Must-read advice from renowned Recruiter, Matt Hearnden.

Matt Hearnden is a LinkedIn legend.

It’s no wonder he has over 40,000 followers. His voice is a voice of reason. A voice you can trust. Matt’s content is jam packed with valuable and actionable advice for job seekers. As a UK-based Recruiter for Activision/Blizzard/King brands, he has loads of experience recruiting technical professionals across several disciplines (including cybersecurity).

Beyond his LinkedIn content Matt shares a phenonemal newsletter called “How to get a new job”. If you’re struggling with your job search or want expert advice, please subscribe!

I recently had the chance to speak with Matt personally and loved his no-nonsense, practical advice. During this conversation I asked Matt to provide his thoughts on 4 questions:

1. How can candidates stand out in a competitive job market?

2. What is your advice on resumes and LinkedIn profiles?

3. What is your advice on how to perform well during the interview process?

4. What do most hiring managers want in a candidate?

Let’s find out what he had to say:

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How can candidates stand out in a competitive job market?

• It’s true, the market right now is heavily skewed towards recruiters and hiring mangers. They are being bombarded with requests and messages.

• Well-crafted LinkedIn messages and emails are definitely going to help you stand out. When sending a message always make it personal and brief (don’t be generic!).

• Don’t send connection requests without a message included. It doesn’t have to be lengthy. But don’t just put “I noticed we’re in the same industry, would love to connect”. Personalize it for the person you’re reaching out to.

• Make a list of target companies or target industries that you want to get into. Connect with peers and hiring managers in those places.

• Don’t forget to reach out to your current network. You never know who may be hiring and there’s a chance that an existing connection can help refer you to someone or to an opportunity.

• Work on your craft. Get really good at what you do. Don’t practice in the dark though. Share what you’re doing online and someone will notice!

What is your advice on resumes and LinkedIn profiles?

• Remember, you are the product. Your resume has to appeal to the buyer! Think about your audience. What do recruiters and hiring managers want to see? Yes, they want to know what your responsibilities were but they also want to see your value (i.e., achievements). Think - what was the result of the work you did? What impact did that have? Hiring managers are looking to fill a specific need and they are investing a lot of into this hire. Increase their trust by showing your value and skills.

• LinkedIn:

  • A nice profile picture is important! No picture isn’t a deal breaker but you want to optimize your profile as much as possible and this is part of that.

  • The headline is KEY. When you comment on someone’s post, they will see your headline first. When Recruiters are looking for candidates, they will see your headline first. A lot of headlines are vague and ambiguous. Make it specific about who you are as a professional. If your headline is not well-written, they will skip over your profile.

  • Engage with posts! People appreciate the engagement. This is an opportunity for you to show your intelligence and thought process. Show LinkedIn that you have interesting stuff to share. Don’t just put “nice post” and move on. Commenting on posts will drive people to your profile. The more you engage, the more eye balls will land on your profile. LinkedIn is free! Most people you want to get in touch with are on LinkedIn. Use it to fullest extent.

  • Make sure your profile is complete with an effective about section, what roles you’re seeking, and what skills your bring.

  What is your advice on how to perform well during the interview process?

• Be PROACTIVE, not reactive. Don’t just wait around for updates. It’s okay to ask the Recruiter for a follow-up to understand next steps. You don’t have to be overbearing but be consistent.

• Make sure you understand up front what the process and timeline is. This helps manage expectations and allows you to communicate effectively and prepare.

• Ask the Recruiter details about your interview. Who will you be speaking with? What will the context be? Competency-based or technical? Do they have any advice on how to prepare? Most recruiters are happy to share things that can help you be ready.

• Thank you notes are a good thing but probably not a deal breaker or a huge difference maker. I do recommend following up with the Recruiter after each interview to share how things went and to ask for feedback if they have any.

  What do most hiring managers want in a candidate?

• Across all the departments I recruit for, the most common skill every hiring manger wants is clear, concise communication. Your ability to communicate effectively is important for every role you’ll ever have. Social intelligence is key. People want to work with effective communicators. This is a skill that can be improved if you’re lacking.