This morning’s coffee meeting was less directly about work, but rather about finding it.
I met with a recruiter, suggested by a good neighbor who had had success. Nice guy, lots of good insight on the world of HR.
My takeaways:
1. HR recruiters are being hired at a high level – this seems to indicate an economic turnaround. Organizations will be looking for good recruiters in order to hire qualified talent.
2. “Plant your garden before you’re hungry.” Build your network while you have a job, not when you need one. This was said regarding LinkedIn, but easily applies to personal connections, professional organizations, and networking meetups.
3. Always ask questions at the end of the interview, even if you’ve asked some during the interview. It’s a wrap-up. It indicates that you’ve paid attention, and that you’re invested in the conversation.
Corollary: Ask good questions when you’re being interviewed. Do your research, and be able to synthesize what you’ve prepped on with what you learn during the interview.
4. That question about your weaknesses? Be honest. Don’t make a weakness into a strength, and don’t say you have none. No one is buying that, and it’s insulting to the interviewer.
5. You can be friendly and engage with a recruiter, but don’t let it lull you into a false sense of security. And certainly don’t badmouth your former employer or company.
I’m looking for part-time work, I’m looking for some freelance work, and maybe, if the job is just right, a full time position. I’m staying optimistic, and working on growing my network.
Need some video or voice work done? Know someone else who does? Get in touch!
pixels and tape 