The Candidate Advantage: Job Search Advice

Make sure your reference checks "check out"

There are way too many stories about candidates who blow off the importance of reference checks and end up losing the offer. It makes no sense. It's like stopping just before you reach the end zone to tie your shoe and getting tackled.

References are the critical last few yards of scoring a touchdown. If you assume it's a done deal and don't pay attention here, you'll lose out. Don't treat this as a rubber stamp and mere administrative detail. Take it seriously and pay attention to how this gets conducted on your behalf.

Little White Lies

Every company performs some level of due diligence on the people they hire. Whether the HR person does this themselves or hires a 3rd party to conduct a formal background check, count on everything you say to be double checked.

Know that any informational discrepancy could cost you the job, even if it involves something very minor or ends up being a completely innocent misunderstanding. So always apply the "background check" factor to every aspect of your job search (writing your resume, answering questions during the interview, filling out a job application, etc..) to avoid this problem.

Speed it up!

As the pace of the job market picks up, Hiring Managers will need to move more quickly. However, the candidate is also responsible for the speed of this interview process. Learn how to put your foot on the gas and avoid putting your foot on the brakes.

To Tell the Truth

Don't ever misrepresent things in an interview. Think about how you'd feel if companies weren't completely honest with you about the job? Bottom line: it's bad news either way.

Skeletons in the closet

First, let's be clear about what things we'll help you to address: unpaid parking tickets, being let go, bad credit. But, if what pops up from your past is a felony, well then..... "Houston, we have a problem".

References: the Field Goal kick!

Managers don't just check references as a matter of protocol. They look for very specific things past the obvious positive endorsement. Just like field goals, it may not be the bulk of how you score points, but strong references may be just enough to help you win in the last few minutes of the game.