Recruiters
have one job: Find the right person for the position.
Their
performance is evaluated on how efficiently and effectively they match top
talent to job requirements.
Ironically,
in the current economy, recruiters are finding
their jobs harder than ever.
I’m
serious.
There’s
too much talent for them to weed through. What used to be “finding a needle in
a haystack” has now become “finding a needle in ten haystacks.”
As
a result, recruiters have to determine a candidate’s
marketability much quicker.
Translation:
Candidates must pay even more attention to the power of the first impression
factor.
People
skills, attire, etc. all become more important when competition amongst talent
is this fierce.
Reality
check: Those who are failing to make a good first impression get put in the
“no” pile and are never contacted again.
So,
if you aren’t getting called back by a recruiter after either an in-person
meeting or talking by phone, there’s a good chance that, in addition to the
fact you didn’t have the right skills, you also might have displayed one or
more traits on the “I can’t market them” list.
Now,
most recruiters won’t tell you what you did wrong.
Why?
For
one reason, they aren’t paid to give you the bad news. Second, they don’t want
to burn a bridge. And third, as I mentioned, they just don’t have the time.
And
yet, how are you going to fix the problem if you don’t know it exists?
I’ve
put together the most common reasons why a recruiter writes a candidate off.
You may not like what you read, but the good news is with a little attention
and practice, all of them can be improved upon. So, ask yourself, “Am I
guilty of the following?”
Top 10 Things Recruiters Won’t Tell You
1. Your interview attire is outdated/messy/too
tight/too revealing/too flashy.
2. Your physical appearance is
disheveled/outdated/sloppy/smelly/overpowering (i.e. too much perfume).
3. Your eye contact is weak/shifty/intense.
4. Your handshake is limp/too forceful/clammy.
5. You say ah/um/like too much.
6. You talk too much/use poor grammar/say
inappropriate things (i.e. swearing) when you answer interview questions.
7. You appear
overconfident/pushy/self-centered/insecure/aloof/ditzy/scatter-brained/desperate.
8. You talk too fast/too slow/too loud/too soft.
9. You giggle/fidget/act awkward/have facial
tics/lack expression.
10. You lack
sincerity/self-confidence/clarity/conviction.
So, How Do You Fix These?
Well,
given 93% of communication is non-verbal, I can tell you that many of the
negatives above can be improved by focusing on one thing: attitude.
If
you are angry, fearful, or confused, it’s going to show. You must find a way to
feel good about yourself and your ability to contribute. This comes from
knowing your strengths and embracing them. It also comes from doing your
homework on a company so you can articulate clearly and with enthusiasm why you
would be a great fit for the job. I realize this is easier said than done, but
it can be done.
Your Next Step
School
teaches you everything except how to get the job. You must invest time in
learning the right way to job search.
I
just finished four new training videos for you – they’re all about executing an
easier job search in this economy.
My
videos are completely free and I’m confident you’re going to find them useful.
The link to access the first one is below.
I
hope I’ve convinced you to take a hard look at the 10 reasons above and to
commit to finding a way to improve your first impression factor.
It’s
your career.
Own
your actions and take control of your professional development.
I
promise, recruiters will take notice.
Your Turn
Feel
free to share any reasons I missed below. Better still, if you’ve got a
resource you’ve used that has helped you get over one or more of these
first impression-busters, please share it below so fellow readers can use it as
well.
