 Experienced recruiter Joe Arrigo shares tips for job applicants on his blog and YouTube channel, JoeRecruiter. Joe Arrigo is also an IT staffing specialist for Modis in Sacramento. Additionally, he offers resume consulting services through his boutique advisory firm, Advisr Enterprises.
In today’s job market, writing an effective resume requires an understanding of the ways recruiters and companies use keywords in the screening process. Many companies now accept resumes only online, where they undergo a keyword scan performed by a software system. This means resumes that fail to incorporate keywords may never be seen by human eyes. The first place to look for keywords is in the job description. This description includes any credentials, specific skills, or work experience required. Previous job titles should reflect the way roles are labeled by the target organization. For example, a customer service position could be renamed as a client support position or an after-sales representative.  Employment consultant Joe Arrigo supports job seekers through coaching and resume consultation. As the proprietor of Advisr Enterprises and a resource development manager for Modis recruiting, Joe Arrigo guides his clients through every step of the job cycle, including interview preparation.
Job descriptions can serve as helpful guidelines for interview preparation by providing a preview of the type of questions a candidate may need to field during an interview. Applicants can demonstrate their suitability for a position by referring to their expertise in the skills mentioned in the job description. They can practice talking about their past experiences handling similar tasks or projects. Further, many job descriptions categorize skills or competencies as either required or supplementary. If the candidate does not possess some of the nonessential skills, they should be prepared to discuss how they plan to improve their proficiency in this area. After researching the company and the role, applicants can use information missing from the job description to brainstorm thoughtful questions to ask in the interview.  Talent acquisition specialist Joe Arrigo finds exceptional candidates for IT and engineering firms in and around Sacramento, California. Joe Arrigo also manages his own company, Advisr Enterprises, which offers support in interview preparation, resume writing, and career counseling based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
The MBTI categorizes people into 16 main personality types, based on a combination of four dichotomies: introversion/extroversion, intuitive/sensing, feeling/thinking, and judging/perceiving. Each type has strengths and weaknesses that impact how the type performs in leadership roles. Personalities with an extroverted sensing element, which means they draw their energy from interacting with others, and they gather information through things they directly observe, have been found to be best suited for leadership positions. However, this does not mean other types cannot lead effectively. For example, people with Intuitive thinking preferences are indispensable for developing strategies or innovative problem-solving. Intuitive feeling types are beneficial for leadership roles that require consensus or help team members with personal development.  Professional recruiter Joe Arrigo is the owner of Advisr Enterprises, a company that uses personality type insights to help job seekers discover their talents and match them with their ideal careers. Recently, Joe Arrigo appeared on a podcast to talk about common mistakes people make when writing resumes.
Two mistakes many people make when they are writing their resumes are using vague words and claiming expertise in software that they used little or have not used in years. Some people fill their resumes with words they think will make them sound unique. These words include goal-oriented, team player, and customer-focused. These descriptions are used so often in resumes that they have stopped being unique. No one will say they are the opposite of these words - not goal-oriented, not a team player, or not customer-focused. Therefore, job seekers who include these descriptions are not revealing anything about themselves. Claiming expertise in certain software programs is another big mistake. If job seekers have barely used a tool or have not used it in years, they should not claim expertise. This claim may backfire in the interview if the recruiter inquires about the job seeker’s experience with the software.  Joe Arrigo is a professional recruiter with a passion for matching people with their ideal career paths through a counseling process. In his leisure time, Joe Arrigo enjoys reading. One of the books he highly recommends is Type Talk at Work by Otto Kroeger, Janet Thuesen, and Hile Rutledge.
Type Talk at Work builds on research about the Myers Briggs 16 personality types by elaborating on how personality influences work and career. The book gives an introduction to personality types and then tells how to identify your personality type and those of your colleagues. Through a process called type watching, the authors tell how to evaluate your colleagues’ behavior and classify them in one of the personality types. The book then gives tips on how to leverage this understanding to strengthen workplace leaderships, resolve conflicts, and build teams. Borrowing from their own experiences in typology, the authors create a roadmap for professionals who want to understand their colleagues and enhancing workplace relations and productivity.  A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, Joe Arrigo is a resource development manager at Modis and the owner of Advisr Enterprises. At Advisor in Sacramento, California, Joe Arrigo offers resume writing and interview preparation counseling to job seekers.
Job interviews can be nerve-racking. To increase your chances of succeeding in interviews, you must think ahead. Research the company, read some of its recent press releases, and learn some of its goals and target projects. If you can find something in the company that resonates with your skills, raise this topic in your interview. In addition, look at the company’s management to identify commonalities with them, and touch on these in the interview or speak to how the company’s mission statement aligns with your values. Be concise in your statements. Answer questions directly without being vague or digressing from the core issues. Many interviews are timed, so you should be aware of the limited time you have to make your case. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence are advantages in interviews.  Experienced recruiter and employment specialist Joe Arrigo specializes in sourcing talented candidates for roles in IT and engineering. Joe Arrigo also provides career coaching focused on resume writing and interview skills.
Displaying appropriate body language is a crucial part of any successful interview. More than half of the meaning in a conversation is conveyed through body language. Candidates should be mindful of the type of messages their body language gives off during an interview. For example, fidgeting, looking away, and keeping arms and legs crossed can make an individual come off as anxious or standoffish. On the other hand, offering a strong handshake, smiling naturally, and maintaining eye contact communicates confidence and friendliness. Posture can also send a message about the candidate’s personality. Sitting in an upright posture can indicate engagement and alertness, while slouching can make an applicant seem unmotivated. Body language also matters during virtual interviews. During interviews, candidates can show their interest by leaning into the screen and responding to the interviewer appropriately through head nods, smiles, and eye contact.  Joe Arrigo is a resource development manager at Modis and the owner of Advisr Enterprises, both in Sacramento, California. With Modis, Joe Arrigo provides IT and engineering firms in Northern California with reliable staffing services. His responsibilities in this role include reviewing, formatting, and otherwise optimizing resumes prior to submission to clients.
There are a number of key elements that comprise an effective resume. Following a list of all pertinent personal information, including contact info, individuals should begin their resumes with an employment objective or mission statement. This statement, ideally a single sentence, must encapsulate both the goal of the job search and the potential employee’s professional attitude and identity. This statement should be customizable so that relevant skills can be highlighted depending on the specific job being applied to. A mission statement is typically followed by an educational profile, which should emphasize relevant course work and achievements. Certifications garnered outside of academic settings can also be listed here. Individuals can then proceed to list any and all past employment positions that may improve their chances of being hired, including internships and volunteer work. Resumes generally conclude with sections highlighting the individual’s awards, skills, and personal interests, including activities with academic or community groups. An effective resume concludes with between three and five references, though the number and nature of references may be dictated by the potential employer. |
AuthorOutside of his varied professional pursuits, Joe Arrigo enjoys reading and weightlifting, working out four times per week. He also reads upward of 50 books per year and enjoys ping pong, darts, and partaking in political discussion. Archives
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