We’ve all been in the situation where you’re frantically looking for a new job in a different city, a new company or in a different industry altogether. And the reasons for seeking a change could be manifold. You might be a graduate fresh out of school, looking to break into a leading pharma company. You may be an experienced senior manager seeking a fresh challenge in a new organization.
Whatever your motivation, finding the right job can be an arduous process to say the least. The very act of searching for a job could be classified a full-time job in and of itself. So what are the keys to finding your ideal role?
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CTA editor Henry Kerali spoke to industry recruiters Katie Bowley and Andriy Sokolyk, who are both Talent Acquisition Specialists at GlobalData. In this compelling interview, Bowley and Sokolyk provide key considerations to jobseekers on the hunt for the right job.
Clinical Trials Arena: As a recruiter, what are some of the key things you look for in a resume?
Andriy Sokolyk: We go through probably hundreds of resumes a day and the different things we look for depend on the job specification. A lot of things I naturally look for are whether a certain individual has tailored their role towards the position, and whether they’re not just throwing their resume across different roles. Although there’s nothing wrong with using the same resume for different jobs, if you’re applying to two completely different roles, it will be visible to us. It might stop you from getting the role even if you really do have suitable experience.
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I always look at the structure of the resume – has it got a good layout, does it have the same font? How your resume is presented is crucial; as is the case when you meet someone for the first time, first impressions are key. The length of your resume is important as well – strive to condense information to a maximum three pages. On average, a manager takes three to five seconds to look at a resume and you can tell straight away if it’s been tailored and whether it’s relevant for the job.
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By GlobalDataCTA: What advice would you give to someone who’s updating their resume or creating one for the first time?
Katie Bowley: When putting yours together, I would suggest you make sure your education and academic background are on top, along with all the relevant information you want people to know, such as address and location. Place your most relevant experience on top as well, bolding your duties and what values you’ve added to your previous companies as well.
However, what I’d remember is that it’s not just about bulleting what you’ve done that affected the previous companies you worked for, but rather how you can affect what you’ve done in another business as well. As Andriy said, managers pay attention to a resume for a few seconds and that’s all a candidate’s going to get. If they have a lot of strange imagery around or it’s not laid out correctly that will ultimately count against you.
Additionally, pick out the skills that are required of the job description and portray them in your resume. If the job description says you need to be organized then make sure that in your resume somewhere you are outlining how you’re organized, and what you’ve done to implement that.
AS: Because we do have hundreds of applicants for each role, make sure your resume is punchy. You want the manager to learn as much as they can about you as quickly as possible. I also say don’t be afraid to show your personality; a lot of people don’t state their interests or hobbies. It’s all about showing your personality while at the same time condensing all information and making it accessible to recruiters and managers to see your experience. Writing a resume is an art and it takes time to perfect it.
CTA: How can jobseekers leverage the expertise of recruiters to get the jobs they want?
AS: A lot of people looking for jobs might use specialist recruitment agencies and it’s crucial very early to open up a conversation with the recruiter. Understand the current jobs market, give the recruiter a sense of your skill set and they’ll be able to find the right job for you. But the only way to find out is by talking to them and being open about what it is that you want.
KB: Our goal is to help you get a role in the business. It’s to our benefit to get you across the line to get you the job that you want, and make you successful in the rest of your career. The key thing is to be honest and upfront; the recruiter will be more than happy to tailor your experience and your aspirations to the roles that are available.
CTA: In recent times, social networks, such as LinkedIn, have become the quintessential online tool for jobseekers, recruiters and employers alike. How can a jobseeker best leverage the site to their advantage?
AS: All companies use LinkedIn, it’s one of the biggest tools we use to recruit and connect with candidates directly. What you want is for your LinkedIn profile to be an extension of your resume. So when you’re looking for a new role, make your profile more visible, let your network aware you’re open to new opportunities.
Even when you’re not looking for new roles and you receive messages from a recruiter, it’s always worth responding. You never know in six months to a year’s time, circumstances may have changed. Connect with them, build a network. If it happens that you’re not available at the time, but you connect with the recruiter, you’ll be memorable to the person by the time you approach them in the future. So it’s all about building a network and expanding your list of connections.
KB: For us, LinkedIn is a huge part of today’s recruitment process. As Andriy mentioned, having a very visible LinkedIn profile, one that’s very structured, lists your accomplishments and showcases the projects you’ve been involved in, helps you stand out from the rest. To further stand out from the crowd, I would encourage jobseekers consistently write posts and share items to show you’re actively looking for a job. What’s more, connect with the right people, and follow the companies you’re interested in, as that will help increase your brand presence. Do anything that clearly states: “I’m a jobseeker, I’m really interested in your company, and this is what I’m really interested in.”
*Katie Bowley and Andriy Sokolyk are both Talent Acquisition Specialists at GlobalData PLC in London, UK
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