In a Job Interview, Take the Fifth

By Bruce Hurwitz

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

Or as Archie Bunker would have put it, “Stifle yourself!”

When I have a candidate for a position, i.e., when I am wearing my recruiter’s hat, not my career counselor hat, I do something that most of my peers do not understand. I don’t tell my candidate how to behave during the interview. I don’t prepare them for the interview. I tell them to prepare. I tell them what to do. I tell them what not to do. I just don’t do it for them. Why? you ask. It’s simple:

What candidates don’t seem to realize, even today, is that recruiters do not work for them but rather for the employers. Recruiters get paid when the position is filled with their candidate. Because I give my clients (employers) a six-month guarantee that my candidates will remain on the job for at least that length of time, it is crucial that my candidates be authentic when interviewing. If they are not and say things “because Bruce told me to,” they won’t last six weeks, let alone six months, and I’ll have to honor that guarantee which is something I rarely have to do and never like to do!

Let me rephrase that so it will be clear: I discuss behavior with my candidates, not answers to questions.

I have had candidates rejected for numerous reasons of a personal (behavioral) nature. (Just because I tell them what to do, or not to do, does not mean they listen!) Some show up for the interview reeking of perfume/cologne/aftershave. Then the client tells me, I literally could not stand being in the same room with them. Some dress inappropriately. But the two great sins, not including being late, are interrupting interviewers, and talking too much.

Interrupting is just rude. Talking too much means you have difficulty organizing your thoughts and prioritizing what is of primary importance to the interviewer. (The feedback I always receive from the client is, “I could not get a word in edgewise!”) That being the case, my advice to all interviewees is less is more. In other words, get to the point and then shut up!

Some will tell you that there is an ulterior motive to a question. You must figure out what it is and address that issue. In other words, what are they really asking, what do they really want to know? For example, What are your weaknesses? means, What training will we have to provide for you? There is some truth to that, but not always. A direct question deserves a direct answer. The problem with thinking about ulterior motives is that you will overthink everything. That will lead to disaster. So don’t overthink. Take a breath, answer the question succinctly, and let your ears do, as the Good Lord intended, twice as much work as your mouth!

NOTE: To readers outside the United States who may not understand, the reference in the title to “the Fifth” is to the Fifth Amendment to the Federal Constitution which gives everyone the right to remain silent in a court of law. If you don’t know who Archie Bunker was, look it up!

In a Job Interview, Take the Fifth | Employment Edification

Reverse Recruiting: A Case Study in Packaging | Employment Edification

Resume Review Services or How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly and Pass the First Hurdle to a Job Interview

A post in my LinkedIn feed coincidentally appearing as I was proofreading this article.

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

This is the second of a two-part series on questionable practices by so-called “professional resume writers.” It is not an indictment of all, just a warning to be cautious.

An explanation: Most job seekers believe that the first test their resume must pass is a computer (more on that immediately). But the truth is, not all companies use computers to choose which applicants they will interview. On the other hand, all companies use humans to make the final decision on whom they will interview. You have to please both!

First, a definition: ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s the computer system some companies use to scan resumes before a human ever sees them. Once scanned, the employee looking to make a new hire enters search parameters and the computer then shows the employee resumes that match those parameters.

Last week, I introduced you to what I called “The Resume Guarantee Con.” Today, I want to consider another con, allegedly, (I have to make the lawyers happy!) resume review services, that is to say, companies that allow you to upload your resume to their site where it will be graded to see if it will “pass” an ATS and make it into the hands of a human being. To use the proper terminology, they will determine if your resume is “ATS-friendly,” meaning that your resume will be selected to progress in the hiring process of companies using an ATS. More often than not, (after all, if a majority passed, they would not have much of a business!) it won’t be “friendly.” But not to worry, they’ll be happy to “fix” the resume…for a fee. And what a fee it is!

Making a resume ATS-friendly is an extremely difficult process. You have to be highly intelligent, practically a genius. So, this to-do list will not be for everyone. I’m sorry, but I cannot simplify the process. Either you are brilliant, or you are not.

First, go to your computer (the thing that looks like a typewriter with a television glued on top of it) and connect to the internet (which is an invisible thing that allows you to read my weekly ramblings).

Second, open your web browser and type www.google.com.

There’s no shame in admitting that something is too difficult for you. If you need a break, take a break. If you need help, ask for it. Asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness.

Third, in the Google search box… You know what? I’ll just show you a picture:

I know. It’s a lot of typing. But I believe in you. You can do it.

In the box, as shown, type “How to make a resume ATS-friendly.” Then press, Enter. (It’s OK. I’ll show you.)

Next, find in the results, Indeed. It looks like this:

I am not always a fan of Indeed, but this is a very well written article, albeit incomplete (as you will shortly read). You know what? You’ve done such a good job up to now, as a present, here’s the link to the article. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/ats-resume-template

(This reminds me of a test one of my grade school teachers gave us. There were 20 to 25 questions. But the instructions were to read all the questions before starting. None of us did so. The last question was, “Have you read all the questions? If so, write your name on the top of the page, hand it to the teacher, and go home.” But I digress…)

Basically, the key things to remember in creating an ATS-friendly resume are: no headers, no footers, no boxes, no graphics, no hyperlinks or shadings (not mentioned in the article), no columns, and always use a black front. In other words, keep your resume simple, clean, easy to read and understand. Which is how it should be regardless of the ATS.

And don’t worry about keywords, the above-mentioned search parameters. If the resume is accurate, the keywords will be there. If the job description for the job for which you are applying states that you must have a certain skill, and you don’t, including the keyword may get you the interview, but what are you going to do when you are asked about it? Say you lied to get the interview? Well, you got the interview, you did not get the job offer, and your reputation for being an honest professional took a major hit. But you got the interview! Was it worth it?

Alright. You’ve done a lot. You typed. You read. Now take a break and have a nice cup of hot chocolate. You’ve earned it! And don’t waste your hard-earned money on con artists.

For the record, to be clear, just because a resume is ATS-friendly does not mean that the person reading it will want to interview you. For that you need a resume which appeals to employers. Remember, you are marketing yourself. Doing that effectively is the challenge. Getting the resume past the ATS is only an obstacle, albeit an important one. It’s the first hurdle in the process; the second is that just as annoying human! Here’s the secret to getting the resume past them: Focus on your value not on how great you think you are. All they care about is what you can do for them and the only way to convince them to show what you have done for other employers.

Resume Review Services or How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly and Pass the First Hurdle to a Job Interview | Employment Edification

The Resume Guarantee Con

By Bruce Hurwitz

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR

This is the first of a two-part series on questionable practices by so-called “professional resume writers.” It is not an indictment of all, just a warning to be cautious…

I had a very nice chat with a potential resume writing client. At the end, as I always do, I asked her if she had any additional questions for me. She did. “Do you give a guarantee?” “A guarantee of what?” I asked. “That I’ll get a job,” she replied. I smiled; I did not laugh.

I explained to her that the purpose of the resume is to get the interview, not the job offer. That’s the purpose of the interview. So, I certainly could not offer her a guarantee of a job since I don’t know how well she interviews.

As for getting interviews, again, if she applies for jobs she wants but, based on the job description, the employers do not want her, she won’t get an interview.

The bottom line is that a job search has too many variables to offer a guarantee.

She thanked me and told me that she had spoken with resume writers who offer the guarantee she wants. I asked her what they charge. She told me, but you won’t believe me if I tell you.

So why would someone charge low four-figures (Oops!) for a resume? (Why would anyone pay that much?) There has to be a logical reason. For the job seeker, it is obviously fear and desperation. But I may know what the resume writer is up to.

A couple of years ago I ghost wrote the autobiography of a retired senior tobacco industry executive. I learned a lot. One thing that surprised me was that having to charge a tax on products is a good thing if the business can hold on to the money for a guaranteed period of time and if the product they are selling which is being taxed will continue to be sold for the foreseeable future.

This is what happens:

The company collects the tax. They turn it over to the government after one, two, three, or maybe even more months. So, let’s say, the January tax collection is paid to the government in April; February’s in May; etc., etc. etc. What does that mean? It means the company is getting a government loan, interest free, for three months. And if they are collecting large sums, that money can go to capital improvements, expansion, whatever.

So maybe the resume writers charging, let’s say, $1,000 for a resume, are doing the same thing. The client pays $1,000. But it’s not one client it’s, let’s be conservative, and say, five. And the guarantee is for six months. And they always secure five clients a month. That’s a $5,000 monthly, interest free-loan, for whatever period the guarantee is. Perfectly legal (I think) but not very ethical (I know).

On the other hand, it might be akin to a hidden “free shipping and handling” charge. Does anyone really believe that “free shipping” is really “free?” I hope not. It’s all included in the price. If the company sells enough widgets, that can offer “free shipping.” It makes the consumer feel good. So does a resume guarantee, but at what cost?

Or, I may be overthinking this and they’re just a bunch of con artists taking advantage of the naive and vulnerable.

Next week we’ll look at resume reviewers, that is to say ATS-friendly resume reviewers.

The Resume Guarantee Con | Employment Edification

5 Warning Signs That You Should Probably Not Accept the Job Offer

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

“Trust your gut” is usually good advice. That said, younger candidates for positions may not yet have a “gut,” so to speak. Nevertheless, there are things that any job candidate should recognize as troubling.

Just a reminder: The job interview process is a two-way street. While the employer is interviewing and judging the candidate, the candidate should also be interviewing and judging the employer. The hiring process usually is a great indication of how a company operates.

My first warning sign is being kept waiting. It’s rude. It shows that the interviewers do not value the candidate’s time. And it is a good indication that they are disorganized. Of course, if they apologize and explain in advance that there is a situation, they should be given a pass (once!).

Second on my hit parade of worries, the interviewers do not have a copy of the candidate’s resume. They may be testing to see if the candidate is prepared, but, at the same time, they are indicating that they are not prepared.

Third, if the interviewers do not give the candidate an opportunity to ask questions, stick tail between legs and run for the exit! If they don’t want to hear from candidates, I’ll be my bottom dollar that they don’t want to hear from their employees!

Fourth, along the same lines, if interviewers refuse to answer questions, or to provide clear answers to clear questions, see above! Of course, candidates should never ask about proprietary information, and they should keep in mind that some things are only revealed to employees not candidates.

Finally, the compensation package has to be clear and simple. Candidates do not want to discover, for example, that, yes, the employer will triple their 401(k) contribution, but vetting takes five years! Moreover, bonus structures can be very confusing. In other words, candidates must read the fine print which means reading the personnel handbook. If a candidate needs a lawyer to understand the handbook or the offer, they probably don’t want the job.

5 Warning Signs That You Should Probably Not Accept the Job Offer | Employment Edification

Never Attend an Off-Site Holiday Party

By Bruce Hurwitz

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

I have written hundreds of articles on LinkedIn and elsewhere. No doubt, unintentionally, I have repeated myself. Except in this case which is definitely intentional. The following is an article I try to share every year. The advice is still good.

I only once adamantly refused an assignment given to me by an employer.  In fact, I refused four times!  Every year there was an office party held after hours at a restaurant.  Guests were invited.  Alcohol was served.  There was dancing.

I was responsible for fundraising, PR and marketing.  It was my job to get any event into the press.  I made it clear that under no circumstances whatsoever would I attend.  My colleagues wanted to know why.

First, I told them that I would be happy to attend an office party, at work, even if it was after hours, although I would prefer a staff luncheon.  In fact, that is exactly what one of our subsidiaries had for their staff.  I was pleased to attend and delighted to get some press coverage for them.

Then I told them that based on my experience of listening to colleagues and friends who had attended after hours off-site parties that someone always does something stupid.  “Did you see what she was wearing?”  “Did you hear what he said?”  “Can you believe how much he drank?”  “Did you see who she was dancing with?”  “Frankly,” I told them, “it’s my job to promote all staff as consummate professionals.  I don’t want to see you acting like a bunch of damn fools!”

In the first year, some were offended…until the morning after the party.  It became an annual ritual.  “Bruce, I’ve got to admit it.  You were right.  Did you hear what happened?”  Every year I would receive the request to attend, would decline, would explain why, would be ridiculed, and then apologized to.

My colleagues were good, decent, hardworking people.  But put them in a party situation, even one for work, and some would forget where they were.  I honestly believe that some employers hold office parties as a way to see whether or not they can trust some staff – the one’s they are thinking of promoting – to behave.  In fact, I know of two cases where employers told me that as a result of their behavior at an office party two employees who were being considered (without their knowledge) for promotion were no longer being considered.

If it is work related you must always be “on.”  Would you drink alcohol at your desk?  Would you dance with a co-worker at work?  Would you dress provocatively on the job?  Of course not.  Why?  Because it’s stupid and unprofessional.

Yes, there are times when it is important for the boss to meet the significant people in an employee’s life.  That is why God invented restaurants with tables with four chairs.  And I am willing to bet that at the restaurant there will be minimal drinking, conservative dress, and absolutely nothing to inspire gossip the morning after.

While we work with everyone, our mission is to promote the hiring of veterans and first responders.  Please consider us for all your staffing, career counseling and professional writing needs.

Never Attend an Off-Site Holiday Party | Employment Edification

How to Tell if a Job Candidate is Lying

Bruce Hurwitz 6:45 pm on November 7, 2024

Delivering Bad News During a Job Interview

Cowards ghost. In other words, they disappear in order not to deliver bad news. Well, in a job interview, a candidate cannot disappear. They are sitting right there in front of the interviewers. So, what do you do if you, the candidate, have bad news to deliver? You deliver it.

In this regard, I have dealt with two types of individuals. The first wait until I call them to tell them that they have the interview or to relay a job offer, and then they tell me what the problem is. The second immediately tell me about the issue.

I give my recruiting clients (employers) a six-month guarantee that if for any reason a placement does not work out, I will conduct a replacement search for free. Needless to say, I do not want to have to honor that guarantee. So, in the case of the former type of individual, I advise my client not to hire them. They cannot be trusted. If they are going to wait until the last minute to provide material information which an honest person would have shared at the beginning, that pretty much tells the employer, and me, everything we need to know about the candidate’s character. They will not last six months, so why bother?

In the case of the latter, no problem. They were honest and upfront from the very beginning. We found a solution to the problem meaning, in essence, there was no problem. They showed themselves to be of good character.

There are two types of issues/problems that candidates have. The first, which they think is a big deal but usually isn’t (except in cases where the individual is being hired to finish a project within a certain amount of time) is of a personal nature, such as if the candidate has scheduled a vacation. Again, unless there’s a time factor connected to the job (which should be clearly stated in the job description), I have never had a client/employer reject a candidate because of a planned vacation. They always say the same thing, “Of course they can take their vacation; it just won’t be paid time off.” No problem. (Truth be told, I can’t think of any other example.)

The second issue, which is serious, concerns a medical problem. I have dealt with many:

The first two candidates I ever submitted for a job when I started my own firm, were homosexuals. They were both in their mid-forties. When they were children, 10- 11-years-old, which would have been some 50 years prior to my meeting them, psychiatrists actually treated homosexuality as a mental health disorder (see below). In both cases, the gentlemen were married and had children. By then, their “treatment” was anxiety medication and an occasional phone consultation with their doctor if they were having a bad day. They both asked me to explain their situation to my clients. I refused. I told them that when, in the interview, they were given the opportunity, “Tell us about yourself,” or were asked a question such as “How do you cope with anxiety?” to simply tell their story of how they conquered what was, as I just noted, a recognized disorder. I could not do justice to their success; only they could. And when the employers heard their stories, they hired them.

In the case of other mental health disorders, autism, dyslexia, genius IQ (meaning a lack of social skills), stuttering, and PTSD, I had the candidates deal with it in the same way as someone with a physical issue.

First, in the case of military veterans, the so-called 800-pound gorilla in the room is, “Do they have a health issue?” So, I tell them, after the normal exchange of pleasantries, to say, “Before we begin, I know you can’t ask me so let me tell you, I have no health issue. Now the employer knows the candidate is honest, upfront, and understands their concerns. No problem. No issue. And they are off on the right track.

Now, in the case of persons with a mental health disorder or physical issue, they do exactly what the veterans I just mentioned do, with an obvious exception of their being a visible issue. They say, “I know you can’t ask, but I will tell you. I do have a health issue. This is what it is. This is what it means. And this is the ‘reasonable accommodation’ I will require.” (In the case of an obvious physical issue, they begin by saying, “As you can see..” and proceed to explain the issue and what “reasonable accommodation” they need.

Of course, the candidate’s definition of “reasonable” may differ significantly from the employer’s but, in my experience, the issue has always been solved amicably. There was only one exception:

I was doing a search for a company out-of-state, meaning that I never met with candidates in-person. One of the candidate I submitted, who got an interview, was confined to a wheelchair. I did not know that and he did not tell me. The employer was located on the second floor of a landmark building. There was a ramp leading to the ground floor (retail space), but no elevator. In case you do not know this, and I am not exaggerating, you literally cannot change a door knob in a landmark building without getting government approval. It would take a miracle to get the government to agree to the installation of an elevator. No elevator; no job.

All other requests were gladly met. In fact, in some cases employers were a bit offended that I would even ask if the candidate could call a therapist from a private office, or sit facing the door (in the case of a veteran). From their tone of voice, they always sounded like, “Bruce, don’t ask stupid questions! Just have them here Monday morning!!”

The key is to be open and honest. If you deliver the “bad news” at the beginning of the process, and not surprise them with it at the end, you should have nothing to worry about. And if you present your condition as an example of an adversity that you have overcome, greater, I hasten to add, than anything they would encounter on the job, you will make yourself an even more desirable candidate. Remember: Employers do not like surprises, especially when hiring.

NOTE TO THE HATERS: Before you accuse me of being a homophobe, please note that homosexuality was only removed from the American Psychiatry Association DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1974 (as you can see from the below screenshot taken from their website. That said, you will also note that they changed the name over the years). As I understand it, the reason was apparently political, in response to activists, and not medical. That would explain why it remained on the DSM just under different names. Under DSM-V, which was published in 2013, it is called “gender dysphoria” and is thus a medical condition which may be treated.

While I usually preempt the insults by quoting Churchill, this time I shall quote DIckens, The truth is the truth; and neither childish absurdities, nor unscrupulous contradictions, can make it otherwise. (From American Notes: The Young Man from the Country.)

While we work with everyone, our mission is to promote the hiring of veterans and first responders.  Please consider us for all your staffing, career counseling and professional writing needs.

Delivering Bad News During a Job Interview | Employment Edification

Bruce Hurwitz 4:17 pm on August 21, 2024  

Fake Job Postings

I can remember when a person looking for a job would buy the Sunday or Wednesday newspaper and look at the Classified ads. It was a simpler world in those days. But was it more honest?

Sometimes I think that I earn part of my living helping the frustrated. Usually, it is someone claiming that they are being discriminated against. But sometimes it is complaints that applications go unanswered.

There can be a simple reason for an unanswered application: The company does not have a good process in place to handle job applications. Management is rude. Or, what seems to be more prevalent these days, the job posting isn’t real.

In May of this year, ResumeBuilder.com did a survey of over 1,600 hiring managers. The results were, to say the least, troubling. The key findings were: 40% of companies posted a fake job listing this year; 30% currently have active fake listings; and 70% of hiring managers believe the practice is morally acceptable

(For the record, the jobs are posted not only on job boards, but also on company websites.)

Why do companies do this? According to the survey for two reasons:

First, their employees are overworked. Posting ads gives the impression that help is on the way. The company recognizes the stress and strain employees are experiencing. Second, posting fake job postings not only increases revenue, but also morale and productivity, because the overworked employees think the company cares.

Apparently, these companies think they have stupid employees. Since the ads are fake, even if employees see “applicants” being interviewed, and 85% of the hiring managers questioned said they did interview for the position, after a while employees will figure out that it is all a scam. Help is not on the way. So, if revenue, morale and productivity had a rise, eventually, they will have a fall, perhaps even a crash. It’s a stupid way to do business.

Likewise, posting job ads is said to give the impression that a company is growing. That is an important message to send to competitors, if they are foolish. When it becomes clear that the ads are fake, competitors will use the strategy against the company as a way to question their morals and long-term sustainability. It will backfire.

What is most troubling for me is the 70% of the hiring managers surveyed saying, “posting fake jobs is morally acceptable.” It most assuredly is not.

The important question is, how can a job seeker spot a fake ad? They can’t. But there are two obvious indications of possible dishonesty. (Not being contacted is not one of them. Forty-five percent of the hiring managers said they contacted applicants for fake jobs!) First, the salary range could be ridiculous. That said, offering too much or too little will be self-sabotage. (Wasn’t it Walter Scott who said, “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive?”) Moreover, it would defeat any benefit about increasing morale, productivity and revenue. If employees see that the company wants to pay significantly more than what they are currently earning, the employees will demand raises. On the other hand, if the employees see that the salary being offered is less than they are currently earning, they will think the company is looking to hire cheap labor and, if they are smart, they will immediately start their own job searches.

Second, on most job boards applicants can see when the job was first posted. If a company has been looking for more than a month or two to fill a position, apply but don’t hold your breath. (Of course, the company can “close” the ad and then repost it.) If the company really wanted to hire someone, they would have done so.

To be fair, the reason that a company cannot fill a position in a timely manner may not because the job is fake. It could very simply be that no one wants to work for the company. Either way, be careful.