what is wrong with me?” but in reality it’s not  you it’s just business and right now a lot of companies are both overwhelmed and feel that they don’t need to treat candidates with any respect.  Hang in there !