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The Ex-Recruiter

Oct 14, 2009 / Social Media / Trackback

theexrecruiterPaul Paris, Founder & CEO of Recruiterreqs.com Inc. is interested in talking about employment issues facing people in their everyday lives from the perspective of recruiters, candidates and employers. Just a few years ago it would have been difficult and costly to get these conversations in to the public light unless you had a friend in Media, PR, or Marketing. Fortunately, today’s access to new media gives Paul a vehicle to conduct, broadcast globally and record these dialogs for anyone interested in the world of employment. He’s starting a show on BlogTalkRadio.

At first thought the concept of having conversations with all the players involved seems like a simple no brainer. However, generally we’re so focused on our niche areas of expertise and professional intelligence we tend to guard industry and insider information closely and not think to invite others around the table for coffee.

But not Paul, that’s not his style. He plans to get candidates involved and talking about their job searches, recruiters about the industry and employers about their expectations. Chatting with him he said that one of his professional highlights is memories of when he was recruiting and would get a rush every time an applicant was made a job offer and accepted. He said it wasn’t just because he made money but because he had a hand in giving someone a fresh start in a position that they really wanted.

He has a lot of questions to ask, kind of reminds me of Larry King’s style. Ask questions, sit back, listen and learn. Questions like:

What has happened to full life cycle recruiting (recruiting has become like a production line)?
Why are candidates the forgotten equation in everything?
Why are people judged immediately because of what a social media profile says or what they look like?
Have Baby Boomers spoiled their Gen Y children to a point that most can’t find employment after graduation because they don’t have any prior work experience?
Is the recruiting field over-saturated?
Should recruiters be credentialed (with something other than SPHR or PHR) like used to have to be in NJ when it was mandatory for recruiters to pass a state test?

Whoa… those are some heavy questions for contemplation and discourse. I’ve been invited to be a guest on November 3rd to discuss one of today’s hottest recruiting topics, social media v.s. picking up the phone. Sounds intellectual, I like it.

When Paul started his new business he said that from day one the company pledged to give a percentage of earnings to charities helping people less fortunate and unemployed. It’s posted on the recruiterreqs.com website that they are part of the Agents Paying Forward Network. Visit the site and on the related links tab you’ll find there are a number of helpful networks for both recruiters and job seekers. I expect to see The Ex-Recruiter posted there very soon!

The Ex-Recruiter debuts live October 20 at 12:00p.m. EST with a half hour introduction. The weekly show moves to a 1 hour time slot on October 27th from 12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m. Up and coming episodes feature Candidate Uproar with guests  Janice and Jeremy Worthington, Job Search Coaches,   Gen Y advocate, J.T. O’Donnell and in case you didn’t catch it above, yours truly.

Good luck to Paul Paris on his new venture and be sure to call in with your questions and comments!


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Responses

janiceworthington
Oct 15, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Hi Karla:

Thanks so much for the mention. We are very excited about Paul's show and his new site, http://recruiterreqsjobseekers.ning.com. Jeremy and I have partnered with Paul and will be mentoring to job seekers through various activities

I call it social responsibility and the career management community has an obligation to do what it can for distressed job seekers. It isn't always about $. In Columbus, Worthington Career Services has offered bootcamps and triathlons featuring HR and hiring managers, one-on-one with candidates. (no ROI..but moral return… priceless!) If they're taught how they can be of assistance… the employer community is willing to advise and mentor even if they're not hiring.

Here is our model: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2LpH8BWuBg

We saw the same sense of outreach in Paul and are very excited about his crusade.

Janice Worthington, Certified Job & Career Transition Coach & Resume Writer
Worthington Career Services (since 1973) 1/877=9Resume
Columbus, Ohio
@execjobcoach – Janice
@jobsearchcoach – Jeremy


Tweets that mention The Ex-Recruiter | KARLA PORTER | Human Capital & New Media -- Topsy.com
Oct 15, 2009 at 7:51 PM

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karla Porter and Paul Paris, Paul Paris. Paul Paris said: Special thanks to @karla_porter for the Great Blog she did on The Ex Recruiter Show starting Tuesday 10/20 at Noon EST http://sn.im/sipmf [...]


Lena
Jun 15, 2011 at 4:38 AM

To whom it may concern:  I am so distressed in my job search that it is not a joke!!!   I always worked since I am 16, and never had problem finding a job.  I am not a jumper and held maybe 4 jobs in my life.  I am 45 years old female, with 10+ years in mortgage processing/underwriting field.  Before that I was since 16 in high end retail.  My life took a big twist when I was 40.  I had my own business then and went through a very rough divorce that lasted 2 years.  I lost everything and started to look for a job.  For the past three years I went through hell and every negative experience that has to do in job searching.  I was sucked in in to insurance sales business, passing 8 state exams in one year.  That did not help me work with people trying to sell a product to them that they need, but have no money to obtain it.  So I quit, because I just felt guilty taking their last dollars.  My search went on.  I entered my resume practicaly on every search engine that exists.  I tried every advice, but all I was getting is the calls from recruiters that promissed to send my resume to an employer, and I am still waiting for their respond.  In sending over thousand resumes in the past 3 years  I would be called maby to 2 intervies and even then it would be 25 people going to one position, and they would hire a younger person not exactly with experience.
Please let me know what a group of people age group of 45-50 supposed to do if they got heat by leap of fate and need to find job to support themselves?
And, why the recruters rule today.  All search engines have out of 100 posted jobs maybe 1 or 2 are legitamate jobs.
I tried to approach human resources directly in different companies, but they all send you to apply on line.??????????
And the most important how can you judge a persons qualifications by reading a good resume.  Why you get the notice sometimes within 30 minutes that they considering someone else because they have more qualifications.  And then 5 minutes later a recruter calls from that same company offering you that job???????
As you see I have a lot of questions, and honestly do not know what to do.
Please advice and help.
My email:  yderbinsky@gmail.com


Karla Porter
Jun 17, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Lena – I feel your frustration. I also note that in spite of your very best and diligent efforts, your job search has included a lot of ‘non-targeted’ activity which has a very desperate feel to it. Let me start by saying that for one human to send a thousand resumes in 3 years (let alone a lifetime) is nothing short of confounding, amazing and sorry to say wasteful… I don’t mean to hurt your feelings but blanketing the earth with resumes doesn’t give you better odds of getting a job.

On another note, it is easy to email me privately by clicking on the Google ‘G’ icon at the top of the page next to ‘Who is she?’ but you chose to write all kinds of private details publicly – which trust me when I tell you I’m saying this with the best intentions…. leads me to believe you are too chatty about your personal life during phone screens and in face-to-face interviews, and it greatly diminishes your chances.

You are the 3rd person this week to comment to me about age.. I’m the same age and it’s bumming me out. I hope this attitude is not contagious. For preventative measures I have set my car radio to a Top 40 station. Please……… We retire at 65. Even if you are 50 you have another 15 good years in you. Think about it, 15 years is a long time, especially considering the average tenure on the job these days is about 36 months. That means you could have 5 more jobs before you retire. Who do you think has it harder, people with your level of experience or new graduates with none? May lightening strike me if I’m not telling the truth, I just job offered a 64 year old guy two days ago.

Pick 20 companies you would like to work for that have jobs you are qualified for. Target your resume to each company and the position. That means make 20 resumes that contain the same information but tailored to each position. research via LinkedIn, phone, Internet, etc., who the head of HR (or hiring manager for the department) is. Write a cover letter for each position to the contact person in 3 paragraphs that explain 1. Who you are (background summary)
2. How you learned of the job and what you bring to the table as a solution provider
3. Why you want to work specifically for that company and request an interview.

When you apply online make sure the resume you upload is the cover letter page one and resume page 2/3.

Send the letter via mail or email also 9research the contact info / email address).

Keep the conversation to business and be enthusiastic but not desperate when you get a call.

Attend interviews with a smile, a nice conservative suit interview that doesn’t show too much skin
and a scarf, pin or some other accessory that reflects your style, dress shoes, skip excessive makeup and perfume, and keep the conversation to BUSINESS – answer with examples of successful work you have done in the past and shake hands in an business like manner. Collect a business card from each person, go home and write a thank you letter in 3 paragraphs:
1. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and compliment the company, team, etc.
2. Write why you want the job / why you are the solution to their empty seat.
3. Explain why working for the company would be meaningful (apart from the compensation) and how you look forward to hearing about next steps.

Let me know how that works out for you.  ~Karla


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