Executive Career Suite Weblog

Fortune in Follow-Up

According to a survey of 150 hiring executives, recently conducted by Robert Half International, a whopping 82% said job seekers should follow-up within two weeks of submitting application materials. Only 5% said professionals should refrain from communicating once a resume has been sent.

Executives were asked, "How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?" Their responses:

• One week or less 37%
• One to two weeks 45%
• Two to three weeks 9%
• Three weeks or more 3%
• Don't follow up 5%
• Don't know 1%

Executives also were asked, "In your opinion, what is the best way for a job seeker to follow up with a hiring manager after submitting a resume?" The top three responses were via e-mail (38 percent), telephone (33 percent) and a handwritten note (23 percent).

Bottom line? Executives expect you to follow-up. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're being a pest by checking on the status of your application.
Source: Jobs and Moms Newsletter, March 1, 2006

IF THE TRUTH HURTS. . . .

Well, another CEO has outed himself and admitted that he lied on his resume. The Radio Shack executive said he "believes" he earned his theology degree but is as yet unable to document it. Give me a break! I don't know anyone who has earned a bachelors degree or higher and doesn't know it!

In this world of electronic everything it's very easy to check credentials. So why try to get by with a lie on your resume? What was he thinking?

If the truth hurts, go out and do something about it--like finish your degree!

Seriously, I have had several clients ask me to "embellish" their resume to make it sound good. One client in particular, kept after me to add a certain degree to his education section "because it sounds good and once I get the interview, I can wow them enough that the lie won't matter!"

Some people believe that they can lie on their resume and then state the truth on their employment application--they feel that nobody reads the applications. The application is a legal document that requires a signature. What they don't consider is that the resumes become part of the employees official file. You might think you are within legal limits by leaving the lie off of the application, but what about ethics, integrity, trust....

Learn from the CEO - don't take a chance with a lie on your resume.

Being Prepared

I've been working with a few of my favorite clients lately, the ones who contact me about every 12 months or so to update their resume. They aren't my favorite because they pay me once a year. I love them because they are taking care of themselves. They are always "prepared."

If someone asked you today for your resume, could you send it right away? One client in particular has been promoted from a basic sales position to National Sales Director in just two and half years! Part of his success is that he is ready with his resume when an opportunity comes along.

I have had clients come to me after working with a company for 15 years -- and they haven't updated their resume in that same amount of time. Of course, they're always in a hurry--gotta have it tomorrow. They have to scramble to find the right information, and some of it can't be found. Plus, many people don't remember what they had for breakfast let alone what accomplishments they had on the job a few years back.

Besides being prepared for possibilities, here are some other benefits to an updated resume:

• A current record of your accomplishments
• Self esteem builder to see what you've done
• Use it to ask for a raise
• Great tool for preparing for your performance appraisal

As for my "prepared" clients, they'll reap another reward. When it comes time to do a total resume upgrade, the investment will be much smaller since so much of the information is already there!

For more information about resume upgrades click here

Have You Been Googled?

Have you googled yourself lately? If you can be found, is the information something that you would want a future employer to read?

How can you get relevant, updated material about yourself on the web? Let me introduce you to Ziggs. www.ziggs.com  Ziggs is a "search for professionals" site. You can register for free and input the information you want. Go to their site and find me!

Googling an applicant is a standard procedure used by executives and hiring managers. The Ziggs profile is a great tool to use to get positive exposure on the web. Try it!

If you need help in developing the right content, contact me

Planting Seeds During the Holidays

Now is the time to plant seeds - those job search seeds - so you can reap the harvest at the beginning of the new year.

It may seem counterintuitive to think that the holiday season is the best time to conduct a job search since everyone is seeminly very busy, but in reality, it is truly the very best time and here are some reasons why:

1. Executives tend to travel less and therefore are more available.

2. People tend to have the holiday spirit and are more charitable and receptive during this time.

3. Budgets are being tweaked during the last few months of the year and thre may be room for a new position or raise.

In order to plant the seeds effectively, you need the proper tools: a current, professionally written resume and cover letter and maybe even an online portfolio. If you have difficulty presenting yourself and your strengths, personal branding or interview coaching are the best gifts you can give yourself.