How To Put Your Best Foot Forward in the Application Process
From your first interaction with a BAHS team member to signing the contract with a client, every step of the process is an important reflection of who you are as a candidate. This week, we are sharing some tips on how to put your best foot forward during the BAHS application process. If you’ve been struggling to get an interview, it might be time to make some changes to how you approach your job search.
During the Application Process,
Make Sure You Are…
1. Responsive
BAHS jobs are highly competitive and clients expect prompt responses from recruiters and candidates. If a BAHS team member reaches out to you with a question, please respond quickly. If you apply to a job on our job board, please pay attention to your phone and email in the following days. We, of course, understand that an immediate response is not always possible (especially when candidates are currently working another job) but we suggest you try to respond within 24-hours when actively job-seeking. Clients expect a quick turnaround and if you don’t provide the necessary information in time, you are likely missing out on opportunities.
Make sure BAHS has the best contact info for you and check your email/phone daily while job seeking. Click here to login to your profile and check your current information.
2. Organized and Up to Date
Doublecheck that your resume is up-to-date with your current and most recent roles, as well as any new certifications or skills. Make sure that your resume, LinkedIn, and any other public-facing profiles are aligned and accurate.
3. Thoughtful and Detail-Oriented
Please read the details carefully of any job that you apply for on our website. It is important that you only apply to jobs that you are qualified for and truly interested in. If you apply to every role on the job board, you may end up getting overlooked for the roles you are actually interested in. If you have any questions about particular roles, you can always reach out to our team.
4. Open to Feedback
Our team of recruiters are here to support you. On occasion, they may have feedback before or after the interview process; it’s important that you remain open to this and remember they are trying to help you succeed. Sometimes you may be unaware of an area that you could improve in and our recruiters have experience in guiding candidates to put their best foot forward.
5. Professional
We understand that it can be frustrating to wait to hear back on a role, and disappointing when a position doesn’t work out. However, it is crucial that you maintain your composure and professionalism with BAHS clients and BAHS team members at all times. Remember, the BAHS team all share notes and information with one another; if you are rude or disrespectful to one team member, it will affect the profile all BAHS employees view.
It’s also important to make sure your online persona is professional. Doublecheck all public social media profiles. Click here for our top tips for optimizing your online presence for employers.
6. Honest
We cannot work with candidates who are dishonest in any way. This applies to every area of the job-seeking process, from skills and dates listed on a resume to references to compensation details you might speak to a client about. If there is a gap on your resume or other issue you think might be holding you back during the application process, please reach out to our team to talk. We are always interested in getting a better picture of a full candidate; usually these problems do not immediately disqualify candidates, but lying to team members or falsifying information will terminate your relationship with the agency.
7. Discrete
We understand the ins and outs of the domestic staffing agency. Many families ask for NDAs and we expect you to honor anything you have signed; in this case, please list “private family” or similar on your resume. Please also exercise discretion when speaking about past employers to our team, and to clients. You want to give honest information about your experience, without jeopardizing the previous employer’s trust and confidentiality.
8. Able to Provide References
References are a vital part of our process when working with candidates. We cannot place candidates who cannot provide references for at least the last ten years of work. You can find some reference tips here.
More Candidate Resources
Top Tips for Preparing For An Interview
Commons Reasons Candidates Are Not Selected
Top Tips To Optimize Your Online Presence for Future Employers
General Resume Guidelines & Templates
What Does my Application Status Mean?
How Agencies Advocate For Household Staff