20th
empty calories (and words) suck!
Hey recruiters (and anyone else to whom this is applicable). Quit using meaningless words in your written presentations. Bring the beef instead!
Words matter.
Sometimes I will see a write up along the lines of: ”Billy Bob has an impressive background.” After I wipe the vomit off my keyboard I just might keep reading. Look, it is a tough world out there, and we need to face the facts. The way we present our candidates matters. We are doing a disservice to our clients, our candidates, and ourselves if we don’t all do a better job.
I’ll admit it, I might start out rough draft that way. If I wasn’t impressed, I wouldn’t be presenting the candidate, right? But lets face the facts. ”has an impressive background” is the equivalent of a nice roll of cotton candy. It has no nutritional value. It is an empty assertion, and empty assertions don’t get interviews.
Here is the truth: No one cares if I, the recruiter, am impressed. Most recruiters are impressed when they have a warm body to present. Sad but true. To be successful I have to tell the client why they will be impressed and I have to do it in 30 seconds or less. To do that I have to serve up compelling facts, not unfounded assertions.
I get it. What we do is hard and it is not for the faint of heart. The best way we can distinguish ourselves and our candidates is by delivering a clear, concise case for an interview. If we hold ourself to that standard we will present less and interview more.
We are what we eat, or in this case, what we write. Cut out the junk food and you’ll feel better - and so will your billings.
