New e-book offers advice on aceing the resume, the interview and more

iCIMS, a provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) talent acquisition software solutions, has introduced the second in a two-part series of e-books designed to help job candidates in their search. Searching for the Perfect Job: The Resume, Interview, and More is now available for complimentary download on the company's thought leadership site, the Hire Expectations Institute™.

Earlier this year, iCIMS conducted a survey of 700 job seekers and found that many do not know what to expect from the screening process or how to set themselves apart from other qualified candidates. By accessing the rich data available within 2,200+ customers' use of the company's flagship Applicant Tracking System, iCIMS Recruit, the Hire Expectations Institute research team was able to analyse more than 1.3 million jobs created in 2013 and survey more than 450 recruiting professionals to provide a better understanding of their hiring practices.

"Today the job market is very competitive with a lot of qualified candidates vying for available positions," said iCIMS Chief Marketing Officer, Susan Vitale. "We created this e-book series to offer job seekers a glimpse into the minds of recruiting professionals and the talent recruitment industry so they know what to expect, and therefore how to properly prepare to land the job they want.

According to iCIMS' research, 42% of recruiters do not like to see alternatives to traditional resumes, such as infographics and personal websites. More than half (54%) believe that non-traditional resumes should only be used when it is appropriate to the job being applied for. This study points out these recruiting professional preferences to provide job seekers with the information they need to separate themselves from other candidates and get recognition from potential employers.

Below are a few excerpts from the new e-book:

• Cover letters are still useful – 59% of recruiters consider the cover letter a useful tool, and 25% claim that the absence of a cover letter will result in disqualification. It is in the job seeker's best interest to submit a well-written cover letter with their job application. 
• Recruiters search online – 76% of recruiters say that they "always" or "sometimes" perform a Google search on candidates before hiring them. Furthermore, 40% of recruiters report finding online information that disqualified a candidate from consideration. 
• Behavioural interviews are common – 45% of recruiters will ask the job seeker for specific examples of past work experiences and 32% reported conducting unstructured interviews based on the individual's application documents. 
• Use specific examples to demonstrate soft skills – Soft skills like communication and teamwork must be demonstrated by adding examples to the resume and cover letter in order to make the resume stand out. 

"The end goal of talent acquisition and recruiting is to connect qualified individuals to positions that are mutually beneficial and rewarding for both candidate and employer," Vitale added. "By using candidate-friendly technologies, such as easy-to-navigate, mobile-optimised career portals and iCIMS' applicant screening tools, employers can effectively find the best fit for a job while balancing a positive candidate experience."

To view the e-book visit the iCIMS Hire Expectations Institute site. iCIMS' thought leadership site offers the latest information about industry trends and best practices for employers along with content specific to job seekers.

The best answers to Glassdoor's top 25 oddball interview questions

Glassdoor has compiled the 25 weirdest interview questions of 2014, and invited members to offer answers. While odd questions often have no correct answer, or even an answer, they can often give some insights into the way a job candidate thinks, especially on his or her feet. 

How candidates react - with hostility, humour, making a long list of possibilities or stuttering into silence, may show whether they have any general knowledge that the job might require; how much they want the job, and whether they can talk themselves acceptably out of a difficult situation.

Asked during an interview for an Apple Specialist:  
If you were a pizza deliveryman how would you benefit from scissors?

A top-rated answer: 
Being able to cut the coupons off for the customer that are usually stuck to the box.

Two humourous answers: 
To gently cut my way to the CEO for an interview which I SHALL get!
It would keep me from running (an allusion to the 'runs with scissors' phrase that describes people who may be reckless).

Asked during an interview for an Airbnb Content Manager: 
How lucky are you, and why?

A top-rated answer: 
Studies have shown that what we call "luck" often boils down to the ability to notice an opportunity. Being alert, engaged, and creative is what lets you find and create those opportunities that others may have missed. I've never gotten more than $5 from a lotto scratcher, but I'm a very lucky person.

A motivated answer: 
I don't believe in luck-I believe in effort!

Asked during an interview for a Dell Account Manager: 
Are you a hunter or a gatherer?

A top-rated answer: 
Hunters are "designed" to stay focused for a long time on a single task and to do it well, gatherers are capable of multitasking but they don't go deep into their tasks . So I guess the answer depends on the job description.

An answer showing how the candidate views his or her position within the team, or possibly thinking out of the box:
Neither, I'm the chief.

Asked during an interview for a Yahoo Search Quality Analyst: 
If you were on an island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?

Two top-rated answers:
1) A fully equipped and provisioned yacht, a nice 100 foot model, something I can land a helicopter on.
2) A helicopter to land on my yacht.
3) My lovely wife.

1) Iron Man Suit.
2) Not necessary. I have an Iron Man Suit.
3) Not necessary. I have an Iron Man Suit. 

Click here to view the full list of questions, and more questions from each company.

*Top-rated answers at the time of writing. New votes and new responses may change rankings.