Whether or not you have ever worked with a professional Recruiter, this section will explain how MSA will assist in your job search and represent your best interests. Not every search firm operates in the same manner. We ask all our candidates to review this section before we begin working together in order to ensure optimum results.
Included in this Section:
Your Resume / Communication / The Interview / Interviewing Tips / 4 Signs of a Stable Lender / Matches Don't Always Work / Confidentiality / Staying in Touch
Your Resume
MSA offers Resume Services, or you may draft your own, if you are comfortable in doing so. Please see the section entitled “Resume Services” in the Candidate section of our website for helpful tips and avoiding classic mistakes when creating a Resume. Remember, you are ‘selling yourself on paper’ before the company ever speaks to you personally – this document is critically important.
Once your Resume has been created, we will submit it to our client for consideration. Depending on the company, we may have a response back immediately, or it may take up to three or four business days. Be patient. While scheduling an interview may be the most important thing on your calendar, this generally isn’t the case for the company, even if filling the position is a top priority.
Communication
If MSA is going to represent you, it is extremely important that we are able to reach you within 4-5 hours at most. We certainly understand and appreciate the fact that you are working and have obligations and priorities that take precedence over searching for a new opportunity. We don’t expect you to ‘drop everything’ to return a call. However, if a company is interested in your background and wants to schedule an interview, you will send the wrong message by being unresponsive or slow to return calls. Playing hard to get may work on the dating scene but will work against you in what is currently a fiercely competitive market.
If you just can’t get away for a return call to your Recruiter, drop a quick email or leave a message explaining that you are tied up and what time you expect to be available.
On the other end of the spectrum, let your Recruiter do his or her job. Bombarding him or her with calls and multiple emails inquiring as to the status of the opportunity you are interested in will not make things happen more quickly. Checking in once or twice a week via phone or email is appropriate and welcomed.
The Interview
Your MSA representative will ‘brief’ you as thoroughly as possible prior to your interview with our client firm. However, it is always a good idea to do your homework. Employers are impressed with candidates that have obviously researched the company. Check out the website….know what the company is all about, how large or small they are, how many offices are currently operating, closed loan volume, etc. The more prepared you are going in to the interview; the better your odds are that the employer will remember you favorably.
Take a copy of your Resume to the interview, even if you are sure they have previously been provided a copy. Regardless of the office dress policy, wear a suit and (for men) a tie– always.
Remember the two most important things in any interview scenario – Offer a firm handshake at the start and close of the interview and maintain good eye contact throughout.
Interviewing Tips:
Unless you are specifically asked, try to avoid discussions about compensation in the first interview.
Regardless of how unhappy you are in your current situation, or even if your company has closed its doors, never ‘trash’ your former (or current) employer.
Show enthusiasm for the company…comment on corporate accomplishments, milestones reached, etc.
Don’t be a “YES” man – or woman. If your interviewer describes a situation that you know will be challenging(for instance, starting a branch from scratch in a new market in which the company has no branding recognition) it’s better to acknowledge that this will be challenging, rather than agreeing with everything the interviewer presents and responding with comments such as, “That’s easy….” or “That’s not a problem…” or “I can do that in my sleep…”
Ask questions but don’t monopolize the conversation.
At the close of the interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time and ask when you can expect to hear back from them as to the next step. Be assertive.
Follow up with your MSA representative after the interview with feedback as to your interest level in the opportunity.
4 Signs of A Stable Lender:
The things that made a potential employer a safe bet even a year ago do not necessarily apply in today's market. When you meet a prospective employer, you are interviewing them as much as vice versa. The industry is full of examples of candidates who did not do the proper due diligence before accepting an offer, resulting in finding themselves back on the job market in short order when the company failed.
Every candidate should ask a potential employer the following four questions when evaluating the company:
1. "What is your firm's capacity for new production?"
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, you know that warehouse lending is in a state of crisis in the industry. There are fewer and fewer options for lenders every day and those that do continue to offer warehouse lending have become increasingly conservative in thier requirements. You need to feel comfortable that the company can handle the amount of production you want to build. Firms that do not disclose this information or are vague in their reponse should be a red flag.
2. "What are your firm's growth plans for the future?"
A healthy lender is going to be focused on expansion - it doesn't have to be massive, but a steady, continued growth pattern is always a good sign.
3. "Is your company experiencing any major buy back or legacy issues?"
A large part of the industry turmoil is due directly to this issue. Companies that have made a high percentage of 'bad loans' have found this policy coming back to bite them in the long run. Lenders who are experiencing a high volume of buy backs and similar issues are those you should take a more in depth look at before signing on the dotted line.
4. "Can I speak with some of your Branch Managers?"
A company that gladly provides the names and contact information of current employees without hesitation is usually one that is transparent and employs happy people. Use this to your advantage, but don't go overboard with it. Talking to 2-3 branch or regional managers will give you a good feel for the company and it's culture.
Matches Don’t Always Work
Unfortunately, our clients don’t always agree with our assessment of a candidate’s qualifications for a given opportunity. If a company determines that your background is not quite what they are looking for in a candidate, don’t take it personally. If, for instance, a company comments that they feel you do not have enough management experience for a supervisory role, don’t argue the point with your Recruiter.
He (or she) would like nothing better than to have the company hire you – that’s how we support our families. However, not all resume submissions result in an interview and not all interviews result in an offer.
Confidentiality
MSA will not submit your resume or name to any industry job boards or other agencies. We will not forward your information to potential employers without your permission.
In the event you are working with other search firms or recruiters, we ask that you reciprocate confidentiality. The executive search industry is extremely competitive…we ask that you do not share the names of the companies we discuss with you.
Referral Program
We welcome and appreciate referrals. If you refer a potential candidate to MSA resulting in a placement, you may earn a Referral Fee. The actual amount of the Referral Fee is based on the position we are able to place the candidate in. All referrals are kept strictly confidential unless you advise us to use your name as the referral source.
MSA does not place Administrative Support personnel, such as Processors, Loan Coordinators, Clerks, Closers, Administrative Assistants, Tellers or individuals working outside of the Financial Services industry.
Staying in Touch
In the event you submit a resume to MSA and have not been contacted with regard to an opportunity, it does not mean we have forgotten about you or that you are not a marketable candidate. It simply means that we currently do not have any opportunities we feel your background and experience is suited for. That can change at any time as we receive new assignments regularly. If you accept a new position or your situation changes, please drop us an email with your new contact information so that we can make you aware of new opportunities as they arise.
Occasionally, a client may reach out to a previously submitted candidate months afterward. If this occurs, we expect the candidate to inform us of this new development. This is industry protocol when working with a Recruiter and is considered bad form to keep the search firm who worked hard to represent you out of the loop.