Kavaliro Blog

Q&A With a Recruiting Manager: Landing That Job

Written by Karla Jimenez | Apr 21, 2020 7:15:03 PM
Most of us have been through the process of searching, applying, and interviewing at a company in hopes of being the lucky hire. At Kavaliro, one of our goals is to help our candidates optimize their chances at finding the perfect job at the perfect company. After all, this is our business. 
 
In this blog, we have interviewed Rebecca White, Kavaliro's National Recruiting Manager. In this Q&A, we have gathered insight from a recruiters perspective that can help you land the job you are after. Rebecca started her recruiting career as an intern in a staffing department for a Fortune 500 company during college. Upon graduation, she was offered a position as a Technical Recruiter at a staffing firm and launched her recruiting career.
 
  • Where do you go to find candidates?

Good candidates can be found in many places from Linkedin, job boards, internal ATS systems and of course referrals!

  • What are the main things you look for in a resume?

It is important that a resume is well written and clearly documents expertise and technologies used and where you used them.  A one-page resume for an experienced professional will do you no justice.  I would expect someone to have a multi-page resume if they are not a new grad.  Longevity is also important.  Even if someone has been a career consultant, I would like to see more multi-year engagements vs short term projects. 

What are the main things you are hoping to take from a first phone call with a candidate?

On the first phone call, I am looking for someone to clearly articulate the experience on their resume.  I am also looking to find out what is motivating the candidate to change roles or why they are looking, as well as what they are looking for.  We want to make a successful placement which begins with understanding the candidates’ needs.

  • How can a candidate stick out in such a competitive market?

It is important to have a well written resume as well as a complete Linkedin profile with a professional looking photo/headshot.  Also, if a candidate has a degree (BS, MS, MBA) as well as professional certifications in their given field, that can also help a candidate stack up better amongst the competition.

  • What is the best way to have a recruiter help you (as a candidate)?

As a candidate, you are in control of your job search.  Please keep a good record of where you are applying as well as where you have allowed a recruiter to submit you.  It is important not to duplicate submittals through multiple firms and the best way to avoid this is to keep a record of all submissions.  It will also give you a way to follow up with the recruiters you are working with for updates on the submissions.  I would also suggest identifying one or two local recruiters to build a relationship with and keep in touch with them regularly (even post job search).  It’s always good to have some local recruiters in your network as you never know when you may be able to help each other.  Also, be honest with your recruiter about what you are really looking for and willing to accept.  This means discussing your job search with your family before you get any recruiters involved.  We understand they are an important part of the decision making process and we want to avoid any snags at the offer stage.

  • When you speak to a candidate, what makes you say "this is a good candidate"?

If a candidate has strong communication skills and presents with some level of energy or enthusiasm that will help them to stand out.  Also, the candidates’ level of follow up post call is just as important.  If someone follows through quickly on any action items we discussed, such as sending an updated resume, etc. that will show me they are motivated, interested and helps them to stand out.

A special thanks to Rebecca, for taking the time to share her insights with us and always committing to Fueling the Success of others.  

We hope that you may find this helpful in your pursuit of a new job. If you are looking for a job, our current openings are available to search at any time, and are updated regularly at https://jobs.kavaliro.com.