No matter how much I coach my candidates prior to an interview, so often a small slip up can destroy the whole process. There are certain ways to phrase answers to questions, certain “ways” to be honest and to ask questions. I have noticed a stumbling block in interviewing – a tough one to bypass.

“Why are you leaving your current agency?”

I don’t know what happens to advertising creatives when they hear this question. Emotion suddenly trumps logic, reasoning and coaching and they believe they are in the therapist’s chair venting to an empathetic counselor or girlfriend.

Candidates – this is a…

If I am your recruiter, you can believe and trust that I would like for you to get the job in question. Period. I make no money unless you get hired. Even if I have several candidates in the running, I put an equal amount of time and energy into submitting, scheduling and preparing each one to accept an offer. I listen to tales of boyfriends and girlfriends, wives, school systems, mean bosses, etc. I’m here for you. I spend hours on the phone each day, and hours emailing, scheduling, etc. I am the liaison between you and your next…

It’s Monday, and I have spent almost the entire afternoon checking referencesfor candidates heading out to in-person interviews. You always learn something checking references – specifically, you learn a lot about how your candidate relates to their colleagues. Not necessarily in the answers to the questions, but in their enthusiasm or lack thereof to return your call and give a review of the person in question. You can tell if a candidate took special care to stay in touch and foster a great relationship with each reference, and if they selected their contacts carefully for the opportunity at hand. And…

You wouldn’t believe the stories I hear day in and day out from Hiring Mangers and Creative Directors about their “almost hires” They go to the trouble to bring someone out for an interview, pay for travel, prepare the team to wine and dine, and during the interview the conversation turns…weird. Anyone who says they don’t need coaching before an interview is mistaken. Preparation, wisdom and common sense all play a huge part in a successful interview. I have had candidates with amazing talent – a great portfolio, excellent resume filled with blue chip clientele and the top ad agencies,…

If you are in advertising, you should know better than to send out and post 100 copies of a resume that sucks. If you are an art director or designer, you REALLY have no excuse. Even though most creatives have caught on to the necessity of creating a URL resume/portfolio, many have not done so, and are still sending WD resumes in TIMES NEW ROMAN. They leave out the clients they have worked on. They include awards they won in 1985. It’s a bad scene.

Just as important as your portfolio book is the unique concept behind your resume – you. You must…

In advertising, we are currently in a candidate-driven market.

This means there are lots of unavailable creatives and very available job opportunities.

After searching, asking, analyzing and searching more, I find a great candidate for one of my available art director positions. They see value in my client’s job opportunity, we get through the initial stages of recruiting… and then there’s the interview.

Please, please learn to sell your agency to candidates.

You are in advertising. Sell. Sell. Sell.

On so many occasions I put a great candidate through the gauntlet of the submission process – sending their book, their resume, phone screening, etc.…

When considering presidential candidates, so often we are choosing between experience and charisma (or at least the latest spin on these 2 attributes)…

Which is more important?

The same question is considered when an employer is tying to decide between two candidates. As a recruiter I often come to the same crossroads.

When I am recruiting for more technically advanced job opportunities, (IE Information Architects) I am often faced with a dilemma:

It’s very rare that someone whose primary expertise involves coding will also have the “sell yourself” connection to hiring managers that’s needed. I realize this is not always the case, but I have…

Sometimes I call candidates to sell them on a certain position and they are quite content to stay just where they are. “No thank you. I’m happy here…”

This is usually the case when they have been at their current position for less than 1 year.

It’s the honeymoon stage of the relationship. Flaws, transgressions, wrongdoings are all at a minimum or are not visible to the creative. They are challenged, happy and full of life.

Other times I hear a desperate voice on the other end of the phone. They are gainfully employed and making money but they are ready to jump ship.

Why?…

So often I have a great agency seeking great creative talent.

I find them that amazing art director, or copy director that they desire and set up a phone interview. They chat. They fall in love.

All the stars align – their work and experience lines up perfectly. Everyone likes everyone and we are moving towards an in-person meeting.

Suddenly, the momentum is halted because the insecurity monster attacks.

He lives in each of us. The agency becomes very aware that they are located in Delaware and cannot believe that my art director from New York City would want to move there and…

As a Creative Recruiter I am constantly in position of facilitating communication between creative candidates and ad agencies. From the get-go I am making promises for both agency and candidate and answering questions on both ends. I am responsible for honest, integrity and treating both with respect whether or not it is a good talent match.

However…

I can’t do my job if you don’t do yours.

I can’t provide the agency with enough information about you as a potential candidate if you fail to mention (even when asked) that you own two houses, your wife refuses to move or your daughter couldn’t…