Feel Like You’re Getting the Run Around?
Posted by adminIn: Recruiting
8 Oct 2009
There is a current sentiment circling around about the length of time a company is taking these days to make a hiring decision and why that is happening. To a candidate is seems like it is taking forever, or at least, longer than seems reasonably appropriate. So how do you channel frustration of not hearing back from company in the timely way you want? And why do some companies never get back to you at all? What factors might be in play in this new hiring landscape?
In trying to offer a balanced and thoughtful discourse on this heated topic I will say from my experience that first off the current hiring “paralysis”, as some have called it, happens during all recessionary times. Companies slow down hiring and tend to take longer for several understandable reasons.
Usually, companies begin to be fiscally conservative, so what appears to be indecision on their part is less about an inability to make a hire than an awareness of how limited budgets and headcounts have changed the emphasis from hiring “ a good enough skill set” to bringing someone on board who is knowledgeable and productive day one. As such they are willing to wait (and wait) now for the right person instead of making a potential bad hire.
This new hiring criterion is difficult for everyone, for a company can lose out on good candidates who have since taken another position, and because passive candidates with the exact skills sets needed are hunkering down and not changing jobs. But it doesn’t take away from the frustration of being on the other side of the desk and not receiving timely feedback. So are there constructive things you could be doing during this lull, particularly if emails to recruiters are not yielding any new news?
Lamentably, you may need to first accept the idea that perhaps you don’t have what a company needs right now and will have to move on. Second, target the best jobs for your skills and apply to those positions only; third, keep in touch via networking sites and send out the occasional hello! And lastly, update your skills, take a class, join a group, and find other creative outlets to channel your energy so as not to lose any self-esteem from the lack of communication (we still like you). Yet, I do question how much a company should explain itself.
So will this current hiring landscape change? Probably not anytime soon, but it does allow both candidate and company time to reevaluate what is meaningful for the next step in their growth by focusing on priorities, building their network, putting processes in place, and expanding their knowledge base. Then both will be ready for when the next ramp up occurs.
LifeSize recruiting staff takes pride in providing timely updates and feedback which I believe sets us apart and illustrates our great culture. But even we cannot control outside influences, just merely offer guidance as best we can. We hope to continue to do that for you.
What do you think motivates decisions?
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- Tags: building skills, Hiring, jobs
Where’s the Love in Job Hunting?
Posted by MercedesIn: Recruiting
1 Oct 2009
Job hunting is a lot like dating. I know, I’ve said it before but it’s really true. When you find a great opportunity that appears to be worth checking out, you have to plan your attack carefully. In dating you want to show interest without going overboard. That’s why you probably ask that interesting someone to lunch first before going on a dinner date. Pursing that great job opportunity is no different.
First you apply for the position online and then you wait endlessly for a response. Unfortunately in today’s job market, it probably feels like you are asking Jennifer Anniston or George Clooney for a date and competing against 30 million other people. It’s tough to get noticed given the large number of applicants per position.
As a corporate recruiter sitting on the opposite side of the table, I have seen all types of new and innovative tactics from candidates to get noticed. Some work and some backfire. The trick is to appear interested, be memorable, but avoid crossing the line to stalker or annoying candidate. Unfortunately you can take it too far and that ultimately only hurts your cause.
So how do you rise to the top of the resume stack without crossing the line? Great candidates will leverage multiple angles to show interest in a position. The best place to start is simply submitting your resume to the job. Every recruiting department is different, so it can take from 24 hours to 3 weeks to process new incoming resumes based on the high level of activity. Be nice and give recruiting some time to evaluate your resume before calling to follow up. I’d suggest 1-2 weeks.
That’s not to say you should be complacent. Take advantage of extra time and start to circle your wagons. Search LinkedIn and other social networks to find friends and former colleagues who currently work at the company. Connect with them and ask how they like their job, the corporate culture, etc. Ask your friend to submit your resume to the Hiring Manager or the Recruiter. Employee referrals are always well respected and can help you jump forward in the long line of candidates. Do your research to learn more about the company, their products and their industry so that you are knowledgeable when you get that first call from HR or the Hiring Manager.
After a week or two, place a call into HR or Recruiting to follow up and check the status of your application. Be patient. Remember, it’s like dating and this is the equivalent to calling for a second date. The response rate will most likely tell you if the company is really into you and your resume. If you get mixed signals, realize that it’s probably not the best match and you should keep looking at other options. Don’t fixate, make excuses or kid yourself. Besides, don’t you want to find the company that is overly excited about having you join their team? Don’t settle for second best or make a square peg fit in a round hole. Life is too short to waste time at a company or job that doesn’t love you back.
College Recruiting on the Flip Side
Posted by MandyIn: Recruiting
25 Sep 2009
Earlier this week LifeSize attended the Career EXPO at the University of Texas. We were one of over one hundred other companies actively competing for great students looking for internships and full-time opportunities. Most companies were familiar household names including Microsoft, Oracle, and Rosetta Stone. In fact, our booth just happened to be set up across the aisle from them. Great booth positioning, but strong competition when looking for good talent.
LifeSize is well-known throughout our industry, but that’s not normally the case when my peers ask the all too common question of “who do you work for”. Being a relatively small company, we have to work a bit harder than others to get our name out there and recognized, particularly so when at a college career fair surrounded by public corporations. But in typical LifeSize fashion, we made our appearance known last Monday with a small crew of five recruiters and engineers throughout the day. It takes personality and charisma to prove that we’re an innovative company that offers positions just as attractive as the larger companies.
As a student at UT, I know exactly how it feels to be on the other side of the process. Every company tries to show candidates how and why they are the “best” place to work, but it’s still really intimidating to leave a resume with an employer. It was awesome to finally be the recruiter in this situation. I felt as if I were representing all interns that work hard to prove that they’re not just temporary aids. Placed in this professional setting, it made an obvious impression on students. I noticed the looks on their faces and how their nerves relaxed when they found out I was an intern. They were able to feel more comfortable and less pressured to make the “perfect” impression knowing that we could connect on a familiar level. We spoke conversationally and they tuned in more attentively when I described the hard-working, yet laid-back environment LifeSize embodies. Representing LifeSize as an intern at the Career EXPO showed just how this company values all of their employees.
Any company can say that their interns make a legitimate contribution to the work done, but we went a step further and actually proved it. In my opinion, the internship program at LifeSize doesn’t really feel like an internship at all. It’s more like working for yourself, or at least as if you were working a full-time position. I work hard on the assignments I’m given, but I’m not micro-managed. I’m able to take on a great deal of responsibility, but if I were to run across any questions or problems, my supervisors are completely supportive and happy to help.
It was incredible to be able to represent LifeSize and experience first hand what it’s like to be on both sides of the recruiting process. It made me feel valuable and important to the company, even if I am only an intern, which makes it easy for me to spread the word about LifeSize and why people should want to work here.
This week we are pleased to welcome a guest writer to our blog. Mandy is our HR Intern at LifeSize and is pursuing her Bachelors in Business Administration thru the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. Her contributions to our HR team are invaluable, especially as we focus on growing our internship program and college recruiting efforts.
Staying the Course
Posted by MercedesIn: Recruiting
4 Sep 2009
This week our HR team hosted a small focus group of LifeSize employees to discuss our corporate culture and values over a bite of lunch. We randomly selected a group of employees from all departments and made sure to include folks with different lengths of tenure at LifeSize. While we have only been in business for six years, it’s amazing how many of our early people are still with us and I must admit how pleasantly surprised I was by the constructive and positive comments about the company. Employees beamed when they spoke about how our culture is supportive, open and empowering.
That’s not to say that we aren’t human. But I was extremely pleased to hear how we still have maintained our enthusiasm for building innovative, easy to use products. More importantly, as an HR person I was delighted to find that each of us at LifeSize understands how our role contributes to the greater good and success of the company.
It’s rare to find an organization that can hold onto its soul while it bends and changes thru growth. I believe we have been fortunate because we bring people into the LifeSize family who share common values.
Have you been part of a company that managed to stay a special place over time? What do you think was the secret to success?
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- Tags: Corporate values, culture
Social Networking and Hiring
Posted by adminIn: Networking| Personal Branding| Recruiting
31 Aug 2009
By now you have probably looked into all avenues for your job search, including some of the more popular (and visible) social networking sites online as a way to increase your visibility as a viable candidate. But what benefits, if any, do these sites provide in your job search? Which would be the most effective and why? And will there ever come a time when contacting your network becomes too much of a good thing?
Social networking is a term familiar to most people but if you are new to this way of job searching, it can be a wonderful way to connect with colleagues, get leads and do research on companies. There are several sites out there but an industry survey from Jobvite revealed that Linkedin and Search Engines are at the top of the list (76 and 67 % respectively), with Facebook and Twitter not far behind. Linkedin is used primarily as a business networking tool, search engines for finding jobs in certain locations, and Facebook and Twitter are used for both personal and business. Twitter is the most immediate medium of all with instantaneous feedback.
As an advocate of networking in general, I have been using it myself for many years now to find the right talent for an organization. However, the key to networking well is reciprocity. Meaning, networking is not an one-sided effort. If someone offers to help you, you in turn should pay it forward by passing them along to others. This builds not only your corporate brand but your personal brand as well (Check out Manage Your Personal Brand Everyday). As such, it’s important to remember etiquette (and gratitude) when using any social networking medium so that you do not tax your network:
Once you have the “ear” of someone be respectful of their time. Keep the conversation short but sweet by stating what you are looking for and by keeping your replies and responses down to a minimum of two. Include proper salutations and thank the recipient. Offer to help them by providing leads, places to look, or resources. Networking is yet another wonderful tool to help you in your job search. So become a thought leader and share your expertise with your community. Being able to share in the success of all is a great feeling!
What social networking sites or avenues have you found to be successful in your job search? Which have you found to be the most useful and the most fun?
Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Posted by MercedesIn: Interviewing| Recruiting
20 Aug 2009
Let’s face it…interviewing is intimidating. It doesn’t matter if you have a set of individual interviews or meet with a panel of folks, it’s hard not to be nervous. So we’ve put together a few tips on how to survive the interview process with style and grace.
- Show up on time. This one is so basic it hurts, but it’s amazing how many candidates don’t do it. Be smart and get your interview off to a good start. In fact, show up 5 minutes early to signal that you are eager for the job.
- Dress professionally. As my mom always said, you can get away with being overdressed for an occasion but it doesn’t work the other way around. Preferably wear a suit or at a minimum dress business casual. It let’s others know that you take the situation serious and it’s just plain professional.
- Be friendly and outgoing. Your interviews are a chance to get to know future co-workers. As much as they are asking tough questions to assess your fit to the position, interviewers are sizing up what kind of teammate you will be. Most people want to work with someone friendly. Remember to smile. When someone new walks into the room, stand up to shake their hand and introduce yourself. The little things go a long way.
- Watch your body language. What you say is an important but small part of the interview. Research has suggested that 60-70% of all meaning is derived from nonverbal behavior. So pay attention to your body language and posture. Are you too relax and leaning back in your chair? Are you engaged in the conversation and perched forward to catch every word from the interviewer? Were you quick to answer and passionate about what you discussed? These nonverbal clues give away your true interest in the interview and the position.
- Prepare questions. Most interviewers will give you time at the end of the meeting to ask them questions. So don’t be caught off guard without anything to add to the conversation. Take time the day before the interview to review the company’s website. Understand what product or service they sell. Then write down a couple of questions to take with you to the interview. Your questions can vary from corporate culture to job responsibilities or corporate financial stability.Be prepared and have thoughtful questions. It shows you are truly interested in the position and the company. More importantly remember that you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you.
- Ask for business cards. It’s a great closer, shows that you are interested in your interviewers and indicated that you want to establish a relationship with them. It’s also an easy way to get everyone’s contact information so that you can send a thank you for their time. (Check out Why Thank You Notes are Important.)
These are just a few simple tips to help give you an edge during the interview. Do you have any words of advice for other candidates? Send us your favorite interview trick.
About Us
The Recruiting Department at LifeSize Communications started this blog to share information with our talent community. It's a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about working at LifeSize.
Gallery
- Ira Sieber: A top 5 enterprise communications systems provider comes to mind. From my special time there, I lea [...]
- Mercedes: Hi Ted, That's a great idea. I often suggest summaries or objectives as a way to quickly and clearl [...]
- Social Networking and Hiring | LifeSize in Action: [...] them along to others. This builds not only your corporate brand but your personal brand as wel [...]
- Ted Lasseter: I really liked the idea of providing examples along with the tailored approach. From a resume su [...]
- Jocelyn Bingham: Hi Mercedes, Thank you for the thoughtful article about resumes. I have encorporated that advice [...]
- Preparing your Job Search for the New Year
- Speaking a Common Language
- Embracing Change
- Sowing Seeds for Success
- How to Handle a Counter Offer
- Retaining Employees through Good Times and Bad
- Feel Like You’re Getting the Run Around?
- Where’s the Love in Job Hunting?
- College Recruiting on the Flip Side
- Staying the Course
