Be Brave Not Safe

The focus of this post is on dealing with “3rd-Party” recruiters: those firms who strive to fill positions at companies with job openings. This is a very important avenue to consider in your job search!

In fact, 2 of my biggest career moves happened through a VERY GOOD recruiter who connected me with outstanding opportunities that I would have otherwise not known about.

Why do they do this? Because they are paid a handsome fee, from the company who hires someone through them.

Some 3rd-party recruiters are contracted by hiring companies to do the initial legwork of beating the bushes and qualifying candidates for their consideration. Others scour the net looking for job openings and then seek to “pitch” the candidates they have identified who may “fit the bill.”

While engaging with a 3rd-party recruiter or contract recruiting firm is an important channel to consider, as they may be able to open doors for you, proceed with caution: some are sharks…

The biggest piece of advice: Don’t disclose the opportunities (company names) you are pursuing on your own or via other channels. The reason: some of these firms would look at this as an opportunity to try to pitch their candidates, to that company, to fill that position. You have therefore just created more competition for the position you are applying for.

The “sharks” will try a number of tactics to pry this information out of you, such as:

• “We need to know this information so that we don’t end up presenting you to a company you are already pursuing.”
  • Your response: “Let me know the companies you are presenting me to and I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen. You should feel comfortable with this since I would imagine our agreement is such that I cannot go around you to companies you will be presenting me to?“
• Throwing out a sentence / statement that is along the lines of: “Yeah, we know of an opportunity in the area that you’ve probably already heard about at…um…hmm…what was the name of that company?” They are hoping you’ll complete their sentence (and give away the company name).

In summary, maintain your posture and simply indicate: “I’m really sorry, but I don’t think this is necessary information or relevant to our discussion.”

Bottom-line: There are some VERY good 3rd-party recruiters out there. If you are feeling overly pressured to give up the names of opportunities you are working, feel free to politely disengage with them. They have NO BEARING on your future.

Regardless, this experience will have served as another practice opportunity to engage with others about your job qualifications and search. So, if a recruiter contacts you, play it out!!!

p.s. – Fortunately, my son already knew about the sharks in advance of a recent meeting he had “in the tank” 🙂

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Congratulations!!! You have just participated in your first phone and/or face-to-face interview.

It is now time to follow-up – within 24-hours of the interview (sooner if possible).

This follow-up should be targeted to “at least” the staff recruiter and hiring manager whom you met with. You may wish to include others involved in the interview process, if possible.

The content of the follow-up message (sent as a separate email to each person) should include the following commentary:

• Thanking them for their time
• Reinforcing how and why you feel you are a good fit for the opportunity (if that is truly the case)
• Reflecting on any important questions they may have asked, where you can share additional perspective to solidify yourself as a solid candidate for their consideration
• Confirming the agreed upon next steps and timing
• Letting them know that you look forward to hearing from them
• Offering to get back together (on-the-phone or in-person) to cover any other questions or topics they’d like to cover.

And, in the case of any interview, EVERY question they asked matters, or it would not have been asked! As such, if you didn’t know the answer to a question that you “should” have, or you feel that you “fumbled” on a question, you can include commentary in the follow-up message to address this (to the person(s) you interviewed with, whom this applies to).

Now it is time to be patient. But, only through the agreed upon period of time when they indicated you should hear back from them.

Realize that you are not the center of the prospective employers universe. And, they may get busy and fail to follow-up in the agreed upon timeframe. When (not if) this happens, NEVER consider this a rejection. At this point, you can send an email and/or call the hiring manager and/or staff recruiter to follow-up on the previously agreed upon next steps, reinforcing your enthusiasm for the job opportunity.

Assuming you have a conversation with them be sure to “again” determine next steps and timing there-of.

If you are unable to re-engage with them, don’t sweat it and move on! By now you have other “irons in the fire.” Keep working them. This instance has simply served as valuable practice!

In subsequent posts we will cover:

• Dealing with (3rd-Party) Recruiters
• Managing the Process
• Weighing Your Options
• Closing the Deal

In the meantime, enjoy the process! You are almost there!

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Prior to “most” face-to-face interviews we will often have participated in “at least” one phone interview with the prospective employer. Regardless, it is important to take the same steps in advance of the face-to-face interview, as we took in preparation for the phone interview. Refer to the prior 2 posts on interviews, for additional details. In summary, this includes:

• Nailing down the Scheduling and Logistical details
• Being sure you are comfortable with your responses to the “standard” interview questions
• Scouring their company website
• Considering other, more detailed questions, that you may be asked during the face-to-face interview
• Being ready with the questions you plan to ask them
• Reviewing the LinkedIn profiles of those who are interviewing you

In addition to doing ALL of the above, there are a few more steps to take in preparation for the face-to-face interview, including:

• Making sure you have a few more hard-copy resumes on-hand than the number of people you are meeting with.
• Making sure your laptop is fully charged and loaded with your content (if you plan on sharing examples of your work – a portfolio, for example). If your laptop doesn’t take a standard serial connection, for the projector, bring your adapter.
• Having a note book and pen. While you “may” be able to take notes on a smartphone, iPad or laptop, it “could” give the interviewer the impression that you are processing emails and texts. Not good. Within this notebook have your collection of notes and questions, in an organized fashion for quick reference during the interview.
• Dressing appropriately. In a prior step you determined the “day-to-day” dress code. For the interview you will want to dress 1-2 levels above this. For example, if the day-to-day dress code is:
  • Jeans and t-shirts, come dressed in dress pants, dress shirt and potentially even a tie (for the men, ladies, the equivalent)
  • Business casual, come dressed in full suit and tie

Bottom-line: You only have ONE CHANCE to make a good first impression.

Now, let’s do it!

You have arrived at the prospective employer’s site. At this point, you can expect to meet and interact with a number of people who may take you through severals steps prior to the interview even beginning. I share this so there are fewer surprises, for that “first-time” interviewee…

Here we go…

1. First, you may meet the main receptionist (unless someone else has already agreed to meet you at a specific location)
   • Walk up to the reception desk and politely share your name and mention that you have a meeting with [insert person’s name here] at [insert time of meeting here].
   • You may be asked to fill out an application for a temporary security badge. Do so – NEATLY!
   • They may ask for your driver’s license to confirm your identity – have it with you / let them see it.
   • They may ask to take your picture for the badge. Smile!
   • You may then be asked to have a seat, while you await the arrival of the person you are meeting with.
   • If you need to use the restroom (after a long commute in) now is the time! Ask the receptionist where the restrooms are.
2. In the waiting area
   • Your cell phone should now be fully silenced to ensure NO disruptions.
   • Take NO calls, unless you can be absolutely certain it is from the person you are meeting with.
   • Strike-up a conversation with the receptionist (if s/he doesn’t seem “too” busy and there aren’t a lot of people around). Ask questions like: How long have you worked here? How do you like working here? And, other casual but business-related questions you may have.
   • Most importantly, look around the room. Take in EVERYTHING: how people are dressed, any awards on display (read them), framed articles (read them), company magazine/annual report on the table (pick it up and skim through it). All of this serves to build your arsenal of knowledge about the company and/or may generate additional questions you may wish to ask.
   • If you have done ALL of the above and are still waiting, and you feel compelled, it is “ok” to check email, texts, etc. HOWEVER, when the person you are meeting with shows-up, you must IMMEDIATELY pocket the cell phone vs. trying to complete any text, email or etc. Doing anything less is discourteous which equals opportunity lost!
3. The first “formal” introduction – What I’m about to share applies to EVERY introduction going forward!
   • If sitting, promptly stand up!
   • Be the first to put out your hand, for the handshake…
   • Lean slightly forward
   • Look them squarely in the eye
   • When your hands meet grasp the other’s firmly (not like a vice, just firmly) and shake in a way that they know someone is “in there.”
   • Say: “Hi, I am [insert your full name here]. Pleased to meet you.“
   • Too often, the junior person is weighed down with self-consciousness, not feeling worthy to put themselves out there first. They may inadvertently look away and/or put their hand out like a cold, dead, clammy fish. BLECK. Makes me feel like I need to take a shower…
   • This is where you can stand HEAD AND SHOULDERS above the rest. Trust me and just do it! If you are not feeling comfortable, practice, practice, practice with your father, mother, sister, brother, etc.
4. On your way to the interview area
   • The person who picked you up is now your tour guide. They are going to point stuff out to you on the way to the interview room: listen, take it all in and ask questions. Make conversation…
   • They will likely ask if you’d like anything to drink. Politely request water. You never know how long you are going to be in this process and/or waiting between interview sessions. It is nice to have a refreshment available.
5. You enter the interview room / office
   • If the interviewer asks you to take a seat anywhere, try to get one that faces the door so you can see people coming. Just be sure NOT to take someone else’s seat.
   • Once you find your seat, sit up straight (no slouching).
   • Again, look around, take it all in. Is anything written on the whiteboard? This can provide clues to the nature of the projects / issues they are working – real-time.
6. At this point, a number of paths may be taken:
   • S/he may meet with you 1-on-1, and then take you to the next person(s) / room.
   • S/he may have scheduled a number of people to join you in the room, at once. Be not afraid! And, don’t act surprised (I’m telling you this in advance 🙂 ).
   • The interviewers will generally include:
     • The prospective “boss” (the manager or supervisor) who you will “directly” report to
     • The boss’s boss
     • Other people on the team (your potential / future peers)
     • Note: The above people will be generally focused on you, your work habits and job-related technical capabilities.
     • Human Resources will have interview questions of their own (typically, less technical in nature) and will cover benefits offered by the company.
   • Provide a copy of your resume to each person.
   • Some may offer you a business card. Take it. If not, jot down their name as soon as possible (before you forget).
7. During the interview:
   • Make sure to keep an even balance of looking the interviewer in the eye and glancing away as you give thought to the discussion and/or questions. If there are multiple interviewers in the room, make eye contact with each, frequently, as you are responding to their questions, listening and asking your own questions.
8. As each interview session completes, you’ll want to:
   • Stand up!
   • Put your hand out first.
   • Grasp their hand firmly, and shake.
   • Say: “It was a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for your time.“
9. It’s a wrap
   • Prior to departing, it is important to ask the hiring manager and/or staff recruiter what the next steps are and the timing for when you could expect to hear back from them.
   • As such, be mindful of when you’ll be meeting with these particular folks so that you can pose the question before it is too late…Because, once all the interviews are complete, you’ll typically be escorted back to the reception area (to handover your temporary badge), and/or out of the building. You don’t want to end-up outside and realize “I have no idea about what is going to happen next, or when.”

Some may say: “Man, you are covering some nauseating detail here.” To that I’d respond: “Do you want to appear as an amateur or professional?” Your choice. The jobs offered and related salary are MUCH different between the two 🙂

As such, don’t go there “simply” to land the job. Make an EXCELLENT impression which will serve to maximize the offer!

Next, we will cover the follow-up.

All the best!

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