Hobbies and interests – should I list them on my resume?

As a recruiter, what do I think when I see hobbies and interests on an applicant's resume? I determine if it pertains to the job vacancy they applied for. Everything on the resume gives me a better picture of the applicant.

You have to weigh the pros and cons. If you deliver meals on wheels or volunteer at the local literacy center, those are natural choices to share that info. If you like to gamble every Saturday night at the casino, or attend drag races you might want to leave those out. (unless you are applying for a job at a casino or speedway, lol)  So, bottom line is that listing hobbies and interests if they are outside of your career objective is not recommended, as it doesn’t promote you as a professional in any way.

There are two types of resumes: chronological and functional. A chronological resume lists your experience and education in order, starting with the most recent jobs or achievements. This type of resume is sometimes also referred to as reverse chronological resume, because the order of the listing starts with your current employment.  A Functional resume focuses on your qualifications, not your career timeline. It highlights your skills, rather than where and when you acquired or utilize them.  In other words, instead of listing your experiences by your job titles, your resume will contained sections titled by your skills such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction, project management, etc.

The functional resume style is recommended for students looking for internships or their first jobs out of college, for those with no professional experience, those who have not worked for a long time, or for career changers. This resume style lets you reference your hobbies and interests in a way that applies to your career objective.

Always, always keep in mind your career objective. You want to present yourself in a best possible light to your potential employer. So, the information on your resume absolutely has to answer one question: Why are you the best applicant for this job?

There are a few things to think about if you decide to include information that is not related to your professional experience. Facts pertaining to your volunteer positions, community work, interests and hobbies that might disclose your race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or any personal descriptors that do not directly impact your professional performance should definitely not be put on your resume. A functional styled resume does not require you to list names or organizations you have worked or volunteered for; so you can list the experience you have acquired without disclosing much demographic information. Caution,never create a separate page of your resume for hobbies and interests. That comes across as amateurish, and gives your resume less credibility. If in doubt, consider working them into your cover letter instead of the resume.

If you have taken online classes or completed seminars at local colleges or businesses that are applicable to your job, mention them. Any employer will welcome the knowledge that you have pursued the qualifications required, which makes you a perfect candidate for the job.

Last, but very important, proof read. Have a friend review your resume, or if you are a college student, ask for assistance from a career center at your school. Typos and non sequiturs are a turn-off for recruiters. Having another person review your resume will help uncover any items that may raise questions about your experience or education, as well as address if the inclusion of your hobbies and interests works to support your career objective. Perfecting your resume will assure that you show your recruiter that you are their absolutely best candidate for the job. If I had a quarter for every misspelled, oddly spaced, illogical or eligible resume that has passed the top of my desk in the last 20 years...

Temp to Perm Employment Survival Tips

Did you get hired for a temp to perm job? Congratulations! Our clients often choose a temp to perm contract to be certain they get a good fit employee, both in skills and as part of their team.

So, now you have 90 days in a new work environment to make or break your reputation as a great employee. No pressure, eh? Now, let’s concentrate on how you can make that “perm” decision happen. Let’s talk about expectations, your own and our client at the workplace.

Use Your Eyes and Ears
Notice how your coworkers interact with their supervisor. Is the culture very formal or laidback and casual? A huge part of integrating into your new work environment is showing that you're a good fit.

Notice the people who do their job well, the top workers. They’re the ones who always seem to come through with things that needed to be done. Learn from these people. Watch what they do.

Listen as the workflow is explained to you. Notice how it is accomplished. Does everyone chip in and get the job done or is there a fairly rigid division of job duties? Observe the company culture.

Ask how breaks and lunches taken and where. Is it staggered? Does everyone wait to be told, is there a definite schedule or do the supervisors expect you to fit this into your own downtime? Just so you know, this is the latest (as of this blog date) official info on breaks from TWC, the Texas Workforce Commission:

“Breaks - although some states require breaks, Texas and most other states do not - federal law has no break requirement, other than OSHA rules about restroom breaks for sanitation … most companies do allow some sort of breaks, however, in their policies.

Breast-pumping / nursing breaks - these are unpaid breaks … requires employers to give non-exempt nursing mothers reasonable break times to express breast milk, or if children are allowed in the office, nurse their infants, during the first year after the baby's birth ….

"Coffee breaks" (rest breaks) are paid, since they are regarded as promoting productivity and efficiency on the part of employees and thus benefit the employer - 20 minutes or less in duration.

"Smoking breaks" - smoking breaks are not required under Texas or federal law, are in the same category as rest breaks (see above), and may be controlled in any way with appropriate policies.

"Lunch breaks" are unpaid - defined as 30 minutes or longer for the purpose of eating a meal - employee must be "fully relieved of duties" during the meal break - if employee is answering phones, filing, or otherwise working while eating, the "break" is counted as regular work time.”

Employers in Texas must follow also the federal rules. In other words, although breaks are not required, employers must pay employees for time they spend working and for shorter breaks during the day. An employer that chooses to provide a longer meal break, during which the employee is relieved of all job duties, does not have to pay the employee for that time.

Please notify your staffing representative if you have any questions about the way breaks/lunches are handled at your job.

Manage Your Expectations

Look, listen and learn. Suggest ideas, but don’t get carried away. Establish your credibility first. They will be better received after you have been working on the job for a while and have a good track record. 

Everyone wants an employee who will do their job right. Let them know you want constructive criticism. Then when you get it, thank them. Consider it valuable feedback and areas to improve before your perm review comes around.

Quickly learn your new work area/office. Show that you're savvy and resourceful for figuring out where the basic things are. Know who you are interacting with when someone introduces themselves from administration. Find out if there is a company directory you can look at. Or, before your first day, do online research to know the company structure where you will work at.

Be Upfront about Your Expertise

The whole problem with fake-it-until-you-make-it false confidence is the tasks you are given to do will be harder than you can handle. A better idea would be to let your supervisors take your learning curve into consideration and tag you as a fast learner.

Show Energy

Energy translates as enthusiasm for your job and every boss/supervisor will appreciate seeing it. A good employee can motivate and regenerate the entire team. Remember to smile through all the uncertainties, the adjustments, the learning curves and the confusion.

Build positive relationships with everyone in the workplace. Be friendly to everyone. Ask how their day is going. Find some common interests and talk about them. Network often but avoid gossip. You're too new to get involved with office politics or a petty tug of war that might end badly for you. Focus on proving your energy, expertise, and congeniality during these first ninety day.

Be There or Be Square

Supervisors want to keep employees that are reliable and who they can count on to come to work, be on time, and will complete assigned tasks. During your temp to perm job, our client is looking strongly at attendance and promptness.

If you've been warned about lateness or attendance at work, treat the complaint seriously.

Realize that Going Permanent is a Win-Win-Win for Everyone

 It’s a win for you, obviously. It’s a win for our client because they are able to hire someone they know and trust and have seen in action.

It will be worth all your sincere effort when your temp agency calls to say “Congratulations! They want you to start the perming process today!”  We love those words.

Direct Hire Secrets

We are looking, can you be found?

Talking Frankly by Cathy Townley-McGaughey

Recruiter and Managing Partner, A1 Best Staffing

I get a good solid direct-hire job order from a client and it’s in your area of expertise. I need to find the best person for the job, but you aren't on my radar. Why? 

The hiring client is paying for my skills and I get right to work on the new job order. But why aren't YOU at the top of my list for this job?

You need to know how our selection process works:

1. Submit a really good resume and a keyword rich cover letter as your first step. Do this electronically, as my very expensive and specialized staffing software will then quickly feed it directly into my recruiting database. No waiting on manual input, you are IN the database immediately. Note: I don't usually pass on your cover letter to the client, only your resume. I might use paragraph quotes from your cover letter to summarize you, or as a lead in to whet the client’s appetite, but only if you are a good fit for the job. So your resume and my presentation are what places you in the best position. 

2. When you apply for a specific direct hire job, if you are being considered I will contact you and call you in for an informational interview. I usually get between two and three hundred responses to each publicized position. I am looking at a LOT of resumes. If you are just submitting your resume into our database and not applying for an open job, I will not call you in for an interview until I actually have a job opening to discuss with you. Contact information is kept for six months, reapply if more time has passed and you have not been contacted. Call me to find out why we haven’t contacted you, I will be happy to talk. 

3. Please don't play coy. When I call or email signifying interest in you I expect you to respond fast. If you don't, I may think you are not interested and move on to the next applicant. My typical client will want a short list of 5-10 candidates. Those will be the best qualified and most employable applicants, and the list fills up quickly.

4. In our interview, respond honestly to my questions. Remember, the client will want to interview you also, and those responses should match what you told me. In our interview, I will be zeroed in and focused on my client’s needs and preferences. Yes, I will be judging you based on what you say, your body language and how well your responses match up with the info on your resume. You may be asked to revise your resume to better reflect what you can offer my client. I am also letting you talk to get a better idea of who you are and what you can offer my client.

5. Yes, I am going to check your references, both job history and personal. Be prepared to hand me a list including previous job addresses, supervisor names and phone numbers. 

6. Money? The client has given me a low and high wage range during our contract negotiations. Part of my job is to wrangle a fair salary for you. I will tell you the wage range and we will discuss your salary and benefit needs.   

7. I will let you in on the progress of the process as my clients conducts the final interviews and narrows down the field further. I may call you with additional questions and even bring you back into the office to talk with me or have a second interview with my client. Usually it takes less than a day after the final interviews to make a decision to hire. BUT, I have had a client that took two months to make that decision! Know that I am going to do all in my power to hurry them along. 

8. I will give you some background on my client and some hints as to what they are looking for in an employee. Be true to yourself. If you know in your heart that you are not a good fit for the job we are discussing, say something. Life is too short to be working miserably in a job you hate. Your perfect fit job will be available soon, it might just not be this one. 

9. I will want to talk to you after the client interview. Not right then while the client is still in my office, but I will call you very soon. I want feedback about the interview from both you and my client. I will want your impressions and I will want to know what questions you were asked. I will tell you the client’s impression of you and your abilities to do the job, and have some hints about how you handled the interview process. 

When I present you to my client as a good candidate, to be a part of their company family and a good value employee, I want to sincerely believe that you will be. I want you to be honest with me so that I can be honest with my client. We all win.

About this author

Cathy Townley-McGaughey is the managing partner and chief recruiter for A1 Best Staffing in Galveston, Texas. Cathy has been in the HR business for over 30 years, with experience in finance, utilities and manufacturing. She has extensive, personal experience as a hiring manager and is a seasoned, professional recruiter helping companies and candidates form new, productive employment relationships.

Mrs. Townley-McGaughey views her primary role as placing the best fit candidates and driving her client company’s growth by:

§   Recruiting and identifying the best talent available for the targeted position

§   Appraising and verifying the candidate's credentials

§   Connecting the candidate and company

§   Leading the placement process to a successful close.

Cathy can be contacted via email at: ctm@a1beststaffing.com

Interview hints from a recruiter

Each interview is special and you don't get a second chance at their first impression. Doing it right the first time is spot on essential. Whether it’s your first-ever job interview or your millionth (seems like), here are some suggestions to set up that positive vibe and maybe land your dream job.

Before the Interview

Prepare and research. Understand the company's needs and expectations by researching their history, administrator’s names and titles (especially of whom you are interviewing with), main products and even their competitors. You will be able to hold your own in an interview conversation with this information. You don’t want your interview to be a one way street, you can ask questions if the timing seems right.

Prepare a résumé that sells you and actually says what you think it does. Your interviewer is asking herself these basic things: Can this person do the job, will they understand the company atmosphere and will they stay?

Practice answering interview questions with a friend (or in front of a mirror). Anticipate and practice answering questions until you comfortable talking about your skills and expectations and past employment. Never be shy about this in an interview. Memorize some tidbits to add to each job description you list on your resume. The interviewer will be listening avidly. They want to know how you added value for each past employer. Never, ever bad talk a past employer or colleague at an interview. If you really don’t know why, then call me.

The interview

Because ‘Successful and Positive’ is your name...

You plan right and arrive early. Phone if you might be late (don't be).

You arrive at the interview office alone. If you get a ride, have them leave you at the entrance and wait somewhere else.

You introduce yourself, state who you are interviewing with, the open job title and your appointment time.

You are friendly and patient while you wait. Read a magazine or go over your resume again. (please no cell phone conversations, music or games – put cell on silent before you enter the office)

You know that the interviewer may come out personally to greet you. They will form a first impression. Shake hands firmly, greet him/her by name and introduce yourself. Remain standing until you're invited to sit.

You are positive and enthusiastic. Remember, send out good vibes. Maintain confident eye contact without staring.

You have prepared and have brought extra copies of your resume, personal work samples or portfolio if appropriate, an extra pen and your personal and professional reference list.

Good to know, but I hate the negativity of every 'DON’T do this' list made. You already knew all this, right?

Don't fidget with your clothes, hair or jewelry. Confidence matters.
Don't smoke or chew gum even if invited to do so. You don’t yet know the work atmosphere.
Don't argue or tell the employer your troubles. TMI.
Don't stress your need for the job repeatedly. Desperate never sells at an interview.
Don't use slang or profanity. Really, no one ever told you this?
Don't place your handbag or briefcase on the employer's desk. Respect the space.
Don't gossip or tell jokes. They are looking for a good fit employee not a new friend.
Don't sell yourself out of a job by saying negative things about yourself, peers or past employers. Do unto others, etc.
Don't focus on wages, benefits or vacation. We all have the need to know but it will work into the conversation later in the interview or in subsequent interviews.
Don't mention personal or financial problems (health, family, etc.). Unless you need an EEOC accommodation and you think the employers needs to know that immediately. BTW, an employer cannot legally ask you many personal questions but it is fair game if you volunteer the info.
Don't be afraid to smile! Less stress and more confidence!
Avoid refreshments during the interview. Nervousness and shakily clammy hands are the norm, do you really want to remember your table manners right now too?

And, now you are ready for the actual interview. This is one sample of The Grilling to expect:

So, why don't you tell me about yourself?
Remember that volunteered too personal information can be used against you in the interview stage. Stick to professional alignments.

Tell me about an objective in your last job that you failed to meet and why.
Tricky and nicely done. Instead tell about how you met deadlines, overcame odds etc.

What has been your most significant accomplishment in your career? Talk about the career high point you are most proud of.

Think back to your last review. What did your supervisor say needed improvement? Wow, hate this question. To be candid or not? Not, I think. They are going to run a background check anyway and get all the dirt from your past employers, let them do the work don’t volunteer anything detrimental.

Why are you seeking a position with our company? Resist the urge to say “because I need to work?” Remember your research about the company and state a logical reason you want to work for this particular company.

Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?) Honesty is best, remember they are going to do an employment history check if they haven’t already done so. Just don’t elaborate, save time for answering better questions.

Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now? S
uch a popular question at interviews. Be honest, unless you see yourself retired and then sort of don’t mention that.

What do you like the most/least about your current (previous) job? Focus on the positive whenever you can.

How do you define success? They are not asking for the Merriam-Webster definition. They want to know what your goals are and if you think the job is a priority and if you are well balanced in your personal and business life.

Now it’s your turn to ask questions, but only if you feel the timing and the interviewer’s attitude toward you is right.

·        Why did the person in this position leave?
·        What would you like done differently by me if I get the job?
·        How would you describe the work atmosphere here?
·        What is the most important things you would want me to accomplish?
·        How many candidates are being interviewed for this job?
·        What are the company’s goals for the next few years?
·        When are you looking to hire?
·        I've really enjoyed our meeting. I am very interested in this position. What is the next step for me?

Afterwards, analyze the whole interview for yourself, do a self-evaluation.

How was your interview performance? Note what went right and think about the areas that need improvement.

Send a thank you card, letter or email. This is an expected vehicle to express your appreciation for the interview and to re-emphasize your qualifications and interest for the position. Remember, top of mind.

Follow up with the employer in a few days to see if the job is still open. They will probably not communicate with everyone who interviewed that the position has been filled.

Continue your job search until you get a firm job offer.

Career Change and temporary work

I get many phone calls from applicants who mistakenly think that working for a temp agency would be the right place to make a career change, or to try out jobs they have never worked in before.

Not really. Fact is that most of our clients demand a candidate who can ‘hit the floor running’ or who needs minimum supervision and already has maximum job knowledge. They usually have an immediate hire need with no time to train (other than job specifics). This is somewhat true even for direct hire clients.

However, sometimes it just isn't possible to stay in the same career field. It will be easier to make a transition from one similar field to another if you let your recruiter know what you want, and give them a written cover letter addressing skills that will transfer to the new field. Add a category named Transferable Skills in your resume and be precise.

Our specialized staffing software parses and sorts to match open client job orders with key words on all resumes and applications. If the required experience or specific skill set is not on your resume it won’t be brought to the front for hiring consideration. If you are changing fields be sure to use many of the same keywords included in the job description you are wanting as well as any jargon or buzzwords pertinent to that industry.

The big difference between a resume for someone seeking a job in their established field and someone entering a new career field is that the new person may not have direct relevant experience. Transferable skills are those skills that are not specific to a particular job or industry but that carryover.

A quick example of a transferable skill is a manager. If you have managed a department or company then your people management skills will be beneficial wherever you go. The particular goals or tasks of the people you manage may be different in a new industry, but successful management is pretty much the same.

You need to show us in print what skills and expertise you have, even though you may not have worked in the new field. Your resume should always highlight your achievements and successes, regardless of whether you are changing careers or not. So write your new resume from the perspective of showing what you have achieved in the past and how that will benefit your new employer. Don't focus on job titles or job tasks, which may be totally irrelevant if you are changing industries. Be sure that your resume does not contain jargon pertinent to your old industry. It may not be understood by a hiring manager in a different industry.

Our clients often request to see a candidate’s resume, even for shorter term temp work. If the position is a temp to perm or direct hire they will ALWAYS want to review the recommended resumes.

Job Search Cover Letters

Cover letters rock!  A good cover letter can set your resume apart fromt the crowd and actually get you an interview with our client.

I receive hundreds of resumes each month, but I only have a select few jobs to fill. I don't have time to interview every applicant although I do look at every resume. And those resumes with cover letters (and selected reference letters) usually go to the top of the stack for consideration.

You will want to personalize your cover letter with the name of the position you are applying for, as well as the company you are applying at.  You can create a template for yourself, but make sure each and every one of your cover letters, or email text, is personalized in one way or another. Humorously, I usually receive several resumes each week with cover letters addressing other companies or job posts.

 If you are authoring your cover letter as an email,  I recommend that you never send an obviously boilerplate “Attached please find résumé”. Do tell a bit about yourself, your interests and skills and a short summary (no bullets) of your career. There are many personal questions an interviewer is not allowed to ask by law, but if voluntarily supplied by you could show that you would be a good fit for a client's work culture and that could get you a first interview. But it works both ways; never list anything in a cover letter that could eliminate you from being considered for the job you want.

Remember that a staffing agency works for a client, and the client is our customer. Our clients go through an extensive interview process which tells us what they are looking for in their next employee. Let your cover letter paint a true picture about yourself. It will help us present you as the best fit candidate.

Always mention mutual contacts, and proofread carefully.

Employment Verification

A good indicator of future performance

There are many ‘build a resume’ sites on the internet complete with sample resumes. Do you think that someone would actually use the sample to apply for a job? Yes, they might just change the name of the company, insert some random dates and submit that copied resume as their own. Don't be fooled by a fraudulent resume. There are many reasons applicants might falsify their employment or credentials.

By using a staffing firm that routinely confirms previous employment and determines the validity of the resume, you can be assured that the applicant's credentials fit your job requirements.

Our team at A1 Best Staffing always verifies a candidate’s current and previous work history before we employ them. Our faxed or emailed Employment Reference Check form asks for dates of employment, position held, and reasons for leaving. Ratings for Job knowledge, punctuality, attitude, productivity and overall ability are also requested. Eligibility for rehire confirmation and additional space for pithy comments is included on our form. We get the relevant information you need directly from the employers, so you hire only honest and truthful employees.

If you are an applicant reading this I have some advice. It is actually from my late dad B. A. Townley: “Always tell the truth. It’s really hard for an honest person to remember a lie they've told, much less to who and where and when they told it.”