I love social media. LinkedIn, Twitter, blogging… count me in.
The challenge is becoming managing all the traffic it generates. I get regular requests for job search, career advice and requests about non-existent job openings. Requests to review and provide feedback on resumes. Although I encourage people to stay connected with me thru LinkedIn, they want to send me their resume to keep on file for future opportunities – which means I have to handle it someway. Sorry, but sometimes that way is >delete<
I just simply do not have enough time in my day to read/file/process every resume that is sent to me. Boohoo, I am sure you feel really sorry for me right now.
This tension between job seekers wanting feedback and recruiters needing to focus their time on finding the most qualified candidate comes up almost every week on #jobhuntchat. This week Rich DeMatteo @CornOnTheJob, creator of #jobhuntchat, unapologetically tweeted that there was no way the thousand or so candidates currently vying for his open positions were going to get a personal response from him. I tweeted that as much as recruiters would like to provide in-depth feedback to every candidate, we can only keep our own jobs by focusing on the most qualified candidates. There was a chorus of agreement from other recruiters on the chat.
So where is the happy middle ground?
Here are a few requests…
1. If you are seeking career advice about how to break into medical device sales, please read my blog. I have been writing it for nearly 4 years and there is a ton of information here. Please read it and feel free to comment. If there is something you’d like me to write about, let me know in comment form here on my blog. I really would love to know what would benefit you.
2. Only send your resume in response to a specific opening that you are qualified for. If for sales openings, you must be local. Everything else simply clogs the process and is a fairy tale.
3. Pay it forward. If you see I have an opening, please rack your brain for someone who might be a great fit. I will appreciate it very much and yes you will earn a special place in my heart. I pay it forward by writing this blog, participating on #jobhuntchat and sharing useful sales, industry and job search info on Twitter. I do this all on my own time.
Find me on Twitter @MyJobScope
4. I welcome LinkedIn invites as the best way to stay in touch for future openings. I search my LinkedIn network for EVERY opening I have. If you are in my network, you will hear from me if there is an opening in your area that you are qualified for. You do not need to send me your resume now.
Connect with me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamcmedicalsalesrecruiter
My blog, Twitter and LinkedIn are great places were we can interact, benefit and learn from each other. I look forward to it!
Hi Lisa – Love your advice for job seekers on how and when to approach recruiters. I find job seekers respond to recruiters by sending all or nothing. Reminding them to send when fitting and appropriate is good advice for both ends.
Confirming how important it is to have a strong LinkedIn profile and the right connections is also very helpful for job seekers not using LI to its full potential.
Great article!
Kris
Thanks Kris. With the growing popularity of LinkedIn, I am seeing a lot of incomplete profiles. I think it is really important for people to think of LInkedIn as a critical presentation of their professional achievements, rather than just something they toss out there. I am really glad that you work with many of your clients to build a strong LinkedIn profile, in addition to a great looking resume. In this day and age, both are essential.