Kara Varner, MAOM, CPRW:
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
This month we welcome:
Rodrigo Alcaine, Account Manager/Business Development at Aerotek, Newport News, Virginia. Aerotek is an international leading provider of technical, professional and industrial recruiting and staffing services. Aerotek.com
I sat down with Alcaine several months ago to discuss what constitutes a great resume that gets noticed, gets referred and gets the candidate hired! One of the most important elements of the resume, according to Alcaine, is the use of keywords. The keywords must relate to the job description and the resume must catch the eye immediately. For example, if the job that the candidate is seeking is in Account Finance - where in their resume is that experience stated? How is it relayed that the candidate has the capacity to do the job? "We are looking for a Best Fit" states Alcaine.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
This month we welcome:
Rodrigo Alcaine, Account Manager/Business Development at Aerotek, Newport News, Virginia. Aerotek is an international leading provider of technical, professional and industrial recruiting and staffing services. Aerotek.com
I sat down with Alcaine several months ago to discuss what constitutes a great resume that gets noticed, gets referred and gets the candidate hired! One of the most important elements of the resume, according to Alcaine, is the use of keywords. The keywords must relate to the job description and the resume must catch the eye immediately. For example, if the job that the candidate is seeking is in Account Finance - where in their resume is that experience stated? How is it relayed that the candidate has the capacity to do the job? "We are looking for a Best Fit" states Alcaine.
When working with recruiters, Alcaine also shed light on the preferred types of resumes that they like to see. “Chronological is the best format because there is no searching involved and it is the easiest to show and enhance relevant experience" according to Alcaine. Work history needs to show continuity and job hopping may set off red flags. Bullet points are also preferred as they '"cater to the audience easily”, says Alcaine.
Busy managers do not have a lot of time to sort through resumes looking for what a candidate has accomplished. Recruiters are "trained to spend as little time as possible to read resumes" so they need to be "quick to read and tailored to the eye" says Alcaine. Out of 200 resumes received by recruiters, it is not uncommon for 150 of them to be not qualified. Resumes need to be marketable and attractive.
So how does a candidate set themselves apart? Having a resume that is not generic, that demonstrates qualifications and accomplishments, that targets the job description and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. "You can tell when a candidate has done their homework", says Alcaine. Doing your homework also means that even though it is completely understandable to have been laid off in today’s economy, the candidate needs to be able to explain this effectively in an interview.
“Candidates also need to work on intangibles or soft skills,” encourages Alcaine, which includes problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical abilities. Employers are picky and have the ability to choose between many different kinds of candidates nowadays, so it is more important than ever for a candidate and their resume to stand out and be memorable. If a candidate is “not fully qualified, it is not a deal breaker if they stand out and the employer feels that they have the ability to learn quickly”, according to Alcaine.
Social media is another area where candidates need to have a professional presence. “We do check LinkedIn and sometimes Facebook”, says Alcaine, “and we look for professional affiliations, recommendations, that the site is up-to-date and what kinds of groups they join or participate in”.
Often we hear that the resume may be going away in favor of LinkedIn Profiles and other kinds of digital transmissions, so I asked Alcaine what he sees in terms of employment trends. In his opinion, the traditional resume is “not disappearing” or “going away”. It is important that there is a synopsis or summary of qualifications and that work history is easily grasped at a quick glance. “Those things need to be documented in order for us to send over a client to an employer”, states Alcaine.
What are the benefits of working with a recruiters verses job searching on your own? Alcaine makes several relevant points: About 30% of the workforce is contingent labor, which provides both the candidate and the employer a chance to try before they buy. Also, it gives the candidate an opportunity to showcase their skills and possibly secure permanent employment. To find out more about the services offered by Aerotek, contact them at Aerotek.com or call the Newport News, Virginia office at (757) 578-6740.
If you're ready to have us craft a job-winning resume that communicates your value, click here to get started. When you submit this initial form, you will be asked to select a date and time for your complimentary consultation.
A Platinum Resume, LLC
Kara Varner, MAOM, CPRW
Aplatinumresume.com
719-339-2659
Busy managers do not have a lot of time to sort through resumes looking for what a candidate has accomplished. Recruiters are "trained to spend as little time as possible to read resumes" so they need to be "quick to read and tailored to the eye" says Alcaine. Out of 200 resumes received by recruiters, it is not uncommon for 150 of them to be not qualified. Resumes need to be marketable and attractive.
So how does a candidate set themselves apart? Having a resume that is not generic, that demonstrates qualifications and accomplishments, that targets the job description and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. "You can tell when a candidate has done their homework", says Alcaine. Doing your homework also means that even though it is completely understandable to have been laid off in today’s economy, the candidate needs to be able to explain this effectively in an interview.
“Candidates also need to work on intangibles or soft skills,” encourages Alcaine, which includes problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical abilities. Employers are picky and have the ability to choose between many different kinds of candidates nowadays, so it is more important than ever for a candidate and their resume to stand out and be memorable. If a candidate is “not fully qualified, it is not a deal breaker if they stand out and the employer feels that they have the ability to learn quickly”, according to Alcaine.
Social media is another area where candidates need to have a professional presence. “We do check LinkedIn and sometimes Facebook”, says Alcaine, “and we look for professional affiliations, recommendations, that the site is up-to-date and what kinds of groups they join or participate in”.
Often we hear that the resume may be going away in favor of LinkedIn Profiles and other kinds of digital transmissions, so I asked Alcaine what he sees in terms of employment trends. In his opinion, the traditional resume is “not disappearing” or “going away”. It is important that there is a synopsis or summary of qualifications and that work history is easily grasped at a quick glance. “Those things need to be documented in order for us to send over a client to an employer”, states Alcaine.
What are the benefits of working with a recruiters verses job searching on your own? Alcaine makes several relevant points: About 30% of the workforce is contingent labor, which provides both the candidate and the employer a chance to try before they buy. Also, it gives the candidate an opportunity to showcase their skills and possibly secure permanent employment. To find out more about the services offered by Aerotek, contact them at Aerotek.com or call the Newport News, Virginia office at (757) 578-6740.
If you're ready to have us craft a job-winning resume that communicates your value, click here to get started. When you submit this initial form, you will be asked to select a date and time for your complimentary consultation.
A Platinum Resume, LLC
Kara Varner, MAOM, CPRW
Aplatinumresume.com
719-339-2659
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