by Adesiji Rabiu
I recently participated in a career event, Smart Connections, hosted by the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC). I moderated a panel discussion where the panelists responded to a series of questions to assist attendees (about 100 job seekers who were mostly engineers) to have better understanding regarding the “criteria by which they are evaluated:”
- When they apply for jobs and their applications go through the screening process,
- When they undergo the job interview process, and
- When they experience the on-boarding process.
Responses from the panelists were complete and focused. Many of the attendees informed me that the experience was significant and an eye-opener for them – they developed new insights and understanding. It was interesting to learn from the panelists that drop-ins and faxed resumes and applications are still very common; however, employee referrals still carry the most weight when it comes to attracting candidates.
Attendees were adviced to “clean up” their social media profiles, especially on LinkedIn. A social media profile is like a prospect’s “brand statement.” Incomplete profiles may do injustice to a prospect’s job application! Regarding resumes, recruiters’ desire focused content – one of the panelists put it so succinctly: “less is more,” be clear about relevant experience and education you want to share. It is expected that candidates will re-use key words and phrases expressed in the job ads to describe the experience and skills they are bringing to the roles for which they are indicating interests.
On the interview experience, panelists favored the importance of “dressing for success” and showing up like winners. Attendees were adviced to ensure to review job postings, and practice describing how their skills match the roles for which they have applied. Additionally, panelists’ adviced attendees to:
- Not stray from questions – answer confidently, and provide related examples
- Focus on your strengths
- Remember your technical capabilities are just a subset of the desired requirements – you will be assessed on “fit” for the job you are being considered for, for the team you will be joining and for the company as a whole – how well do your personal values align with the team’s and the company’s?
- Follow up after your interview – a “thank you” note/email is considered courteous and professional after a week or two following your interview (in the event you have not heard from the interviewers yet!) Following up too frequently subsequently is not recommended
On on-boarding; there was consensus that having a good resume and interviewing well are desired by recruiters and hiring managers. However, keeping the job once hired is another experience that can be supported and enhanced in many ways, including the following:
- Ensure you have clear understanding of the company’s values – and demonstrate performance by demonstrating these values
- Never compromise integrity
- Know how you will be evaluated – understand how your performance will be evaluated
- Get a buddy in the company – many companies assign a buddy to assist you in getting settled. If this is not part of the company’s policy, do not be too shy to ask your new boss to recommend someone or to assign you one
- Take notes when you meet – ask questions for clarification to ensure that you obtain facts instead of relying on your assumptions, which may be wrong or incomplete
- Find a mentor – within or outside your organization
- Enhance your social capital – get to know people, network, attend social events, and remember that “integration is not trained.”
- Take advantage of training and development opportunities
- Demonstrate you can collaborate effectively with others, and ensure quality is seen in the products of your work and efforts
- Learn more about the business, learn about the influencers – watch, observe and learn what they do
Adesiji Rabiu
Enbridge Inc.
ca.linkedin.com/in/adesijirabiu/
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