Candidate Presentation Checklist

So you have a really great candidate – maybe they were the runner-up to your client’s job… really stellar, but just edged out by someone else. What do you do with that candidate now? Good talent goes fast, so you don’t want to sit on this resume until another job order lands on your desk.

If you belong to a recruiting network, one of the things you could do is post that candidate’s details for another recruiter to possibly place, and you would still take part in a split. But it’s not enough to just slap a resume up on a network’s job/candidate sharing site… it’s important to properly present the candidate with a polished write-up and value-added comments to show that you have a relationship with the candidate.

And you don’t want to just start posting loads of candidates or sending them out to trading partners willy-nilly. One of the most important decisions a trading partner needs to make is whether a particular candidate warrants attention. Obviously, if the candidate doesn’t have the professional and personal credentials to make a welcome candidate in your firm, the candidate is not going to be welcomed by trading partners. Moreover, unless the candidate has the extra marks that will prompt an employer to pay the expenses to interview the candidate on the strength of the resume and your supporting comments, the candidate is probably not worth your time and attention.

A good, shareable candidate generally has the following attributes:

• A definite career objective supported by education, training and work experience.
• Reasonable salary expectations, in keeping with education and experience.
• A stable employment history with valid reasons for terminating positions.
• Has (or can prepare) a good resume/CV which outlines accomplishments, contributions and responsibilities related to the type of job desired.

Once you have established that a candidate is suitable for sharing in a network, you will need to develop a well-written appraisal of the candidate’s skills and aptitudes to present to your partners (commonly referred to as the “profile sheet”). In addition to the typical information like the Candidate’s contact information, current job title and employer, specialties/industries, desired salary, and if they are open to relocation, you want to add some value with your personal comments. You should include a concise summary of the candidate’s skills and aptitudes along with your personal evaluation. Copying information from the resume/CV is not generally considered a “value-added” service to your trading partners.

Here are some suggestions about making your candidate presentation stand out to your partners:

• • DEMONSTRATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CANDIDATE:
    • Most importers expect that you have had some personal contact with the candidate in the form of an in-person or telephone interview, or extensive electronic communication. This personal contact is the key to obtaining information about the candidate that is not apparent in the resume/CV.
    • Be sure the candidate knows about your network affiliation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with your trading partners about relevant career opportunities.
    • Be sure the candidate is both realistic and clear about financial goals and relocation.
    • Address any gaps or oddities in the employment history.
    • Double-check the accuracy of the candidate’s contact information.
  • ORGANIZE THE DETAIL:
    • Clearly summarize what you believe are the candidate’s most important strengths. Is his or her education background sufficient? Unique skills or training? Languages? Security clearance?
    • Include buzzwords/industry jargon and explain the terms if not commonly known or used.
    • Understand the candidate’s weaknesses and be prepared to discuss them with your partner.
  • SELL YOUR CANDIDATE:
    • Have you provided most, if not all, of the information asked for on the profile sheet?
    • Do your comments reflect an accurate portrayal of the candidate? Is there enough information so that your partner doesn’t have to conduct his or her own interview?
    • Are you proud of the presentation? Would you share the information with your best client?

Along with your write-up, a well-written resume/CV is an important part of the candidate presentation. The resume/CV is the candidate’s basic sales tool, and must be strong enough on its own to persuade the client to request an interview. If you feel the resume/CV lacks the necessary polish or professionalism, either refrain from sharing the candidate, or assist the candidate in rewriting the resume/CV to obtain a more satisfactory presentation.

If you have a Highly Placeable Candidate, but your job orders are scarce, put in the legwork to present a polished write-up to trading partners who may be able to find a suitable placement for him or her.  If they really are Top Talent, they won’t be available for long!