The Bull's-Eye View

Video résumés: the good, the bad and the ugly

To be a successful sales recruiter, you’ve got to stay ahead of the competition, on top of your game and in tune with technology. Right now, that means adapting to the growing video résumé trend—or does it? CareerTV thinks video résumés are poised to be the next breakthrough in hiring and recruiting, replacing the standard one page paper résumé.

Is the traditional résumé really dying? Will video replace paper C.V.’s the way Facebook is replacing phone calls and screenings? I don’t think so. Résumés have their flaws, as does any recruiting tool that tries to condense a person into a page or a paraphrase. But to say that they are obsolete is taking it too far. The problem? We don't have an adequate system to replace it yet.

Video résumés sound cool, but there are no set standards or guidelines defining what a video résumé should (and shouldn't) be. As a result, they come with a whole host of problems.

• You get a lot of misplaced creativity that is even less helpful than many paper résumés.
• You waste valuable time watching videos that stretch on much longer than a one page résumé.
• You open yourself up to lawsuits and legal issues over discrimination.
• You risk judging a candidate on video production skills, instead of sales recruiting skills.

In a competitive job environment, candidates often need to do something to stand out, but I don't think the video résumé is it. Instead, candidates should diversify their efforts and market themselves better. Send a résumé, but create a few networking profiles (LinkedIn is still good, and Facebook is hot right now), brand yourself with a website or blog and create a portfolio or press kit that really sells your stuff. This industry is all about selling, and if you can't sell yourself, how are you going to sell someone else?

Customer Service! Improving Your Telephone Skills

Today, some Customer Service departments handle as many as 500,000 calls a year! Therefore, the people who answer those phone calls must also exhibit the three C’s: Courtesy, Competence, and Complete professionalism. Every time you answer a call, you have the opportunity to gain Customer loyalty, strengthen relationships with a present Customer, and make your own job rewarding by helping someone. Here are some telephone tips:

• Answer on the second ring. Use the first ring to compose yourself. Take a deep breath, think pleasant thoughts and smile.
• Identify yourself with your name and department if appropriate. Follow with a “How may I help you?”
• Give your full attention to the caller. Write down the Customer’s name, phone number and other data as he or she speaks. Use the Customer’s name throughout the call.
• Ask questions to get all the information you need in that first conversation. Be thorough and polite.
• Use the hold button sparingly. If it will take some time to get the requested information, offer to call the Customer back at a mutually convenient time.
• Restate and verify all information, particularly names, numbers, and addresses.
• Always thank the person for calling. Do not hang up the receiver until after the caller does. The idea is to close the conversation with a good impression.

When the caller is dissatisfied and wants to complain, remain calm and pleasant. Practice your active listening skills. Remember that the anger is not personally directed toward you; therefore you need not answer defensively. Rather, listen carefully to identify the problem. Ask questions that help the Customer explain the problem and diffuse the anger. Much can be accomplished by asking questions and encouraging the Customer to talk. Do not assume you already know what is wrong. Once you have gotten the complete story, acknowledge the Customer’s dissatisfaction and reassure him or her that appropriate action will be taken. For example, “Yes, Mrs. Wilson, let me see if I have this correct. You are unhappy because…… To remedy this situation we can…”

Wrap up the conversation by ensuring that this meets the Customer’s needs, and by reminding the caller you will be available to help him or her any time there is a question or problem. Then thank him or her for their business. If you set up another time for a follow up, confirm with the Customer and thank them again.

Reprinted with permission. © Resource Associates Corporation. Mohnton, PA. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reboot, Reboot, Reboot

If you like to leave your computer on at all times, remember to reboot it at least every two days. Even the most popular operating system develops problems after being on that long.

Customer Follow Up

Avoid following up with a customer by sending a “canned” impersonal letter. Phrased such as “per our conversation” can come across as cold. When sending a follow up letter try to use phrases that emulate your conversation.

Cut excess

from your writing with a word search for "and." If "and" links two nouns, verbs or modifiers, question if you really need both. Examples: "background and experience," "grow and expand," "each and every."

Do you need a top-performing sales professional to drive revenue?

If you don’t have time or money to waste searching for a top-quality sales person that drives revenue, Target Consulting can do the sales recruiting for you. You only pay us if you hire a candidate, and we guarantee the candidate for a limited time. Visit our Client Services section.

Call us for a confidential job search

Trying To Change? List Your Values

Like Many People, You May Feel Frustrated Trying To Change A Bad Habit.

Sometimes people fail because they focus on the wrong reasons for changing.

Perhaps you've tried to get regular exercise but can never stick with it. It may be that your motivation to exercise is what's tripping you up. Maybe it's time to step back and reconsider your reasons for wanting to change.

Perhaps you are focused on exercising mainly as a way to lose weight. While this isn't a bad reason for changing, it may not be motivating enough to help you stick with it.

Instead, think about how getting regular exercise ties in with what you value most in life. Write down your list of values. It might include your family, your health and longevity and your self-esteem. Now focus on how exercise will help support those values. Exercise can help you live a longer life by lowering your risk for certain diseases. This means you'll be more likely to be around for your family for years to come.

Thinking about exercise – or any new healthy habit – in relation to your values may give you the motivation to stick with it. (To help you stay on track, post your list of values where you'll see it every day. There may not be a better motivator.)

- Author Unknown

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.
- Ayn Rand

It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.
- Roy Disney

Business Employment Dynamics Data: Survival and Lonnggeevviittyy

A study that extends previous research on the longevity of businesses shows that survival decreases at a decreasing rate; establishments that manage to survive the crucial 4-year period after their birth have a better chance of surviving longer and experiencing employment growth.
Read the full article and findings at:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2007/09/art1full.pdf

Target Consulting Group welcomes Marianna Shayevich.

Marianna joined the company in November as a Branch Manager. She will be overseeing day to day foreign recruiting operations in the Canton location. Marianna was born in Odessa, Ukraine, former Russian state, and immigrated to United States in 1988. She received her BA in International Politics from Wheaton College.

Are you in need of someone to crique your resume? Or looking for someone to help you make your resume stand out from all the rest?

Target Consulting Group Hot Jobs

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