Recruiting Animal

Peter Robinson on Networking

From an interview with Peter Robinson.

Peter Robinson was a speech-writer for Ronald Reagan. He then went to Stanford for an MBA and then started job-hunting. This is how he got his interviews.

Bill Buckley was a friend of Robert Maxwell, the British media baron, and Bill was kind enough to write a letter of introduction to Maxwell on my behalf.

A business school classmate's father did business with Rupert Murdoch and was kind enough to write a letter to Rupert Murdoch on my behalf.

And then a classmate was dating Steve Jobs and has since become Mrs. Steve Jobs.

 

#AnimalChat Schedule

Record of AnimalChat 101

March 1, 2013

Here is a copy of the - prechat - chat - and post-chat - via Tweetdoc.org

Below is an edited record of the chat.

#AnimalChat

 

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1. Noon Eastern Every Friday.

2. It's not a radio show.

3. It's a Twitter Chat.

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 Guest Host Schedule -- Click here

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#AnimalChat is a Twitter Chat about Job Hunting.

Time = Noon Eastern to 12:30 on Fridays (30 min)

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What is a Twitter Chat?

One person asks questions on Twitter. The others answer. All the postings are linked by a hashtag which is a keyword with a # at the start. Like #AnimalChat.

Click here for more detailed descriptions.

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The AnimalChat is a Debate

It is not meant to be a stream of job hunting tips.

It is meant to be a debate about job hunting tips.

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You can be a guest host.

What does the host do?

The host comes up with questions.

Then, when people answer the questions, she argues with them.

She has to debate. That's the key to #AnimalChat.

Offbeat Yes, Bizarre No

Yes, we are looking for ideas that are a little out of the ordinary but we're not looking for bizarre. I don't want you to host if you're a freak.

For instance: someone told me that he's a left wing anarchist and he wanted to know if that's okay. I said sure, as long as you talk about recruiters, job boards and resumes - and not bombing G8 meetings.

If you think you're up to it let me know. On Twitter. Here.

Note: We prefer questions about the things you don't like.

Think about a time when you heard a job-hunting tip and you said to yourself: "That's just wrong". Ask questions about those tips. Make up questions for which the dumb ideas could be answers.

For instance, you hear someone say that Linkedin is totally free of bias because it is open to everyone.

You say to yourself, "This is wrong. Linkedin is full of bias." So you come up with the question: Is Linkedin in diverse?. Then when people start saying yes, you point out why they are wrong.

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How many questions?

You should prepare 5 but we might not get to all of them. Here are the questions we argued about in the first gig.

Questions from March 1, 2013

1. Should your Linkedin profile be a full-fledged resume?
2. What is the purpose of being on Linkedin?
3. Is Listening the key to being a good conversationalist?

Here is a record of the chat. Edited. Unedited

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Only guest host if you want to

If I approach you to let you know that you can be a guest host - No is a fine reply. Only do it if you think it's something you'd like. Not something you think I'd like. If you're not really into it, I'm begging you to say no.

You're not obligated to say yes because you know me.When I need a favour I'll tell you it's important. This isn't.

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Warning

Free-wheeling criticism is The Animal Way.

If you're sensitive and you don't like having your ideas criticized in public you might want to think twice.

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#AnimalChat Is Not A Radio Show.

If you want to be a guest on the Recruiting Animal Radio Show click here - AnimalShowBasics.com

Guest Host Schedule -- Chat Archive

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Accents

This is a comment I left on InterviewIQ

My father is an immigrant. His accent isn’t bad because he married a Canadian and had to speak English-only at home. His relatives didn’t marry Canadians and they mostly sound like Dracula.

And this seems to be the general rule about accents. No one works to change his or her accent. But if you have to speak English at home it will, to some extent fade. But, then, nobody speaks English at home unless they have to.

I have friends from India who only speak English at home when they speak to me. My friend’s wife is smart and energetic but although she came here when she was 17, she sounds like a new immigrant speaking broken English and this has certainly limited her job potential. She’s a data entry clerk in the back office of a bank.

I have recruited many accountants from other countries who complain about requirements for Canadian experience but I have met very few people who recognize that if you sound like a Canadian people will automatically assume that you do have Canadian experience or at least understand the environment.

I used to get lots of emails that addressed me as “My dear”. Does that tell me that this person is going to be easy to communicate with or that he might not understand me?

Look at what the writer said above: “I realised that the incorrect using of some English vocabulary ruined my chances…” “Incorrect using” is itself incorrect.

However, in my experience, no one ever gets ruled out because of a mere accent. Skills always come first. They are the deciding factor. I believe that accent does make an impression and could enhance rapport but I do not believe that it is a major factor in a hiring decision.

Oddly enough, people with strong accents and imperfect comprehension even get hired for jobs that require constant communication like reception. Perhaps because the office requires people who are bilingual.

As for sounding bubbly. I’m more impressed by people who sound energetic than dull. I dislike forced cheer but I want to get the feeling that they are alert and awake.

 

Mystical Job Hunting

RT @animal: When the job hunter is ready the job offer will come < Have seen so many times. #hfchat

— Anne Messenger (@AnneMessenger) May 4, 2012

So True RT @AnneMessenger: RT @animal: When the job hunter is ready the job offer will come < Have seen so many times. #hfchat

— interviewing.com (@interviewingcom) May 4, 2012

@animal I'm stealing that for my mantra, thanks!

— Sharon Clews (@redspringsmedia) May 4, 2012

@ITtechExec - He who knows does not ask and he who asks does cannot know

— Recruiting Animal (@animal) May 4, 2012

Why Didn't I Get The Job?

From: You Don't Know Recruiting - by Susan Strayer and Lars Schmidt (edited)

Every recruiter can commiserate with the call from someone who applied for the job, has great experience and is astounded they weren’t selected.

Here’s the thing — a great recruiter brings in 5 of those perfect specimens for an interview and there’s only one position. 

It’s not about the perfect fit on paper at this point — the skill sets of those 5 have to be similar.

It’s about the fit with the team, the business, the clients, the culture -- something beyond “can she do the job?” that makes one applicant stand out above another.

 

Bob the Job Hunter and Keppie Careers

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May 11, 2011 - Job Hunter + Job Hunting Author

His Linkedin Profile - Her Book

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Clips: put mouse over title to see Play button

Intro - My Audience Doesn't Understand

Animal Hassles Jerry - 11 05 11

All County Jobs - 11 05 11

My Spat With Keppie

Introducing Keppie Careers - 11 05 11

The Value of Linkedin Connections

Put Contact Info on Linkedin

Shd LI Profile Say UR a Job Hunter

Verbal Summary - 11 05 11

Job Hunter Introduces Himself

Job Hunter Twitter Profile Critique

Robert Brogan 11 05 11 - Full Show

Avoid The Black Hole of Resume Death

Solid tip on avoiding black holes and disappoinment: Don't apply for jobs you aren't qualified for. #HFChat Fri Apr 01 16:28:26 +0000 2011 via web Jerry Albright
@Jerry_Albright

Job Hunters' Conspiracy Theories

Ignorant jobhunters like to imagine that interviewers have tricks up their sleeves or that there is a conspiracy against them Sun Apr 03 12:25:38 +0000 2011 via web Recruiting Animal
@animal

This is total BS:

Maybe if you're living in Libya:

When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your résumé is or how great your experience may be, it’s all about connections.

- HR director at a health-care facility

Someone told me Kris was a smart guy:

If you’re a candidate and the hiring manager spends 45 minutes talking about himself, the company or his Harley, let him. He’s going to come out of the interview saying you’re a great candidate.

- Kris Dunn, Chief Human Resources officer at Kinetix blogs at hrcapitalist.com

So what?

If you’ve got a weak handshake, I make a note of it.

- HR manager at a medical-equipment sales firm

Most people don't like limp handshakes. That's some dirty secret. But when he marks it in his little black book, wow, then it becomes scary. Uh-oh. Mommy!

Are you kidding?

On salary, some companies try to lock you in early. At the first interview, they’ll tell me to say, ‘The budget for this position is 40K to 45K. Is that acceptable to you?’ If the candidate accepts, they’ll know they’ve got him or her stuck in that little area.”

- Ben Eubanks, HR professional in Alabama

They tell you how much they want to pay instead of asking you how much you want. And that stops people from telling you if it's too low?  

For more of these gems visit: Tech Republic: Dirty little secrets of HR. I guess I can't blame them for using a lurid title to draw suckers in. This is the author. Want more? Follow her.