Q & A: Mark Lotz Shares Tips on Why Transparency is King in Your Job Search

Mark Lotz is a Principal and Talent Acquisition Practice Leader at Camden Delta Consulting.  He works with recruiting leaders to help them optimize their recruiting results through strategy development, process optimization, effective use of technology, and recruiter effectiveness. He brings to his work over 15 years of recruiting experience.  Mark’s past experience includes leading the Talent Acquisition function for Kimberly-Clark Corporation and he was also a Senior Talent Consultant with Hewitt Associates.

Any bad assumptions that you’ve seen job seekers make in applying for jobs with you?

I often talk to job seekers who work really hard to develop a resume and use it for every job opening for which they apply. I really believe they would be better served to think of their resume as a template and then tailor it to meet the specific needs in the job posting.

The resume really is there to get you noticed and get you an introductory meeting with the recruiting or hiring manager. The company tailors the job description before looking for candidates; they share what they are looking for in the top summary points of a job description.  Many recruiters use key word searches to identify top candidates who have applied.  You should choose some key words in the job description and work them into your resume before submitting it. This will increase your chance of being noticed. It is also very important not to lie or overstate experience or skills as this will likely come out during the recruiting process.

What makes a great candidate?

When I was actively recruiting, I really valued people who are transparent and had a good   awareness of their strengths and their areas needing development.  It’s important for job seekers to recognize that most corporate recruiters are not out to trip up candidates. They want to be able to advocate on the behalf of top candidates with hiring managers. So being transparent is really important.

I recall a job prospect who had been let go from his former employer.  He was solid technically and well respected in his field.  When I asked him about why he left the organization, he told me  “I made two major mistakes, and it ultimately cost me my job.” He was able to describe the situation, how he handled it, what he would have done differently, and what he learned from it.  Beyond that, he talked about how he would proactively address it should he get the job. The mistakes he made were not criminal acts or character flaws – they were simply a poor choice of strategy given a complex situation.  We hired him, and he turned out to be a great leader.

We all make mistakes in our career. I really appreciated the way this job seeker reacted with some introspection. This kind of transparency and introspection is important. It allowed me to go and advocate on his behalf to the hiring manager.

Do you have any “never do” tips for individuals in working with recruiters?

I think it’s important not to apply to a position unless you have a sense that it is the right job for you. If you know that a job doesn’t align to your personal values, don’t apply to it. 

Looking for a job generally is a full time job. So it’s important to target opportunities that will allow you  to be successful.

Also, during the interview process don’t try to be someone you are not. It’s important to be yourself.  Differentiate yourself, but be yourself.  

The company is going to hire the person they see, and with that are expectations that the new employee will operate in the manner that was presented in the interviews. This means as a job seeker, you need to know yourself very well, and find out as much as you can about the company’s culture, values, business model, etc.

Are there any questions I haven’t asked that I should be asking? What’s the question, and what’s your answer?

What’s the best way to get noticed?

The best way to get noticed is to know someone who can advocate for you with the recruiter or better yet, the hiring manager. If you can get someone to sponsor you as an employee or vendor referral, most employers will take that under serious consideration. Mine your social networks to find people who you can advocate for you. Having an advocate is far better than just posting a resume.

Use it now—actionable—advice for job seekers:

Job search is still about networking.  Check in with your contacts on social networking sites.  Join organizations in your industry where you can regularly interact with others who can send you notice of job openings or even advocate on your behalf with their contacts.   If you’re out of work, take some classes or attend online webinars to stay connected to your field and stay on top of your game.