The Perfect Fit

Branding And Marketing A Marketing Recruiter

Live Your Brand!

We hear it all the time.  Create a "Brand" . . . then Be that brand!  Live it, breath it . . . BE it!

My personal and company brand is all about trust and adding value . . . to candidates who contact me, and to the clients who pay me.  It's all about trust and value when I make a cold call into someone who I have identified as a top-performing candidate.  I have to establish a level of trust, and blatantly prove value, or I will not engage that candidate. 

Today, someone I've never met uploaded her resume to our website, completed our Candidate Profile and sent me a personal, targeted cover letter.  She did exactly what I asked her to do, but she did it with such style and thoughtfulness that she stood out.  I sent her an email thanking her for taking the time to do such a thorough job of introducing herself, and that I genuinely hoped I might be able to help her.

When friends or colleagues find themselves laid off, I am sometimes the first call for help.  It's one of the most difficult parts of my job.  I wish there was more that I could be doing in support of helping these people find their next opportunity.  I do take the time to try to help as best I can.  I always respond to inquiries.  I try to make someone happy they contacted me.  I like to go beyond expectations.

I get a dozen calls a week from people who ask me if I can help them "get a job".  I have to explain that a retained recruiter works for the client in helping identify premier candidates for a very specific position, and I'm sorry I can't be of more assistance.  I try to give them some quick piece of advice, and help them (at least) get pointed in the right direction.

I'm proud of the testimonials I have on LinkedIn and on my website.  I'm proud of the reputation that started when I was a photographer and has strengthened. . . for over 35 years now.  I'm proud of trying to continually impact the lives of those around me in a positive way.

Why am I writing what sounds like so much slapping myself on the back?  I'm doing my market research as a precursor to creating a marketing campaign that I've wanted to do for so long.  You know, what differentiates me from the competition?   I think trust and value are the heart of what separates me from other recruiters . . . and hard work.   Without mutual trust, candidates would not allow me to help them move from a job they were very happy with . . . to one that provides more professional and personal satisfaction.

That reputation and trust inevitably adds value to my clients.  I don't know how else to do this job!  The ticket is to try to say this to new and existing clients in a heartfelt, compelling way without sounding self-serving!

13 Ways Your Resume Can Say "I'm Unprofessional"!

I was reading through some materials on Electronic Recruiting Exchange and found this article that I thought has value and should be shared.  You would think that professionals understand how important every element of a resume is.  I can testify that many do not.  I can tell you that I have seen every one of these mistakes, and many others . . .

If you're going to take the time to create a resume (and everyone should have one ready, you never know when a new opportunity may arise), please compose it like your career depends on it . . . because it does!

Hiring pros share the faux pas they find in real resumes, including wacky e-mail addresses, defunct phone numbers and cookie-cutter templates.

By Lisa Vaas

"No offense, [email protected], but if nobody has told you yet, we’re telling you now: That e-mail address is not making you look particularly professional.

Unprofessional e-mail addresses are just one way of sending hiring managers the wrong message. If you want to be taken seriously when you apply for jobs, you need to put some polish on your resume, your cover letter and everything contained therein. Hiring professionals repeatedly run across these red flags that scream “unprofessional.” A number of recruiters and HR managers shared with TheLadders common errors from their own professional experiences.

1. Random/cute/shared e-mail accounts

E-mail accounts are free. There’s no reason not to sign up for your own. Yet many mid-career professionals share an e-mail account with a significant other or the entire family, generating addresses such as [email protected] or [email protected] stay away from cutesy addresses. After all, [email protected], you can always share your admiration of Lepidoptera with colleagues after you’ve been hired. Ditto for offensive, flirtatious or sexual e-mail addresses.

Think we’re exaggerating? These are actual e-mail accounts cited by Jillian Zavitz, who’s responsible for hiring as the programs manager for TalktoCanada.com, an online English language-training course based in Canada. (We’ve changed the domain names to protect the innocent.)

Instead, adopt an address that incorporates the name you use professionally on your resume and cover letter.

2. Failure to proofread

Deidre Pannazzo, executive director at Inspired Resumes, said it’s “amazing” how many people submit resumes that contain “numerous typos and misspellings.” Even better than spell check, she said, is to have a friend review the document for you.

“Make sure your dates are consistent, and that you don't confuse your story with overlapping time lines,” she said. (For an in-depth look at how to tackle proofreading your resume, click here.)

3. Bikini pictures

Resume experts advise against attaching pictures or any image files to a resume. They can “choke” an applicant tracking system (ATS), the software that automatically scans and parses resumes. (Click here for an in-depth look at how your resume is handled by technology after you press submit.) In addition, hiring professionals warn against giving anyone a reason to prejudge and form a negative opinion based on your appearance. Indeed, some HR departments will immediately discard resumes with photos to avoid any possible accusations of discrimination on this basis.

But still applicants send photos. Most troublesome of all, said Zavitz, are the beach shots. “(No) pictures where you are in a bikini at the beach (real story, and it wasn't a flattering picture either) or at a New Year’s party with your friends (obviously drunk). Not cool.”

4. Unprofessional voicemail

If your resume is strong enough to convince the recruiter or hiring manager to reach for the telephone, be sure what he finds at the other end of the line represents you in the best light – that means your voicemail or whoever might answer the phone.

Marlane Perry, managing director of the Executive Search Division of Magill Associates, said she is unimpressed when a phone number on a resume leads her to an unprofessional recorded voicemail or a conversation with a third party who can’t be trusted to take a message. “If you don't trust your roommates to answer the phone and take a decent message, then only list your cell phone,” she said.

5. Lazy words, ‛etc.’

Perry said that use of “etc.” on a resume is a sign of laziness: The job seeker obviously “can't even take the time to list out all of [his] duties.” She has seen the error on both junior- and executive-level resumes. Another no-no is saying "same as above" anywhere on a resume. “If you had similar job functions at your last two jobs, summarize the responsibilities and then bullet out some of your accomplishments,” she suggested.

6. Cookie-cutter resumes

Samantha Goldberg is a celebrity event designer and TV personality who’s always looking for employees for administrative duties or to help plan an event. She said she often reviews resumes and cover letters that aren’t even vaguely customized for her business.

“It’s more like ‛Mad Libs’ — they just fill in our name as they send them off!” she said. “Just once, I would love to have them describe me on the cover letter instead of saying that they respect my career status and have been following my career.”

On many occasions, Goldberg said, she specifically lists a prerequisite of at least three years’ experience with planning events that does not include friends, family or applicants’ own weddings. “They obviously don’t read my prerequisites and send an e-mail stating that even though they haven’t orchestrated events for anyone they have always been told they should be in the industry if I would just give them a chance.”

7. Everything but the kitchen sink

“I don't care, nor have time, to read about your life story,” Zavitz said. “If you can't whittle your resume down to a page or two at max, I will not read it. If it's not related [to the job or your work history], don't include it.”

8-13 ad infinitum...

Larry Lambeth, president of Employment Screening Services Inc., which helps companies review job applicants, offered a laundry list of professional gaffes he’s seen on resumes and job applications:

• Listing a spouse as a reference
• Not spelling out the name of an employer or school (“LSU” instead of “Louisiana State University” or “ZDE” instead of “Ziff Davis Enterprise”)
• Not providing a city or state for an employer or school
• Omitting the area code from a phone number for a reference or employer
• Providing only a first name for a supervisor or reference
• Including phone numbers that are no longer in service for references or employers."

I have another posting from a while back, where I talk about "How To Get Your Resume Read".  You can read it here.  I would also refer you to our website, for the single best article on what makes for a powerful resume.  Here's the article (available as a PDF), "Prove Value".

New St. Louis Search: Art Director

We've just started a new search for an Art Director in St. Louis.  Here's an overview of the position.

General Description:
This is a new position created as a result of new business growth.  We’re conducting a search for an exceptional performer who is looking for a better opportunity to work with national clients, delivering an incredibly diverse range of work online and in print.  We want someone who’s ambitious, innovative and enjoys having the most current tools to work with, in a wonderfully creative environment.  Our client is a firm that is not typical and will afford you an opportunity to work alongside other experienced pros you’ll learn from and contribute to.  You’ll have an opportunity to create advertising, sales promotion, collateral and online marketing to a national audience.

Primary Responsibilities:
1.    Generate innovative concepts across all appropriate marketing media to fulfill client needs.
2.    Develop tactical execution of concept utilizing photography, illustration and/or other media to “touch” the clients’ customers.
3.    Work with other members of the creative and account service team to ensure strategically sound work, delivered on time and within the budget.
4.    Work on several projects (and probably clients) simultaneously.

Experience:
We’re looking for motivated candidates with a related degree and 3-5 years of experience.  Even more important is a portfolio that shows us cutting edge work in a variety of media and styles.  We’re looking for superb web capabilities and experience with print. We prefer national client experience with CPG brands. 

Compensation:
Our client is interested in offering a compensation package that will excite the ideal candidate.  There will be a base salary depending on experience and previous levels of responsibility.  The package will include superb medical benefits, a 401K program and bonus potential resulting from exceptional performance. 

About our Client:
Our client is a creative entity based on the finest talent and technology available.  Their application of technology is innovative, not reactive.  They have a corporate culture second to none that encourages camaraderie, peer support, cooperation, critique and having fun. They have an unusual expertise with broader capabilities than most agencies.  Come and work for the kind of company and in the kind of environment that you didn’t think existed!  This is certainly a career opportunity and our client needs you right now! EOE

Please apply through our website www.Bishop-Partners.com.  Please send a separate email to [email protected] detailing your interest in and qualifications for this position. Please send portfolio samples to that same email address.