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Mark McDonald
Priming You for Your Job Search
Mark McDonald
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MiMi Moore
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Priming You for Your Job Search

by Mark McDonald, MiMi Moore, Travis Hillery, and Kim Lambright

The video titled 'Priming You for Your Job Search' features a presentation by Indeed Prime's team at RailsConf 2016, specifically Mark McDonald, MiMi Moore, Travis Hillery, and Kim Lambright. The session focuses on enhancing the job-search experience for candidates through the Indeed Prime platform, which connects top tech talent with prospective employers. This session covers essential aspects of the job search process, highlights how Indeed Prime operates differently from traditional recruitment methods, and provides practical advice for candidates looking to improve their prospects in the job market.

Key points discussed include:

  • Indeed Prime Overview: Indeed Prime is a startup within Indeed, designed to streamline job searches for tech talent by matching them with companies actively hiring.
  • Two-Way Platform: The platform connects well-vetted candidates with tech companies, ensuring both sides have clear expectations and goals during the hiring process.
  • Vetting Process: Candidates are vetted through their work history, education, and technical assessments, like HackerRank tests, before being allowed onto the platform.
  • Direct Company Interaction: Unlike third-party recruiters, Indeed Prime operates without commission incentives, focusing solely on helping candidates secure employment without ulterior motives.
  • Cost-Free Service: The service is free for job seekers, eliminating financial burdens that often come with recruitment.
  • Profile Setup: Job seekers can create profiles quickly and can indicate preferences like job type, salary expectations, and locations, while ensuring anonymity during their job search.
  • Talent Team Support: Upon signing up, candidates receive assistance from a personal Talent Team, which includes a Talent Advocate to facilitate communication and interviews.
  • Mock Interviews and Resume Support: Indeed Prime offers mock interviews and resume reviews at no cost, distinguishing themselves from companies that charge for these services. This includes tailored feedback for resumes according to industry standards.
  • Negotiation Support: The platform aids candidates with salary negotiations, helping them understand market trends and maximize their offers, including a signing bonus for successful placements.
  • Referrals: Candidates can also benefit from referral bonuses by recommending others to Indeed Prime's services.

In conclusion, this session emphasizes that Indeed Prime not only assists in job placement but also empowers candidates by offering resources that clarify their career aspirations and enhance their job search strategy. The main takeaway is that Indeed Prime is committed to helping job seekers navigate the employment landscape effectively and with transparency, ultimately helping them secure jobs that align with their career goals.

00:00:09.710 Hello! Hi! Welcome. Thank you for coming. Some of you have seen the Indeed Prime booth out there in the convention hall, and some of you have stopped by. Thanks for coming through. This session is a little bit more about the candidate and the job seeker experience through the Prime process.
00:00:15.360 You can also infer the client side, those who are hiring, how it is used, and how the job seeker is well-vetted and allowed onto the platform. Yes, definitely, first and foremost: thank you and welcome! As you can tell, we are Indeed Prime and this session is 'Priming You for Your Job Search.' We are essentially a startup within Indeed.
00:00:28.439 For those of you who don't know, Indeed is the largest job search site in the world. Our mission statement is to help people get jobs, and it carries over to Indeed Prime as well, as we help people get jobs. The goal of Indeed Prime, as a startup within Indeed, is to focus on a specific vertical—what is most important to the internal recruiter, where they find value, and how we can assist with that, while still helping people get jobs in a different way.
00:00:59.960 Indeed Prime is a two-way platform where top tech talent and top tech companies can find one another through us. The top talent is well-vetted, whether it be through work history, education, or hacker rank tests that we give, ensuring we find top talent that is active and ready in their job search for a new opportunity. On the tech company side, those who are hiring fit the criteria—from front-end developers to data science and product management. They are also active in their job search, so there is motivation on both sides to ensure a meeting of the minds.
00:01:43.140 The job seeker is very important. What companies are using Indeed Prime? These are just a few names of companies currently making hires or in the process of making hires. As you can see, it ranges from a small startup to a large established e-commerce company. People do have preferences; that's something we like to know. Some candidates have tried startups and are worried about funding or job security, whereas others who have been in a large company might want to transition to a smaller team to be a more integral part.
00:02:13.200 With some of the companies making hires, there is a bit of repetition regarding what already exists in the space. So, how is Indeed Prime different? Well, first and foremost, sorry to all the third-party recruiters out there, but we aim to ensure your presence is no longer needed. My apologies! But we believe there has to be something better than someone with an ulterior motive, such as their commission.
00:02:54.150 We say we aren't recruiters, even though we have tech recruiting backgrounds. We focus on helping to vet talent and ask the right questions to figure out where you’d like to go. We work without commission-based incentives, and we don't allow third-party agencies to post jobs or operate on the site. This leaves us with a 100% service-based product, as long as there is open communication between the job seeker and Indeed Prime. We can fully support whatever you’re excited about.
00:04:12.160 Salaries are always up front. This is one of the questions that comes up if you go through our Indeed.com/Prime profile, which doubles as an application to get on the platform. One of the requirements is a minimum base salary expectation. If a client wants to come on, we also ask for their minimum salary expectations. Yes, it is negotiable and not set in stone, but we need to ensure we’re all on the same page to avoid wasting anyone's time.
00:04:56.009 To the job seeker, how much does Prime cost? One of the top questions we received at the booth over the past few days is that there is no cost. We don’t place the burden on you because we are cleaning up ulterior motives in the job search. The well-vetted talent, including your work experience and education, should speak for itself and be in demand. We feel like you should have companies reaching out to you, essentially competing for you.
00:06:01.199 You can sign up for Indeed Prime in roughly three minutes once you click 'Get Started' on the Indeed.com/Prime website. This is the first slide you will be presented with, once you've clicked on that link. It includes basic information like your phone number, which is important.
00:06:14.020 I know people can be reserved about sharing their number, but it plays a big role further down the line. You’ll also provide your career path, LinkedIn URL to give us information about your digital footprint, the roles you've held, and what roles you are interested in. It’s key to understand that sometimes someone may say they are a full-stack developer but are looking to transition into engineering management.
00:07:00.650 There are two ways to interpret that question: roles you’ve done or roles you are interested in. It’s helpful for us to know your years of experience in that career path, as well as any languages, databases, or frameworks you have worked with. You can also attach your job history and education, ensuring it is accurate.
00:07:42.580 The next slide you will encounter asks what you are looking for in terms of employment—full-time, contract, or internship—as well as your location preferences and work authorization status. Companies are well aware of job search statuses, and we want motivated individuals who are seeking jobs. However, we understand if you prefer to set up a profile for passive searching because you might become actively looking later.
00:08:16.230 Minimally filling out your salary expectation is crucial, and again, it is negotiable. It should reflect your minimum base. You can also work on equity and bonus structures down the road, which might apply depending on relocation. Another big question of the week is how to search without your current employer knowing.
00:09:02.690 This is crucial for search anonymity, and that’s why we’ve included the option to hide your profile from your current employer or any past employers you’d prefer not to list. You can indicate different iterations of what companies you would like us to exclude.
00:10:00.660 Indeed's headquarters is in Austin, Texas. Prime operates there, along with other offices in cities like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York. Upcoming expansions include hiring markets in Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, and D.C., followed by international opportunities shortly after.
00:10:45.360 Are you alone in this? Once you fill out your profile, do you just move on? No! By signing up, you will receive your very own personal Talent Team to help you throughout the job search process until your hiring day.
00:11:04.160 The first person you encounter after being reviewed by the review team is a talent advocate, who serves as your point of contact. This is why that phone number is key—it allows us to exchange information efficiently. While email is an option, a phone call provides a personal touch throughout this process.
00:11:53.620 We want to know more about you and ensure we understand your aspirations. This phone call is crucial not only to confirm your information but also to align your digital footprint effectively. You’ll have the opportunity to include your GitHub, LinkedIn, and any personal work samples. For UI/UX professionals, showcasing a portfolio is vital.
00:12:47.270 We also want to know about your achievements, such as hackathons you participated in, awards you’ve won, or unique skills that make you stand out. This conversation gives us a comprehensive understanding of your current situation, which helps clarify what you'd like to pursue next.
00:13:42.010 After this conversation, we attach our notes to your profile for the next talent writer. They will take your profile, incorporate our notes, and check your LinkedIn to fill in any gaps. They create an eye-catching tagline to present to hiring companies.
00:14:10.810 Once your profile is complete, it will be launched on Indeed Prime. It will be active for three weeks, during which time we hope to create urgency for companies to reach out to you. If representative companies match your skills, they will contact you.
00:15:03.920 After three weeks, we may have discussions about how to highlight your profile further to ensure you’re maximizing this platform's functionality. Are you left on your own after this process? Not at all; you will still have advocates supporting you.
00:15:45.170 Next, I’d like to introduce Travis, one of our talent consultants, who will take it from here.
00:16:30.020 Thanks, Mark! Good afternoon, everyone. I’m a talent consultant and career coach at Indeed Prime. Once your profile is live on the platform for that three-week period, everyone will be assigned a dedicated career coach to help facilitate the interview process.
00:16:59.170 As you go through multiple interviews, some candidates have been contacted between five to ten times, which can be overwhelming when managing busy lives. We are here to assist in the interviewing and negotiating process, ensuring quality interactions.
00:17:39.940 Now, let's discuss salary negotiations. Many may have experienced receiving offers lower than expected, which can be nerve-wracking. My role is to help you identify your worth based on market trends and geographical influences, potentially helping you secure that extra five to ten thousand dollars in your offer.
00:18:41.220 Beyond salary negotiations, we provide support with resumes, interview tips, and mock interviews. Many companies—from startups to Fortune 500s—are enrolled on our platform. We provide insights into company backgrounds, financial statuses, forecasts, and available opportunities across the country.
00:19:38.270 Preparing for mock interviews can significantly help you feel comfortable and fully prepared. We gather questions related to situational, behavioral, and technical aspects from previous candidates to ensure you are well-prepared for your interview.
00:20:48.870 Ultimately, the goal of this entire interview process is to help you secure the job you want. That’s why once you are hired through the Indeed Prime platform, we offer a five-thousand-dollar signing bonus. This is our way of saying thank you for securing an opportunity with us.
00:22:02.460 Additionally, if you aren’t currently looking for a job but know friends who are, we offer a two-thousand-dollar referral bonus for referring talented individuals. It’s an easy way to earn some extra cash. If you want more information about Indeed Prime, please visit our website: www.indeed.com/prime.
00:23:44.149 Now, I’d like to hand it over to my colleague Mimi, who will discuss resumes and review types.
00:24:16.229 Thank you! Hi everyone, I’m Mimi, a career coach with Indeed Prime. One of the offerings we provide is a resume review service. Today, many companies are charging hefty fees to review resumes, but you can get this service from us at no cost!
00:25:24.400 It's common to feel uncertain about how to present yourself on your resume, as it has to effectively showcase your skill set. First impressions can be made in seconds. Make sure your resume represents your personal brand positively, ensuring it avoids content that doesn’t resonate with employers.
00:26:34.240 Formatting is essential when it comes to resumes. A chronological resume works well for candidates with a clear career progression. It highlights your journey from a junior position to a senior role and demonstrates the skills you’ve leveraged for that progression.
00:27:39.460 On the other hand, a functional resume might be better for those transitioning careers or facing gaps in employment. This format highlights relevant skills and qualifications over the timeline of employment.
00:28:49.940 Regardless of format, all employers look for relevant skills and match them with job descriptions. A well-spoken objective can convey your intentions succinctly, but be mindful of including only pertinent experience. Showcase your technical skills, education, licenses, projects, and anything else that highlights your expertise.
00:29:50.180 At Indeed Prime, if you're uncertain about your career direction, we help you clarify your aspirations. We work with candidates, sometimes for several hours, to help them figure out where they wish to go in their careers and what steps to take to get there. Knowing your personal brand is crucial as you prepare for your job search, enabling you to have clarity about your goals.
00:30:48.950 In summary, it takes just around three minutes to sign up for Indeed Prime, and we have partnerships with prominent clients including Dropbox and Facebook. Above all, focus on understanding your personal brand. If you have questions, feel free to stop by our booth, grab some swag, and thank you for your time!
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