Ask Sandi

After writing about resumes in my last column, I received a few interesting letters. Some offering help which is great, others who just wanted to vent about how everyone who looks at their resume tells them something different. My two cents on resume advice is that if you are getting interviews, it is not a resume problem – so stop asking for resume advice. It actually may just be a competition issue where there are too many applicants for one job.

Another bit of feedback I received was about employers. It goes hand in hand with an article I read on Idealist Careers (idealistcareers.org/is-it-time-for-a-job-seeker-bill-of-rights) about a job seeker bill of rights. I do often hear complaints about the interview process from many of the job seekers I talk to.

If you are an employer, this is a good article for you to read too. If you think about the shoe being on the other foot for a moment, how would you want to be treated if you were seeking a job? Many times recruiters appear to be playing games with the job seeker. They won’t divulge salary range, which could make the whole interview a waste of time if you are not on the same page. They are not transparent about the expectations once you get on the job, and in some cases they avoid your calls at all cost so they will not have to tell you they hired someone else.

My advice to recruiters – I was one myself – is to be as straightforward as possible about the process, let the candidate know how they will hear back from you (even if it is a statement such as “If you don’t hear back from us by Friday, we have chosen another candidate”), and discuss salary as early as possible or put it in the job description if you can.

Job seeking can be frustrating on both sides of the fence. It is great when we can make the process just a little easier.

Take care and best wishes.

Please send any questions you have regarding employment to:

[email protected]

Fax: 407-260-2949

Mail: Ask Sandi C/O Christian HELP

450 Seminola Blvd., Casselberry, FL 32707

Our goal is to answer many of the questions you may have about your employment search, resumes, networking, promotion opportunities, and other employment related questions you may have.

Note to employers: If you email your job leads to [email protected], we will share your job openings with Christian HELP clients.

Until next time-

Sandi

Sandi Vidal is the executive director for Christian HELP and the Central Florida Employment Council. She has more than 15 years of recruiting and human resources experience. Visit the website at cfec.org