Don’t Apply to That Job…Unless You’re Really Qualified

We’re looking for a Manufacturing Manager for a medical devices plant right now. The posted description is pretty clear—manufacturing, medical devices, bonus if you know some ISO things.

In the past week, I have had child care attendants, RNs, chemists, computer analysts, insurance agents, security guards and a Krispy Kreme guy apply for that job. I mentioned in an earlier post how to keep desperation out of your voice, but it goes deeper than that. A nanny who applies for a job he or she is clearly unqualified for already looks bad because they either A. can’t read a basic job description or B. are so cocky that they think they can learn 15 years of manufacturing experience during the interview process or C. apply to every job they run across.

I know it’s tempting to throw your resume out to anyone who will look at it but it backfires on you. Say tomorrow I need an insurance agent for one of my jobs. You’ve already made a bad first impression by submitting your resume for that other job. Why would I go to someone who can’t follow directions? I wouldn’t.

Don’t apply for a job where you don’t meet the posted requirements. Those requirements are there for a reason and for the most part, are not up for debate. Instead, here’s what you should do: Identify companies that are hiring and submit your resume for consideration for a position that might become available in the near future. Call the company and ask where you can submit a resume that focuses on the skills you already have.

This will turn your submittal into networking. Hiring managers will be more apprehensive to forward along the resume of someone who applied for the wrong job over someone who reached out to them for a job in their field.

Jessie Gable
Research Assistant

Global Recruiters of Huntsville
Office 256.533.1444 x200
Fax 256.418.4485
jgable@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com

Why That Receptionist Is So Mean

Part of my daily duties—along with cyber-stalking potential candidates—includes answering the phones. I’m not a traditional “gatekeeper” since I spend most of the time researching people, but I still get where they’re coming from.

We hear a lot about how gatekeepers are mean. We’re tired, not mean. On a daily basis there are 3-4 calls from people whom I cannot understand. They get frustrated with me, I get frustrated with them. Another 5 or so calls come from people who act like you are inhuman—nothing more than a recording instead of someone trying to get their call to the right person. I get at least two calls from people who are just trying to get employment, one who is trying to rent a house that has our number on the front of it (we have NO idea why) and one trying to buy aluminum siding because that company had our number in the past. Throw in 15 hang ups, 2 wrong numbers, 1 person who is already mad at the person who called them (not you) and you’ve got a pretty rough day phone-wise.

Then, as I would like to keep my job, I have instructions from my boss. Those are a priority. I’m sorry if we’re not doing what you want, but we’re following his or her rules.

You know what is the best thing ever? Taking the time to ask our name. After being pooped on all day, someone who actually cares is such a big change that I’ll move heaven and Earth to get them to the right person.

So the next time you get stuck with a gatekeeper, take a step back and remember that they’re just trying to do their job. We want your phone call to go to the right person as much as you do. If we keep sending calls to the wrong people, it looks bad on us, so just take a minute to explain what you need so we can help.

BTW; Our boss is interested in knowing how you treat us.  We’re not just a “gatekeeper” we are people too.

Jessie Gable
Research Assistant
Global Recruiters of Huntsville
Office 256.533.1444 x200
Fax 256.418.4485
jgable@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com

Do Not Get On the Elevator Or, Can you follow simple directions

We operate in Huntsville, Alabama, one of the tech capitals of the world. In two years here, I’ve seen everything from rocket scientists to cyber security experts to DoD head honchos come up to our office to interview. Of those, about 95% have one thing in common: they get on the elevator after I ask them not to. 

Let’s back up. We’re on the second floor of a business/residential building. We have to buzz you in the front door then you get on the elevator (no stairs) and punch in a code. If you don’t have the code, you get stuck on the elevator until someone else pushes the button down to get you.

Every time I buzz someone in that front door, I say “Do not get on the elevator.” Without fail, they always do. I’ve had some people pretend it didn’t happen—weird since I find them in the elevator and they say “Oh, I didn’t get on the elevator.” Some people pretend they didn’t hear me even though I always wait for them to confirm that they heard me.

It drives me nuts. More than that, it looks bad in the interview. Do you think someone would hire a DoD employee who couldn’t follow the most basic of directions? I wouldn’t. We now consider that to be the first question in the interview process.

Here’s the bottom line: Your interview starts the second you pull your car onto company property. The hiring manager might not be watching you, but the research assistant might be and you can bet she will tell him what weird thing you did (hey, days get monotonous. Sometimes we need gossip to break things up.)

Listen closely to the directions you are given from everyone at the interview. If the janitor tells you to do something, do it with the same gusto that you would do a task given to you by the CEO. You never know who is watching.

If nothing else, follow directions so you don’t have a panic attack on the elevator. I’ve had to talk too many people down after they hyperventilate. One guy even turned around and ran out sick. Never saw him again.

Jessie Gable
Research Assistant
Global Recruiters of Huntsville
Office 256.533.1444 x200
Fax 256.418.4485
jgable@grnhuntsville.com
www.grnhuntsville.com