Both Corporate and Executive Recruiters exist to hire top talent in the right place at the right time to meet their client’s business needs. The great recruiters have key qualities they share in common:

• They are passionate about people, helping others, and solving problems.
• They are empathetic, understanding their impact on people during one of the most important decisions they have to make in their lives…their career.
• And lastly, they share the highest degree of integrity and honesty when conducting their business.

Personally, these are the reasons I love what I do. I enjoy connecting with people and assisting them with what they want to do with their careers. Although I can’t build personal relationships with every applicant, (I wish I could), I do have some tips that will “Help me…help you”.

(Couldn’t help myself with the Jerry Maguire quote). Check out the scene here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1B1_jQnlFk

I’m going to be really direct here and provide some tips that will be helpful to all of you when you search for a job and want to make a recruiter connection. It will also help your recruiters help you better. The next time you find yourself interested in applying to a job online, ask yourself these questions before pressing “submit”:

1. Am I applying to jobs I know I am not qualified for?
2. Am I applying to multiple jobs because I feel it will increase my chance of being considered?
3. Am I applying to jobs that are not a fit with my experience, career goals, and personal goals?
4. Am I applying to every job I see on the careers site?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you might be what I call a Serial Job Applicant.

Please don’t be a Serial Job Applicant…please, please, please. This is one of the top turn-offs for recruiters. Don’t apply to every job you see on the careers site. Don’t apply to a human resources role when you have no human resources experience. Don’t apply to a software engineering role when you have no technical job experience and just graduated college with a criminal justice degree. Don’t apply to a role that is required to be in California when you are located in North Carolina and have no intention of ever relocating.

Here are a few reasons why I feel you shouldn’t apply to jobs you are not qualified for:

Increased Rejection and Frustration-When you apply for positions that are not a good fit you will surely be rejected more frequently. The increased rejection over time can possibly impact your confidence level. By feeling you are unproductive in your search you will also become frustrated.

Waste of Time-Submitting the same resume to multiple positions hoping they “stick” is ineffective. You’re wasting your time and the recruiter’s time. Companies are reviewing your resume for core competencies and skills that match the job profile. They want to know why, out of all the other applicants, you are more valuable.

Reputation-Applying to jobs that don’t necessarily match your skill set and experience will work against you. You don’t want the Serial Job Applicant label. Recruiters will question your career choices and credibility as a serious candidate largely based on the volume of applications you submitted. You don’t want us knowing your name for the wrong reasons.

To go from a serial applicant to a serious applicant, here are 5 things you CAN do:

1. Use a targeted job search approach-First, set goals and know what you want both professionally and personally. Carefully select the roles that best match your goals, skillsets, and experience. Only apply to those roles. This shows that you have put thought into what role you can perform most effectively and how you can best apply your skillsets to make an impact with the company.
2. Customize your resume-Take the time to tailor your resume to the role for which you are applying to. Highlight key skills and accomplishments that speak directly to the position. You will have a greater chance of being considered.
3. Proofread your resume-Use spell check PLEASE. Spelling and grammatical errors really are no excuse on a resume these days. In the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers we won’t feel confident in your attention to detail. Show us you take pride in your work by taking your application preparation seriously.
4. You must have patience-Don’t submit your resume online and then call and email the recruiter incessantly. Also, once you apply online don’t send multiple LinkedIn network connection requests or emails to other recruiters in the organization. Be patient. If you are clearly qualified for the position, you will get a reply.
5. Network, Network, Network-Relationships matter. 25-30% of company hires come from employee referrals. Good people know good people. Leverage your network. Start with the people you know, especially if they are employed by your target companies or are recruiters who have relationships with your target companies. Leverage your network on LinkedIn, alumni, associations, groups, and other social media outlets.

Being a Serial Job Applicant is not a label you want. Finding a job can be a full time job in itself but applying for numerous jobs that you’re unqualified for won’t help your chances of getting hired. Focus on the jobs that are truly a fit for you.  Be strategic in your approach, focus, prepare, and invest the time to make your resume stand out.

Check out our current openings at https://finalhire.com/candidates/

During a late night back in October I was wide awake and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t sleep. I was at a cross-road in my professional life, unsure and unaware of what would come next. Anxiety and doubt were having a war within my head and it was a loud battlefield. I decided to travel somewhere else and escape reality. For me, this meant watching a movie.

Those who know me well, know that I am a movie aficionado. I love great acting, great dialogue, and a great story. Watching a movie allows me to be immersed in another world. Well that October night, I chose to travel to Middle-Earth. I inserted The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King into my Blu-ray player. I had not seen the movie in over 5 years but over the next 201 minutes I found myself relating to one of the main characters in the film, Aragorn.

I won’t go into the entire plot but basically Aragorn was raised by Elves and then became a Ranger who protected people from outlaws and evildoers. He is a member of a fellowship made up of Men, Hobbits, a Dwarf, an Elf, and a really cool Wizard. They embark on a quest to save Middle-Earth from evil. Aragorn is also fated to one day become King and claim the empty throne of Men.

Aragorn knows it is his duty and destiny to lead the forces of good against the forces of evil and become King. However, for most of his life he is unwilling to embrace his destiny. He goes through an internal struggle, ashamed of his fear and doubts. There is a turning point in a scene from the movie where the Elf leader who raised Aragorn presents him with a reforged sword from his ancestor that will allow him to win the battle of good vs. evil.

He says to Aragorn:

“Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be.”

The Elf leader inspired Aragorn to put aside his doubt and fear and set out to do the things he was meant to do. Aragorn then embraced his status as the King. He accepted his destiny and eventually saved Middle-Earth. I can relate to the inner struggles he went through. Throughout my career I always felt I could do more by starting my own company but like Aragorn was held back by my own fears and doubts. I was already on a career path. However it wasn’t what it was supposed to be. What I wanted it to be. Recently I chose a new path. The right path.

On November 18th, 2014 I officially founded Final Hire, Inc. I had “put aside the ranger” and decided to follow what I believe was my destiny:

Be a trusted partner and advisor to my clients in connecting them to the world’s greatest talent.

Over the last few years I have seen an increase in poor recruiting practices by search and consulting firms. I grew up in the profession where integrity, authenticity, and passion was the DNA of a great recruiter. We established and nurtured our client and candidate relationships, even when we were not actively working together. Quality actually meant Quality, not a candidate presented to a client from a job board that was rarely given time to develop a relationship with. Final Hire, Inc. was created in response to what I feel is a growing demand for a partnership that would offer more value than this.

The #1 reason I love what I do and for which I am most passionate about is that I get to change people’s lives. Every day I have an opportunity to solve problems and make an impact. I am a man of no wizardry, no heir to the throne of Men, and I won’t be serving my clients and candidates with a legendary reforged sword (although I must admit I do have a very cool replica of Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back!) Instead I offer my knowledge and core set of values: Integrity, Authenticity, and Passion. This is the core of who I am and what Final Hire, Inc. is and always will be. I am excited to embark on this new quest and look forward to the growth and fellowship of my clients and candidates.

My plan is to blog moving forward on talent acquisition trends, issues, and best practices. My goal is for it to be educational, engaging, entertaining, and at times thought provoking. I hope it helps those that read it to think outside the box when it comes to talent acquisition and interviewing.