Preparation is the difference between the top candidate who gets an offer and the one who does not. Take the time to make sure your resume represents you well. Have a plan; listen to advice, and research the market and industry news.

When sending your resume to a recruiter or place of business make sure to save the file with your name listed first. Example: John Smith Resume or John Smith Medical Director. 

There are usually three top qualifiers; type of industry experience, location, and their specific background. If all three are present, then we start a dialogue with the candidate on their general background and personality match with the hiring manager and/or company.

When preparing for the phone interview, please take the time to do your homework. Research the company website and most importantly read the recent press releases.

When calling into a search firm, state your name and the reason for your call. For example, my name is Sarah Smith and I am looking to speak with the recruiter that works in Medical Affairs.

Have your LinkedIn profile up-to-date with your email and a contact number where you can be reached or at the very least have your account set up so that your linked in messages are forwarded to an email address you check frequently.

Here's a resume tip for recent graduates. Do not list your college email address as a contact on your resume. This email address will soon expire and make it more difficult for a potential employer to contact you. 

If you feel as if you are looking, looking, looking and not getting anywhere, keep networking, stay motivated, and reach out to as many people as you can. 

Bobo declined your InMail ("Re: Entrepreneurial Specialty Sales Opportunity") for the following reason:
"Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm not interested."

OR

Bobo declined your InMail ("Re: Entrepreneurial Specialty Account Manager") for the following reason:
"I'm not interested right now, but let's keep in touch."

Think long term: The best time to network is when things are going well. Remember the best results come from long-term investments. Do not wait until you find yourself out of a job to start networking.

LinkedIn provides a valuable avenue for candidates both to have a presence on the job market and to network with people who are hiring. When updating your profile make sure to key words to help identify your skill sets and to show work experience throughout your career.

• Remember this is your chance to create a good first impression.
• Dress as if this is a face-to-face interview.
• Set up your computer in a quiet location to avoid any external distractions.

• CV's with typos
• Candidate has an inappropriate, non-professional-sounding email address
• CV's missing information—no dates of employment, no list of skills
• CV's that are too generic, not tailored for the position

When creating your LinkedIn profile do not underestimate the power of your profile picture. LinkedIn is a professional networking website; post a professional picture to help you create a respectable online image.

It is important to get back to the basics when placing information on your resume. When you are listing dates of employment and/or education always disclose the month and year. It is important not to leave this leave this area open to interpretation.

I received a call today requesting our "contingency" recruitment services. The company's staffing team was having difficulty in identifying top talent to their organization.

When calling an executive search firm seeking a position, state your name and the purpose of your call. Speak clearly on the phone, ensuring that you have good reception and be clear and concise. Have a copy of an updated CV

Communication is the key to all success. In the recruiting world it is so very vital to be direct and clear when dealing with candidates and clients. Let me provide an example.

There is more to a resume than the words you read on the paper. There is a person and always with a story. If we don't take the time to actively listen to the story and merely just take a glance at the "job hopping" or the "time between jobs" 

Human Resources is a vital department within organizations and more so Talent Acquisition. Talent is what drives the success of the organization. Too many times though inside recruiters sabotage the introduction of top talent. It amazes me that it is done when an outside firm is hired to screen and present what the client is searching for.