In small bursts we see recruiting and hiring picking up. What do you do if you are faced with unusual requests by company or third party recruiters? How do you handle those requests? How do you stay calm in light of unusual or seemingly inappropriate requests? It’s all in how you handle the “pressure” in these situations.
What are we talking about here?
Let’s go over five “dances” recruiters have put my clients through in the last couple of months as hiring has picked up:
1. Request for a Resume Rewrite or Parts of the Resume to Be Rewritten
2. A Short Bio Request or Longer Narrative
3. A White Paper on a General Issue
4. A 500 Word Minimum Illumination on a Project and/or Several Projects
5. A Salary History Explanation
6. Assessment Testing (Online and In Person)
7. A Business Plan
8. A Video Interview
9. A Skype or More In-Depth and Recorded Video Interview
10. Write an Original Article on a Topic Related to the Company’s Biggest Issues
In each of these scenarios you need be prepared and know how to handle requests like this. Some candidates I know have balked, bristled or simply refused play these recruiting and hiring games.
Knowing that unusual, in-depth assessments and requests are coming can help you. If you handle these strategies and requests well and know how to respond it may help you. If you balk at them or try to short cut them and can’t discern proper responses (including knowing when to say no) then you might miss be at a loss.
What do you need to know now? These kinds of requests are multiplying. Some may seem to cross the line for you but if you hesitate you may lose.
I asked one client about his recent experience during an all day executive assessment.
He said: “Are they allowed to pull my DNA too? I cannot believe how much I had to reveal and submit for them to even consider me. When did this happen?”
If you haven’t been interviewing or are not ready to handle these requests the message is clear. Companies want more information from you and they are trying to get it whether you like it or not.
Has this happened to you? What have you done to respond? How will you respond in the future?
Image Credit: instantshift.com