Yesterday a discussion started over on Digital Eve, one of my favorite online communities. In these troubled times, everyone needs a bit of help. So, I put on my recruiter cap.
From a recruiting standpoint and as someone that helps a lot of people in this arena, here are some suggestions and observations.
1 ) Monster is the largest resume database in the world. Period. Given a choice of the top three for database mining, many recruiters will choose Monster as the best place to *post* their jobs bceause it is so well known and is the default for job hunters. For this reason, it is worthwhile for a candidate to post their resume/s.
2 ) Monster (and any other job board) is one of the few instances I counsel my resume clients to *use targeted objectives* to cover what you DON’T want. IE, Objective: seeking a contract or full-time graphic design opportunity in the Seattle area only. Currently not pursuing sales or commission only positions.
3 ) If you are currently in the job market, I suggest setting up job search agents. The Quick Apply feature also works pretty well if you have a significant skill set.
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4 ) Remember that once your resume is in an agency database you don’t need to keep applying via Monster or the website. You are better served contacting the agency via phone directly and asking to speak to a recruiter about a specific position.
5 ) The confidential mode: this does save you from spam, I would suggest that you put something on your resume (similar to the objective) stating that you will reply to all inquiries for positions of interest in your field/s of experience and expertise. And, if you upload your resume as an attachment, remember to take your contact info *off* if you are using the confidential feature. I cannot tell you how many resumes I’ve opened on ‘confidential’ mode to find full contact info. (This also includes the name you use for your document’putting ‘susie.smith.SDE’ is an invitation for them to google your name+Acme Widget as an employer.)
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6 ) With the sheer volume of candidates on the market now, many recruiters are resorting to Monster just because it’s familiar, it’s fast and easy. The resume search functionality is very user-friendly. I’d say you have a better than average shot at using it.
7 ) Regarding your resume from 4 years ago showing up, keep in mind that a lot of agencies mine the *entire* database. A good recruiter looks at older resumes because they are considered to be ‘passive’ candidates, which is something that is sought after in the recruiting world. Also, many agencies keep huge databases that archive resumes going back years and they may be pulling you from their own database when they call you, not directly from Monster *today*.
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8 ) In the last couple of years, the EEOC has instituted some pretty strict regulatory practices that have shifted the way many corporations recruit. Without going into a lot of compliance jargon, nowadays a good percentage of employers *require* you to apply via their website. And, if you don’t do so, you cannot be considered for employment. Monster and most of the job boards have interfaces that allow job postings and their application process to be merged to make it easier on candidates. This makes it much easier on recruiters for posting their jobs and getting applicant pools that are more manageable.
BR />9 ) Refreshing your resume: if you open your profile and hit ‘edit’ even if you don’t make any changes, it does bubble to the top of keyword searches.
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