Have you ever wished you could sit with Recruiters to find out how they decide who to hire? After all, understanding what they look out for and how and where they look for these things will help you position yourself appropriately to get employed the next time you apply for a job. To share these secrets and all the juicy inside workings and processes of expert recruiters, we hosted a Linkedin Live event to educate job seekers on how to become irresistible and a “must-have” candidate for recruiters looking to help employers hire.
Subject matter experts- Ekereobong Ewang (Talent Acquisition Lead, First Bank of Nigeria), Chisom Nwosu (Senior Recruitment Consultant, Jobberman), Ayobami Ayoade (Technical Sourcer and Recruiter, TalentQL), and Damilare Elegbede (Senior Recruitment Consultant, Jobberman) shared many valuable tips and insider secrets on how recruiters headhunt and sift through numerous candidates to decide on the ideal candidates to fill roles in their portfolio.
Here are some major takeaways from the session:
What is the most essential foundation for a job seeker looking to get hired quickly?
Your mindset must first align with your values. You need to bring the value you have before an employer, and to do that you need to be self-aware. When you know the value you possess, you are able to internalize that value and, in turn, project it.
How can job seekers properly communicate their values during the job search process, from CV to interview?
In communicating your values, you leverage past experiences and have them very well articulated on your CV. The STAR method is an excellent method to use in responding appropriately to questions.
S– describe the situation
T– define the task
A– go to the action, what you actually did
R– state the results
It would help if you also started from the job description in the ad that was put out. Echoing the specific skillset and requirements that the Job Description speaks to is a great way to communicate your value.
Jobseekers complain that they apply for jobs but do not get selected. Can you share why that might happen?
This might happen when job seekers apply for jobs they are not a right fit for. There is usually little the recruiter can do in such an instance. You just have to have the right profile that meets the requirements. Some job seekers apply to jobs they have no interest in and know nothing about. You need to be interested in the job. Know what it entails, do you have experience in it? Don’t just apply for the sake of applying.
Between Skills and academic qualifications, which do recruiters look out for?
You’ll use skills on the job, so they are more important. Your educational qualification is an added advantage, yes, but your skills are what is really needed on the actual job.
Why do recruiters ask for the minimum salary candidates will settle for?
Recruiters ask that question because there is a budget for the role. They like to know your expectations so they can effectively manage them. Recruiters just want to know whether to continue the recruitment process with you or not. When asked, feel free to let the recruiter know your range.
Can you shed more light on career path planning and commitment?
Weigh your priorities. Do you want to pursue your dream career, or do you want the money? We understand the existing situation, but you need to start making decisions for yourself. Also, whatever job you land, don’t just rest on your laurels because you have a job. Make sure you keep learning and adding new skills. If you’re feeling stuck in a particular career, upskill yourself in what you are actually interested in and position yourself. Weigh the pros and cons and then decide.
How can jobseekers channel their networking skills towards the process of getting a job?
Networking is about getting to know people and building relationships with them that are mutually beneficial. You have to be giving value to get value. Build a relationship first. A recruiter’s job is not to get you a job. Their primary focus is filling the roles that clients give to them as a brief.
As a recruiter, what are the things you consider to be a red flag in a candidate?
- Job hopping is a red flag. In an attempt to gather diverse knowledge, job seekers do this, but it can be counterproductive. The recruiting process is stressful, and the recruiter is not looking to start the process all over again. If you join a company full-time, at least stay a year.
- When you cannot explain your prior employment, this is another red flag. You should be able to summarize your initiatives and how they helped you acquire new skills and knowledge during your employment.
- It’s important to always put your best foot forward by avoiding common mistakes that can chip away from your credibility as a suitable candidate. Grammatical errors, copy and paste job experiences, and discrepancies in employment experience data are some mistakes that shouldn’t appear on your CV.
- Prioritize your CV formatting. Font type, size, and the basic look and feel of your CV can say a lot about you.
What Skills are essential for job seekers to highlight on their cv?
Different organizations have different skills they look out for. Some relevant skills post-covid though are excellent soft skills, good communication, interpersonal skills, and analytical and critical thinking. Also, ensure you highlight the specific skills the employers are looking for on your CV.
More bonus tips
- If you’re applying for roles, timing is key to getting through the door. You have to apply within a week or 2 to when the job was posted. When you apply one month after, the likelihood of being considered is pretty slim.
- Years of experience are relative; what matters is what you’ve learned and can now do within that timeframe. Some people with two years of experience know things and have done things that some with four years don’t.
- Know where to look for info that carries the kind of jobs you are looking for. Go on Linkedin and Twitter, and follow the thought leaders to get the correct info.
- If you do not have any experience, you can start by volunteering or interning, which helps you gather experience, and then you can skill up from there. Jobberman has an ongoing campaign catering to Job Seekers with 0-3 years of experience. We can tell you for free that you will find many entry-level job opportunities on jobberman.com because employers have been taking advantage of it to list these roles on our platform.
Ready to use these insider secrets to land your dream job? Start by:
- Creating a 100% completed Jobseeker profile on Jobberman.
- Then, complete the FREE Jobberman Soft Skills Training and get certified.
Miss the webinar? Catch up Here
