What Is an Applicant Tracking System, and What Does It Mean for You

What Is an Applicant Tracking System, and What Does It Mean for YouWhat Is an Applicant Tracking System, and What Does It Mean for YouDid you know that if youre applying for a company that isnt a local mom and pop business, your resume could easily be getting thrown out before it ever comes across a human beings desk? In the old days, you submitted cover letters and resumes, and a hiring manager went through them, filtering out the applicants who didnt really seem truly qualified for the position.Today, resumes must pass through applicant tracking systems. These are software systems that are designed to filter out applicants who arent qualified. Todays job market is an employers market, and for any given position, there are sometimes hundreds of applicants. This digital screening process is estimated to remove about 75% of the applications submitted.This makes things much easier for hiring managers and human resources departments, but unfortunately, unterstellung computerized systems are really rather flawed. Computers arent that smart in a lot of ways, and the software is designed to work with certain formatting parameters. Applications routinely get thrown out by the system, simply because theyre not formatted correctly. This is bad for both job seekers and employers. Who knows how much top talent has been automatically rejected from any given job position?If your resume or application isnt seasoned with the right sprinkling of keywords, arranged in ways the software is capable of understanding, the applicant tracking system will assume youre a bad match, and throw your resume out.Why Did Anyone Think These Systems were a Good Idea?Applicant tracking systems save employers, time, and help them keep applications organized. Without them, hiring managers would have to spend much mora time filing and shredding paper documents, filing and deleting emails, and otherwise juggling applications coming in through a variety of channels. They also eliminate problems like accidental email deletions, and make it easy for the company to keep tabs on the hiring process. On their end of things, its a massive time saver.How Do These Systems Even Work?When you submit your resume into an applicant tracking system, your resume is stored as an entry in the programs database. The ATS will rank you higher among the candidates if it picks up on the keywords its looking for in your resume. Employers can also search the system for particular keywords or qualifications.How Optimizing Your Resume is Like SEO Circa 2003Optimizing your resume for applicant tracking systems is kind of like SEO (search engine optimization), the process of making sure websites are optimized for Google to crawl and rank them for relevant search queries. The difference is that Googles algorithms are almost unfathomably sophisticated, and they keep getting even better. Today, the search engine has a fantastic ability to pick up on subtler aspects of context, rather than relying on exact ma tch keywords.Applicant tracking systems are not nearly as sophisticated as Googles search engine. Just like using exact match keywords in your content and sometimes, even keyword stuffing were important for old-school SEO, theyre important for getting your resume through the applicant tracking system. To do that, you need to try to anticipate which particular keywords a particular company will be looking for in the application.This means that you really do need to tailor your resume independently for each job you submit it for. For example, if youre looking for a job as a hotel restaurant manager, the system will be looking for terms like hospitality, hotel restaurant, and restaurant manager. However, it probably wont be looking for generic soft skills terminology, like outgoing or team player. Hard skills and job experience are far more likely to be included in the keywords an employer is looking for through an ATS. You actually dont want a whole lot of fluff.Applicant Tracking Sys tems Arent Your Friend But You Can Beat ThemApplicant tracking systems make job searching even more of a headache. But fortunately, there are ways to optimize your resume to try to at least give yourself a fighting chance. At Resume Yeti, we offer affordable resume creation, optimization, and design templates. Try our service today, and stop letting mindless, soulless computer systems get in between you and your dream job.

4 Ways to Efficiently Find a New Job When You#8217;re Working Full-Time

4 Ways to Efficiently Find a New Job When You8217re Working Full-Time 4 Ways to Efficiently Find a New Job When You8217re Working Full-Time I typically have most of my clients start off by dedicating only one or two hours to their job searches per week. Some people still deeply entrenched in the belief that searching for a job requires numerous hours of research, applications, and resumesmay scoff at the effectiveness of this approach.Quick news flash the return on this particularly hefty job-search investment has become increasingly low in recent years. Things that used to work seem to no longer work as well if at all. The times have changed dramatically, and that means our methods of job searching should change, too.This may seem like a frightening claim, but it can actually begreat news for people who want to find new jobs while working full-time. These people mayfear they wonthave sufficient time to effectivelyfind a new job if theyre already employed, but Im hear to prove ot zu sichbeiwise.Heres a list of four simple things you can do to find a new job when youre already employed and youll literally only have to invest 1-2hours of your time every week in these effective tactics1. Update Your LinkedIn ProfileListen to Nike on this one, and just do it Approximately 94percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to find ideal job candidates. You would be cheating yourself if you failed to putyour best foot forward on your LinkedIn profile. In a good portion of my work, I assist clients in effectively marketing themselves torecruiters by customizing and editing their LinkedIn profiles.In case youreapprehensive that updating your LinkedIn profile might alert yourboss to the fact that youre searching for a new job, there is no reason to be concerned. There are very effective strategies you can use to customize your profile without explicitly stating that you are looking for work.As an example, let me tell you about a client I had who worked for a large computer company but was looking to grow her business as an independent makeup artist. Since there was no direct conflict between her part-time contract makeup work and her full-time job, we were able to customize her profile to highlight and optimize her makeup experience and services, while still appropriately communicating where she worked full-time.I have assisted numerous people in similar situations and have yet to experience any problems arise with their current employers.2. NetworkNot too long ago, I made a list of recent jobs I worked at and thepreceding events that landed me eachposition. Of the last five jobs I have held, four came as the direct result of a friend of mine putting me in contact with a hiring manager. Networking is crucial.Networking maybe as simple as spending one hour during the week reaching out to old coworkers and employers on LinkedIn and reconnecting with them. Make plans to grab a coffee and catch up, or talk to them on the phone, if thats more realistic.Remain cas ual be genuinely interested in reconnecting and hearing about how they are doing.At some point, mention youre considering switching jobs. Who knows, maybe theyre in the same boat and you can both somehow help each other outAnother option is to find and attend local networking events in your town. Try to find one thats centered in your desired industry, and consistently show up to that particular event. Place your focuson building and developing connections with people, and watch miracles happen.3. ResearchDedicate your weekly hour to researching the companies and employers you wantto work for. Read the current articles they are posting. Engage with their contentand add helpful/relevant comments to the comments sections, if you so desire.Research the people who currently hold your desired position at target companies. What type of work experience do they have?What is the companys mission statement? Current goals and projects? Brainstormways in whichyou feel you could add value to the se companies based on your experience, talents, skills, and passions. Take notes along the way.4. VolunteerI previously worked with a young man whohad a background in political science. Helanded a full-time position working for a political campaign because he began working as a volunteer for the campaign in its early stages.A recent client of mine who wantedto switch career paths and doleadership development took on a volunteer position at her church coordinating a large food drive. It took her all of ten minutes looking at the volunteer column one Sunday after service to make that happen.Check out your target companys websites. Many will list upcoming or annual charity events or community walks/runs open to the public that offeropportunities to volunteer or participate. Take initiative and get involved.All of these methods are engaging, effective, and significantly less tedious and time-consuming than traditional forms of job searching. Start with the options you like most and leav e the rest.

Women at Work since 1970

Women at Work since 1970 Women at Work since 1970 What does this stagnation in womens labor mean for recruiters? What role does each of us play in encouraging or discouraging womens work? Furthermore, these statistics include all working women- even those receiving payment for a mere ten hours of work per week.The past decades dip in progress serves as a cautionary reminder not to take progress for granted. Womens right to work must be continually revisited and reasserted. Note that though sheer numbers of employed women increased since 1999, but the percentage of women in the labor force has shrunk.

Volunteering Expands Network, Reveals Jobs

Volunteering Expands Network, Reveals JobsVolunteering Expands Network, Reveals JobsWhen Brian Clark needed to extend his network, he turned to volunteer work.Working for a startup requires long hours and a lot of dinners away from home. When the startup Brian Clark was working for - a mobile e-mail platform company - ran out of financing in February 2008, Clark saw it as a chance to take some time off, relax and recharge. At that point, the economy was in relatively good shape and he felt he could afford to spend time with his family. I was relaxed about the job hunt, he said. I thought I should enjoy some time off, because I didnt know when Id get the chance again.He ended up with a longer hiatus than he expected. A year longer.His first instinct Go to his network.His second Expand that network.I was working on the assumption that your network lasts about four months, he said. After that, youve tapped that contact out. So, you need to keep refreshing it.Clarks strategy to volunte er on local government committees, in Thousand Oaks, Calif., the suburb of ab gehts Angeles where he lives. He used his business-development expertise to assist the investment committee as well as a few nonprofits in the area. This helped the city government make decisions about which events and groups the city should provide funds. Wed go over applications, make sure applications were complete, and discuss the various options, Clark said.In doing so, he said, he was able to expand his professional network. I made a lot of business contacts people who owned or work at local companies or in Los Angeles, Clark said. My goal was to stay in the L.A. area, so it was important to make contact with people in the community.Clark found that working on community committees helped in other ways.Avoid isolationExpanding my network was leid only healthy from a business standpoint but from an emotional standpoint as well, he said. Being unemployed can be isolating. But volunteering, having social interaction, having a full schedule and distributions-mixs to invest your time, is invigorating.Joining SalesLadder in August 2008 was abedrngnisher part of Clarks strategy to keep his network up to date. When I applied to a job on Ladders, I often spoke to recruiters and HR people, he said. I was able to add 20 to 30 people to my network that I kept in contact with.Clark, who was looking for a position in new business development that was either director level or above, was also expanding his options in the working world. My initial resume was focused on digital entertainment, he said. But then, realizing it was getting tougher to get a job, I came up with two other resumes, one for platform sales and another for channel sales. I went in thinking I didnt need three resumes. I thought my network would come through. But as I had interviews and companies were not hiring, I realized this was a daunting task, and I needed a little more strategy to accomplish this.Clark said he worked s ix to eight hours every day on his job search, contacting people in his network, crafting cover letters and doing volunteer work.From media to technologyHe had good response to his resumes, but the economy wasnt cooperating. I had final interviews with 10 or 12 companies over the past several months, Clark said. I had a final interview with Warner Bros. the day they announced layoffs. They put the position I was interviewing for on hold. It was frustrating.Frustrating, but not debilitating.He continued doing volunteer work, contacting his network and honing his cover letters. In April, he heard from a recruiter with whom he had developed a good relationship after applying for a position he found on Ladders. While that initial position didnt work out, the recruiter had another job that she thought would be a good fit.She contacted me about a business-development role, he said. Its technology based, and they needed a lot of the skills that I had. Its not content, but its setting up cl ient partnerships.The experience that I was going to be able to leverage was my ability to go out and deliver the core value proposition to clients and get them to sign up, Clark continued. It was exactly what I had done in the past, just with different clients. Same process, same sales cycle, same methodology.And, after going more than a year without a job, it took just one month from first interview to offer. He is now the director of business development for Answer Financial, a division of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.A year-long searchWhile Clark was eager to take time off after his last position, he hadnt planned on taking such a long break. He said its good to be working again. But he hasnt let all that he accomplished while he was looking for jobs fall by the wayside. Im still doing the committees. I cant spend as much time as I used to, but its great, I love doing it. I feel more rounded.Clark said if theres anything else hes learned, its that during a job hunt, its e asy to lose confidence in your abilities. You need to be conscious of doing things to build confidence, he said. Joining committees, sitting down with someone who needed help with a business plan, was a good thing for me. Its important to put yourself in situations where other people value what you say.Otherwise, he said, it can be hard to go on interviews and convince other people you can offer them something of value, and it causes a downward spiral of confidence. Youll begin to wonder, What am I doing wrong? I must not be as smart as I thought. Its not a good place to be.So, if youre unemployed, dont spend your time inside. Get out there talk to people, and find out how you can be of value. Being involved in my community is the silver lining to being unemployed. But it did take me a long time to see that silver lining.

The Top Secret Details Into Software Engineer Resume Examples That Most People Arent Aware Of

The Top Secret Details Into Software Engineer Resume Examples That Most People Arent Aware Of What Does Software Engineer Resume Examples Mean? Conduct extensive background research into all the companies youre interested in working for. Listing skills needed for the position is a no-brainer. Try to remember, you can need a recommendation letter in your present organization, and thus do not write anything which might appear impolite and bitter. A well-drafted letter thats written in an ideal manner makes sure your exit procedure is smooth and without difficulties. Coincidently, its also a reminder I have to get in the toilet and back in below a moment. Besides being the best issue to do, its frequently the very first tiny arrangement that could become huge orders later on. It is vital to find you have to not forget the preliminary reason behind composing warning letters. The type of sample resignation letter you will follow depends largely on your own personal circumstance, as well as the quantity of notice youre in somewhere to give before leaving your present place of employment. The War Against Software Engineer Resume Examples Do go over one page if youve got extensive relevant experience and techniques. Customized means you speak about the skills youve got and the way in which they relate to a particular function. Soft abilities, on the flip side, are interpersonal skills. By building vocabulary, youre also increasing reading abilities. If youre discussing the individuals who dont get hired. No matter your degree of job practical expertise, your resume structure is vital to making your application stick out. Growth truly is everybodys business, not a thing that is solely the matter of direction. You ought to be able to at all times think analytically so that youre able to provide solutions to underlying problems. A resignation letter does not need to be lengthy. A letter of resignation is a functional record which might be used in a lot of exit conditions. Creating a resignation letter isnt simple. Writing a letter of resignation can be challenging, depending on the ailments. Utilize your CV to talk about software tools youre familiar with using. If you wish to apply as a software Ddveloper, you might look at our Sample Resumes. Its possible to also see Resume Templates. Our templates are designed to be customizable to sample business and are terrific for any of the 3 resume formats. Its Vital for you To comprehend how to compose letters for certain purposes. A good deal of positions arent posted on the standard websites and require a bit more investigating. So only consist of information that you feel are important and shouldnt be left out. In any case, a correspondence is a terrific idea. Because software design isnt a onetime procedure, the creators services will be helpful throughout the right time of its usage. In addition, you can look for software developer jobs on Monster. Software devel opers ought to be technical workers. The Visual Basic developer is an exact analytic profession. The Software Engineer Resume Examples Pitfall At exactly the same time, you wish to be certain that your resume is concise sample to the point. You want to create software that youre meeting a number of people and expanding your circle. Students should mention the exact time of the previous choice is determined by the timing of the application. Any extra knowledge its possible to gain in the exact first couple weeks of your work, will be able to help you succeed in the position. Businessmen and business directors Bring evidence of your position in the business and remuneration. What you write in your organization letter will be the exact first impression which you make in your viewers in the great majority of company cases. Formal letters still hold a very important area in the industry world. It isnt easy or convenient to compose a work description from scratch. Seeking job s as a software engineer demands an ideal blend experienced good job search abilities and the correct mindset. Should you are in need of a job, your choices are a lot more restricted. A software engineering job is just one of the most responsible jobs which require extensive understanding, practical abilities, attention to details along with the engineers individual abilities to schliff a defined set of tasks. On account of the constant technology explosion worldwide, software engineers wont ever be without work. Networking is among the main details of the job search practice. Functional Resumes of a software engineer should not be excessively long and should fit within a few pages.

10 Steps to Create Demand for Your Work for Your Careers Sake

10 Steps to Create Demand for Your Work for Your Careers Sake Remember Bo Jackson? He was one of few professional athletes to play and excel at two different sports baseball and football.What does Jackson have to do with your career? Its simple, really His example teaches us what it means to be in demand. Jackson so proved and maintained his excellence that teams in both the MLB and the NFL wanted him on their rosters.Staying in demand is the key to a successful career. If you want to stay in demand, you need to take a page from Jackson. Your strongest skills must be evident in all that you do. You must exploit their value, showcase them to the world, and create demand for yourself.Here aresome steps to take in order to create and sustain demand for the value you produce as a professional1.Stay Focused on the Value of Your WorkMost of us need to be reminded occasionally of what our work means and how it impacts others.Find out how your work improv es other peoples lives, and keep this in your sights at all times.2. Keep Proof of Your Best Work Close ByYou will have to show others your best work not to brag, but to illustrate your value. Share proof of your best, most recent work on your social channels. Use the channels where your work is mostly likely to reach its intended audience.3. Know Who AppreciatesYour Work and WhyYou may have to do a little schmoozing in order to better understand whom your work reaches and whom it serves, but thats okay. Over-delivering is mora thanjust an extra scoop of ice cream its a way to build intimate pathways between your work and the people it affects, not to mention the additional brand loyalty it yields.4. Reward Constructive FeedbackConstructive feedback can be tough to swallow, but its necessary. Most importantly, pay attention to the source of the criticism. Can you accept constructive feedback from someone who may not care about the outcome? If you can, and you can respond positivel y to that feedback, you can stay ahead of your competition. Thank people for their critiques. Doing so will build goodwill and show others you are serious about what you do.5. Engage in Meaningful ConversationsGood networking isnt about getting things from people.Good networking is an exchange of value. When you make connections, look for ways to build trust not just for now, but for the long term. Also give as much as youre getting if not more.6. Anticipate Your Professional Peaks and ValleysAll careers have periods of thriving and periods of decline. Layoffs and terminations happen toeven the best of us people. Stay connected to the meaning of your work. Respond quickly and appropriately to both good and badeanstalt news.7. Become Your Own Master PublicistYour future employers and business partners want to know you. The more people rave about you, theeasier it is to buildtrust. When you have people bragging about the value you deliver, new opportunities will come to you.Why not lend your voice to a podcast, magazine, or television interview? Get your message out there, and get other people spreading it for you.8. Share Your StoriesYour message, voice, and delivery matter to the people in your network. Peoplewant to know how you got to where you are. Part of why people invest emotionally or financially in anything is because they understand the journey and want to be part of it. Get your message out there through relevant, engaging stories. People will listen.9.Connect With ExpertsWhom you meet matters. It is essential toforge relationships with hiring managers and executives. They may not hire you, but they can certainly help you on your journey in some way or another. Employers who offer insights into their hiring practices on LinkedIn and other platforms are valuable. If youre bold and tactical, you can engage them.10. Give Without Expecting to GetWord spreads when you give more than you take. People care more about your generosity than your skills. If y ou prove you arepersonally drivento create value for others, people will be impressed and theyll want you on their side.People wont demand you if they dont know or trust you. You must create demand. It wont show up at your door. Put your work out there. Connect with employers, referrers, and other people in your industry. Make yourself available to others the people who want you in their network, the employers who could use your skills, and the people who need your help.Mark Anthony Dyson is a career consultant, the host and producer of The Voice of Job Seekers podcast, and the founder of the blog by the same name.

The languages of appreciation A tool for growing soft skills

The languages of appreciation A tool for growing soft skillsThe languages of appreciation A tool for growing soft skillsHistorically, high-level business and organizational leaders have been taught to focus on the hard metrics of business financial statements, market share, increasing productivity and reducing expenses to maximize profits and shareholder value. These all are important aspects to monitor, to ensure the business is profitable and sustainable.Similarly, engineers, computer programmers and others who work in high-tech industries most often associated with Silicon Valley are trained, focused on, and rewarded for producing results. And these high-tech companies are known to offer competitive financial rewards and recognition programs to motivate and encourage employees to keep delivering high-quality work.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe hard skills of technical a bilities, accounting, and financial analysis are primarily acquired through education, on-the-job training, and certificate programs. These skills are definable, quantifiable and easy to evaluate.To some extent, these approaches focusing on production and financial results have been effective in the short-term.But as many corporations and dot-com businesses have been experiencing in the past few years if attention and training arent focused on the soft skills in the workplace, major problems follow. Consider the recent chinks in the armor exposed in the work cultures at Google, Uber, and major media companies, to cite a few.These soft skills are the interpersonal or people skills needed to help an organizationofpeoplework together to achieve the organizations goals. Communication skills, conflict resolution, influence and leadership, working collaboratively, and being able to show your employees you value them are all examples of core soft skills. They are harder to define and me asure (hence, the label soft skills), but they are no less important because they are key factors in creating healthy workplace cultures and effective collaborative relationships. Until recently, they have rarely been taught in classroom settings or on the job through coaching.Traditional reward and recognition programs have typically focused on quality and volume of work delivered, but what has been missing is appreciating employees asindividuals,both for the quality of the work they deliverandfor the values and attitudes they demonstrate while carrying out their work.The deficiency in soft skills among managers may be attributed largely to work cultures which emphasize competitiveness, innovation, and above allresults. An overemphasis purely focused on results obtained (primarily financial results) leads executives, managers, and supervisors down the path which culminates in treating employees solely as resources to be used to reach the leaders goals. Employees become production u nits and cease to be valued as people.Languages of Appreciation as a Tool to Build Soft SkillsThe 5 languages of appreciation have been shown to be aneffective,structured approach to develop and improve soft skillsthat appeal to leaders across a wide range of industries and work settings. The languages of appreciation are a tool that can be used by any employee, regardless of seniority level and independent of leadership or management roles.The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplacehighlights the need to value employees as whole individuals. urAppreciation at Worktraining process uses the 5 Languages of Appreciation principles to create a culture of appreciation in the workplace that can yield increased levels of employee engagement, job satisfaction, and numerous other positive effects for the employees, the company, and customers.CombiningThe 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplaceand theMotivating by Appreciation Inventory(MBA Inventory) creates a useful and straightfo rward framework that can be used by anyone regardless of their experience level with soft skills. The 5 languages of appreciation address the how-to elements of creating a culture of appreciation and covers topics related to authenticity and frequency, and provides examples for each of the five appreciation languages. The results of each employeesMBA Inventorywill show how each individual desires to be shown appreciation, guiding you in how to effectively communicate appreciation to them.ConclusionBusiness and financial managers, and high-tech occupations are often motivated by interesting and challenging problems to solve, and goals to achieve. Focusing solely on achieving goals, however, leads to a tendency to treat employees primarily as resources to get tasks done. This often leads to a culture where employees feel used and taken advantage of.When the 5 Languages of Appreciation are used as a tool to communicate how leaders value their employees on a regular basis, in everyday w ork situations, and across all responsibility levels, empathy for others develops and a foundation of important soft skills begin to be built.People, both colleagues, direct reports and managers, want to be valued for the contributions they make. Unfortunately, most team members actuallydontfeel appreciated. But very little is required to make a difference and communicate appreciation in the various ways individuals desire. Learning what form of appreciation your colleagues prefer isnt hard. And once you know what they like, a little appreciation goes a long way to encourage those around you.This article first appeared in the Appreciation at Work.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peo ple

How to Become a Journalist

How to Become a JournalistHow to Become a JournalistJournalism is, in most respects, the backbone of the media industry. Therefore many media jobs require some aspect of journalism. The type of writing a journalist does depend largely on the subject they cover. Another thing which affects a journalists job is the outlet they produce news for TV, the Internet, a newspaper, etc. That being said, a traditional journalist reports the news. What does that mean? Well, it can mean various things. The standard image of a journalist and one often portrayed in ?movies is of someone working a beat for a newspaper and finding stories. Which begs the question What is a beat? Working a Beat A beat is a media term for the area, or topic, a journalist covers. So a beat could be anything from local crime, to national news to Hollywood movies. Beats can be very specific, or broader, depending on the kind of publication youre working for. A mid-size daily newspaper, for example, will have reporters covering everything from local police goings-on to local sports. Why You Need a Beat A journalists job is to report the news. To find the news, you need to understand the subject matter and the people youre writing about. Lets say youre working a crime beat for a newspaper in Chicago. One morning the police report that theres been a murder in a posh neighborhood of the city. Now, in order to write about that murder, you need to know whats been going on in the city. Is this an isolated incident? Was there a similar crime two weeks ago? Two years ago? People always discuss the five pillars of journalism or the Five Ws - who, what, where, when and why - and, the why, section can only be filled out by someone with a hintergrund and knowledge of their beat. If, for example, you were asked to write about the aforementioned murder in Chicago, and didnt know anything about the city or the recent criminal activity there, you wouldnt be able to cover the story in the best way. Because lets face it, the story is very different if its a random act instead of a potential sign of a crime spree or, lets say, a serial murderer. Developing Sources The other big reason journalists work beats, aside from developing a deep knowledge of the subject theyre covering, is to develop sources. Sources are people you talk to report a story. Now some sources are obvious. If we continue with the example of working as a crime reporter in Chicago, you would have regular sources in the police department. Now some would be obvious - you would likely speak to a spokesperson for the department whose job it is to handle reporters (a kind of publicist) - but other contacts might be developed from relations you foster over years of covering a beat. A journalist often refers to their sources - everyone knows the saying, I cant reveal my sources - because these are people they turn to get inside information, or perspective, on a story. Now that bit about revealing sources points to an instance when a journalist gets an important piece of information from a person who does not want their identity revealed. If, for example, youre working on that story about the murder in Chicago and you get information from someone in the police department that the murder looks like it might be the work of a serial killer, that officer might not want his name given out. After all, hes giving you information that might get him in trouble. So, when you write the story about the murder, you wouldnt name your source or reveal his identity to anyone. (If you did reveal his identity, no one would ever want to give you secret information, or information that people in the business refer to as stuff thats off the record.) When a journalist works a beat over time they develop a multitude of sources. This means that they know who to call when something happens and they know the people who will talk to them. A good journalist establishes solid relationships with his sources so he can turn to them to get information. Although people dont always like talking to reporters - especially when the story is about a scandal or something negative - a good journalist will have sources who recognize that there is a positive in getting a story out and getting it out correctly. In other words, a good journalist will develop a respectful relationship with his sources.

How to find and make the most of a recruiter or headhunter

How to find and make the most of a recruiter or headhunterHow to find and make the most of a recruiter or headhunterYou probably know someone who knows someone who landed a great gig by working with a recruiting agency or professional headhunter.Maybe youve picked up the phone to a recruiters call for a reference on one of your former employees or coworkers. Maybe youve considered applying to a job listing through a recruiting agency. But at the end of the day, do you actually know what a recruiting agency is, let alone how to best take advantage of one?Honestly, we werent so aya either. Its a complex and foreign world of negotiation, phone screens, and email blasts so its natural if you feel like avoiding recruiters entirely, but this is also your career on the line. We set out to find out exactly how to use (and make the most of) an all-too-often underutilized resource.What is a headhunter?Headhunters are recruiters for hire. Often they work for an outside agency and are hired by companies (usually the big guys) to find them talent ASAP. The keyword here is ASAP - which is exactly why job searchers often have a negative impression of them. They get paid faster if they make a hire faster, which means they might drop in, ask for your resume, and then professionally ghost you if youre notlage the right fit.Still, theres a benefit to talking to them. For you, working with a headhunter can be a great opportunity because they bring you positions, cutting down on your time spent job hunting. And if youre ultimately hired for one, the company pays the recruiters fees, not you. These for-hire headhunters often also have access to positions that arent posted to the usual job boards, meaning you could beat out the competition early if you are the right person for the job.What is a recruiter (and whats the difference between recruiters and headhunters?)Recruitment agencies - or individual recruiters - are essentially intermediaries between you and tauglichkeit emp loyers slash hiring managers.Recruiters might work for a firm thats hired by companies to help them fill open positions or (maybe mora often) they might work in-house for a single company. Because of this, there are a few positive elements they know the company better than a headhunter would, and theyre also interested in finding candidates who fit with the company culture - which they know well since theyre a part of it.Still, for the sake of how thorough this article is, here are the three types youll most likely encounterCorporate RecruitersThese are in-house recruiters who are tasked with finding talent for the company where they work, and theyre everywhere. Facebook has a whole team of them. Our founder, Lauren McGoodwin, used to work as a corporate recruiter at Hulu. Some recruitment teams even have their own Instagram accounts.Typically, these recruiters will contact you - often through your LinkedIn profile, so make sure its optimized - but you can also reach out directly to a recruiter about a specific position you find on a Careers page or to request an informational interview.If you want to get deep into the corporate recruiting process, our friends at The Muse have some in-depth tips for working with one.Contingency RecruitersOkay, so this is a bit of trick. Contingency recruiter is another word for headhunter, i.e. an independent professional who doesnt work for a specific company but is hired by various teams to find the best talent. Theyre compensated only if and when they find a candidate to fill the role. Just make sure you pick the right agency to work with - but more on that later in our section, How To Find The Right One.Freelance RecruitersLess common than the other two, but worth considering if youre trying to make a living by working for yourself. Freelance recruiters can put you in touch with clients who need contract work. This is especially common in the design and web development industries. In the interest of brevity, we wont go too much into this type of recruiting, but heres a great resource if youre freelancing.Why (or when) should you use a recruiter?Youre Looking in a Specific IndustryThere are some definite advantages to using a recruiter or agency, especially if youre in certain industries. Many companies in the fashion and beauty industries work exclusively with recruiters to hire new talent. The saatkorn goes for many web design, development, and technology jobs.You Dont Have a Strong Personal Network (or Just Want to Better Your Odds)Often, recruiters have contacts at the places youre applying (or in the case of corporate recruiters, theyre actually working for the company already) so chances are they can bump your resume to the top of the pile if they like your style.You Want to Leave It to the ExpertsConsider this too a recruiters blessed with the stellar ability to sell you. Its their job. Were not always our best representatives during a job search (consider any interview you ever botched, an d youll see what we mean), but its in the recruiters best interest to get you the optimal gig, and they do it with great form and style.Youre Moving to a Strange City or New IndustryThen theres the advantage of someone knowing the environment and competition. While I bounced ideas for this article off a close friend, who works in fashion as a Creative Director, she pointed out that it was in her best interest to go through a recruiter when she decided to move from the East to West Coast. I had no idea what companies were working out of Los Angeles beyond two or three big names, and I didnt know many people in my industry working out here, she explained, but my recruiter gave me all sorts of insight about my options, in addition to setting up some interviews. Then I started combing through LinkedIn.Still not sure whether you need one? Watch this in-depth discussion with Lisa Hall, a partner at VonChurch Recruiting to determine whether a recruiter is a good option for you.How to find a recruiter or headhunter for your hiring needsHow to Contact a RecruiterSometimes you know exactly which company you want to work for (some of us are just meant to work at Github or Everlane, you know?). If youre after the environment and work style more than the job title or salary, youre probably primed for reaching out to a corporate recruiter who works in-house at your dream company. Consider optimizing your LinkedIn profile for, and reaching out to, a companys recruiting team via a carefully crafted cold email or LinkedIn message. If you have a few companies in mind, reach out to each of their recruiters as you see fit.How to Find a HeadhunterThe good news is, theyre everywhere. If youre at a point where you have no idea what you want to do exactly, but you know youre ready for a change, try reaching out to a contingency agency in your field (or the field youd like to enter). Chances are theyre aware of some positions you dont even know exist yet - and those positions might b e a perfect match for your hintergrund and goals. You can start by doing some research just by searching terms like Fashion recruiting in Los Angeles or marketing headhunters in Chicago whatever it might be. Just keep your expectations in check - if you understand that its a bit of stretch for a headhunter to come through for you, you wont be disappointed if it doesnt pan out.Bonus How to get (and keep) a recruiters attentionCorporate RecruitersAs we mentioned earlier, corporate recruiters tend to reach out to you and not the other way around, but here are a few ways to up your chances of grabbing their attentionOptimize your LinkedIn profile. We cant say this enough. We know its a headache to navigate the various LinkedIn settings and sections, but its also the social platform that recruiters use most often. Make sure you have a killer LinkedIn summary, that all your information is updated, that youve optimized your skills list for the roles your seeking (see next bullet), and tha t youve requested as many connections in your field as appropriately possible.Include resume keywords you know recruiters love. The keywords you use are completely dependent on your industry, but you can glean some insight by studying job listings that interest you. Update the experience and skills sections on your resume to include terms that a recruiter might be seeking for a specific role. If youre applying for more than one type of job in your industry, create multiple versions of your resume and tailoring them depending on need. And consider these other tips that one Facebook recruiter suggests when optimizing your resume.Treat any phone call like an interview. When a recruiter does reach out via email or phone, take the process very seriously. Their sichtung call may mean the difference between never hearing from the company again and landing your ideal job. Even if you dont fit the open position, a recruiter may go out of their way to find you a place at their company if they like your personality and experience. A friend in the art industry once interviewed with a recruiter for a position at a museum- but they ultimately offer the position to someone in-house. That same recruiter, though, called her in for three more interviews over the next four months until finally, they found her a position that suited her needs and theirs.Contingency RecruitersAsk as many questions of the recruiter as they ask of you. The goal is to find a good fit for your goals and industry, so make sure the recruiter you go with has your best interests in mind during the process by asking them detailed questions. Youre kind of like a rising actor picking the right agent.Dont be afraid to pick their brain. Just like my friend who asked her recruiter for details on companies in Los Angeles, remember that your agency is working for you as much as potential companies. Dont be afraid to ask their advice or suggestions on companies that might be a good fit or how they think you can op timize your resume for their field.Make sure you pick the right recruitment agency for your field. Often recruiting agencies are industry-specific and thats a great thing. No one wants to go through a Walmart-esque staffing agency to find a job. Trust us, it wont be good. If youre unsure what the best recruiting agencies are in your industry try these three tricksStart by talking with people in your network. See if anyone has worked with recruiters in the past.As youre scanning job boards, take note of any positions that look industry that were posted by a particular agency. When you start to see patterns, thats the agency for you.You can also do a Google search and reach out for a screening interview at a firm that looks promising, then browse through their site listings to see if anything appeals to you before contacting them.Final tipsReturn a recruiters calls or emails promptly and please spell check. Even if you dont think the job theyre pitching sounds like your style, take th e time to answer. Theyll have other jobs to fill in the near future, and theyre working hard just like you.Dont exaggerate or lie. Recruiters are there to find the right person for the job. Eventually, there will be a right job for you. By being as honest a possible, you ensure you wont end up in the wrong position and you wont burn any bridges with the recruiter who you might need to use again in the future.Include links to your web presence. Recruiters see a lot of resumes and cover letters. In fact, some of them even hate receiving cover letters because going through them is such a time suck. By including clear links to your web presence like your LinkedIn, portfolio, or even an Instagram account, you help recruiters easily access and see your working style, background, and talent in a more digestible way. Include links wherever applicable.Thisarticlefirst appeared onCareer Contessa.