Deb McClanahan

"Tips from the Recruiter"

Deb McClanahan, Principal of BroadBand HR Consulting, helps companies with Executive Search and HR Consulting. She has also developed a practice in Expert Testimony helping clients with challenging immigration and employment matters. Attorneys across the country rave about her success rate on these cases. For Executive Search, Deb services high tech, biotech and medical device companies as well as other businesses by finding and attracting extremely qualified people. Whether it is VP, Director, or individual contributor level, Deb specializes in hard to find talent.

Prior to starting BroadBand HR Consulting, Deb worked in-house at software and hardware companies in the Valley. Her experience also includes years in Manufacturing management and numerous HR roles at General Motors. She has also mentored in various incubator groups and supported non-profit career development and other organizations. Her degree from Georgia Tech has prepared her well to contribute in a variety of ways to both technical and business process challenges well beyond the traditional borders of HR. Deb currently serves as Secretary and Communications Director for the Women in Consulting Organization, having been active in the group for many years.

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Why Won't That Head Hunter Talk To Me? - Part II
January 27, 2011 by Deb McClanahan
It's not really about you at all - it's about the positions that they have job orders for. Think of the recruiter's job orders as a shopping list. If you want steak for dinner and your spouse picks up chicken at the store, neither of you is going to be happy. That's the situation that the Head Hunter is always in. People who come in over the transom as volunteers to be considered are often not what the client wants. What can you do about this as a candidate? First, read the posted descriptions and requirements VERY CAREFULLY - ensure that you really do:
  1. Want the job
  2. Actually meet all of the qualifications, or at least 80% of the major ones and some of the preferred qualifications
  3. Have a crisp explanation of why you want the job
  4. Are in the right geography - if it says "no relocations" - believe it
  5. Meet the other requirements, whether salary, certification or other factors
Don't waste the Head Hunters time - if they tell you that you're not a fit for this position, believe them. They know where they are in the process as well as specifically what the client wants that may not have been spelled out in the requirements. This is true whether you're 50+ or not - there are often additional qualifiers that help a recruiter winnow the pool down. For example, when you're a salesperson selling in a retail environment, your experience in working through distributors may be critical for a particular position and not at all important for others. Much more on these subjects in the next post.
Categories: Recruiters, Job Search Help
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Comments:


04/12/2010

Great insights. I always that that recruiters were worse than used car salesmen, but at least, with these articles, I get the other side's prospective.

James Blake
04/20/2010

Thanks, James. Paying attention to these factors and other cues when connecting with Head Hunters will help them help you. We can be a grumpy lot, but we can also be your best advocate when the job fits you. Keep watching OEC for more developments, the forums, and other tools to help you be successful in your search.

Deb McClanahan

You will find these interesting:

The Internet Effect on Job Seekers
Why Won't that Head Hunter Talk to me – Part IV
Why Won't that Head Hunter Talk to Me? - Part III

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