Good To Know, Bad To Hear

I do the best I can to share straight-forward real-time advice every time I have the opportunity with no intention of offending anyone. It's tough sometimes to not step on toes.

Someone I used to work with years ago called it “Good to know, bad to hear” advice.

You get one chance to make a first impression when someone reviews your profile on LinkedIn.
You get 1 chance to make a first impression when a hiring authority looks at your resume for 6-10 seconds.
You get 1 chance to make a first impression when you engage in a phone interview.
You get 1 chance to make a first impression when you walk in the door for a face-to-face interview.

This is Part of an Email That Landed in My Inbox

This email was from one of my clients who has a “critical” position to fill and they’re in a big hurry to conduct interviews. At least that’s what they told me before they sat on two resumes for over two weeks.

With regards to the two highly skilled candidates I sent who didn’t want to hear it when I told them their resumes could be exponentially better, this is what my client had to say:

“I looked at the resumes and I am willing to talk with these two candidates for an initial telephone screen because you recommend them. They don’t overly wow me, as they lack certifications, experience, and excitement, which is probably why I didn’t jump all over the two resumes.”

Here is the good to know, bad to hear truth. Had both candidates’ resumes been cleaner, more clear and more logical in the way they were written, I would likely have had an answer from my client two weeks ago and not after I had to follow up with my client three times.

Here is another hard truth to swallow. Had these two candidates sent their resumes directly to my client and had they not been represented by me and the trust and goodwill I’ve already established with my client, they would not be getting interviews.

As it is, both candidates will have to dig their way out of a bad first impression hole.

First impressions are critical. Take first impressions seriously.

Jeff Snyder Coaching, 719.686.881