Don’t know about you, but I’m glad to see us welcome in a new decade, change is good, and most people are ready for some positive momentum. I’ve been reading a lot about the positive economic indicators in the job market–if positive thinking can create jobs, there’s enough of it around to make it happen! Here’s a link to an article in the WSJ “Uptick in Executive Jobs Seen for 2010”, read it for yourself.
I’ve talked about the signs of improvement in the market in earlier posts, so let’s talk about what it means for candidates and clients. There are still too many candidates that are out of work despite their best efforts at networking, applying to company websites, and working with recruiters. If you’re one of them still on the sidelines, now is a good time to refresh your resume. I’m not talking a total overhaul, that’s probably not necessary. Reread the first page. Make sure you’re highlighting the contributions you made to the company in your last position, not just listing your responsibilities. Hiring managers are seeing too many resumes, make yours stand out by stressing the ways you’ve saved money, improved efficiency, or prepared a company for an IPO. Emphasis results, dollars saved, percent reduction in inventories, preparation of an S-1 that never got filed. They are all important.
And candidates, don’t forget, if you’ve done some consulting, even if it’s a short project, put it on your resume, it’s important. Perhaps you’ve worked with some colleagues on a pro bono basis to start a business, prepared a business plan to raise money, or volunteered for a non-profit. It makes your resume look fresh instead of stale.
Hiring managers need to be ready for the uptick as well. First and foremost, make sure you’re connected with your key employees to make sure they are engaged and motivated in their roles. Nothing makes people happier than contributing to a successful organization, so remind them how they are making a difference. And then, get a jump on top talent. “A” players are just beginning to consider jumping into the job market. Turn up your recruiting efforts a notch and get to these candidates before other employers do. It pays to be ahead of the curve. And carefully assess resumes, some of the candidates that are out of work are A players. You’ll benefit by finding those “needles in the haystack”. If you need help, call me, that’s our core competency!