Job hunting and dating really aren’t that different. Both can be stressful. You can put a lot of effort into it only to be ghosted. And you may have to try several times before you find the right fit for you. But with a little preparation, you can make yourself stand out. To help get you noticed on the job front, one of Dexis' recruiters highlights what she and her colleagues really look for in a candidate.
CVs: Simple vs. Slick
First impressions are everything. If you want our recruiters to swipe right on your profile, it all starts with your CV. Unless you are a graphic designer, avoid overly flashy formats and infographics. Simple is better than pretty. Strategically use bolded or underlined font and a range of sizes to clearly delineate sections of your CV (experience, key skills, languages, country experience, software expertise), but be sure to leave plenty of white space. (Insider tip for young professionals: you do not need to cram your CV onto one page). Lastly, keep the font on your CV legible (no cursive, please) and professional (looking at you, Comic Sans).
Keeping it Real (and Relevant!)
As with any romantic match, you want to highlight the qualities that make you an ideal candidate for someone’s attention. With a CV, that means efficiently articulating your core competencies and key qualifications. Use a written summary of your experience or some key bullet points to highlight your most relevant qualifications up front. As you write out your core achievements and responsibilities under each previous position, tailor language to demonstrate how easily your experience maps to the job you’re applying for. Move academics to the bottom of your CV (and feel free to leave off your GPA and highlights of your coursework).
Phone Screening: Authenticity is Everything
At the end of any date, you want to feel like you’ve made an authentic connection with someone. Phone screenings are no different. What differentiates a great candidate from a qualified one is someone who is able to demonstrate their genuine interest in landing this job, not just a job. It’s more than just memorizing Dexis’ mission statement and reciting a few facts off our website. It’s about expressing your sincere interest and excitement for this opportunity. Have you met with us previously at a career fair? Been following our social media presence? Do any of our recent blog posts resonate with you? What about Glassdoor comments (the good and the bad)? When it comes to love languages, recruiters are ‘words of affirmation’ types, and they love to hear about your genuine interest in the company and position. So, make it real, and make it count.
Interviews: Red Flags and Green Flags
We all have things that give us the ‘ick,’ make us roll our eyes, or make us question proceeding onto next steps. When it comes to interviews, there are a few common pitfalls that can be avoided with a little self-awareness. While phone screenings are for both recruiters and candidates to get their questions answered, let the recruiter take the lead. Spending the first 15 minutes of your interview asking detailed questions about the job or spending 20 minutes providing a “brief overview” of your career are red flags. Overly lengthy responses not only detract from the recruiter’s time to assess your skillset, but they also show a lack of awareness and inability to be succinct in your communication. In your answers, provide detail, provide examples, and hand it back to the recruiter. If you’re unsure if you’ve answered the question correctly, it’s more than fine to ask! It shows that you are actively listening and care about giving the recruiter the information they need.
When it’s time for questions at the end, keep them genuine. Younger professionals want to be taken seriously and may ask questions to prove their investment in the role. However, questions for an entry-level position that inquire about Dexis’ long-term growth strategies can feel inauthentic. Your questions should demonstrate your understanding of the position. Also keep in mind that some questions can set off red flags. Asking about growth potential is a green flag. It demonstrates you want to stay long-term and are excited to build your career. Asking about specific percentages for annual increases or how quickly you can expect to be promoted sends the message that you care more about the salary than the opportunity.
The Final Rose Ceremony
Job hunting is a job in and of itself. And in the end, we don’t all get a rose. Even when you do everything right, there’s someone else doing everything right too, and they might be a better fit for this particular role at this particular time. Don’t get discouraged. Ultimately, recruitment and job hunting are about building long-term relationships on both sides. And one day, a recruiter is going to reach back out to you and put a ring on it.
Idra Pavin
Idra Pavin is an International Recruiter at Dexis. Armed with a mug of tea and a sixth sense for talent, she’s on a mission to match the right candidates with the right jobs, even if it isn’t the job she originally contacted you about! Idra has a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and a graduate degree in medieval German literature.
