TIPS FOR CAREER SEEKERS

Interview Tips | Resume Writing

Interview Tips

Research the company that is conducting the interview with you

Prepare questions, observations and comments about the company and bring them with you to the interview along with a notebook

Dress appropriate for the interview

Ensure you are well groomed

Arrive a few minutes early to the interview

Greet each person including the receptionist with a friendly smile and warm greeting

Greet the interviewer with a friendly but serious greeting and handshake

Make eye contact with the interviewer at all times

Keep proper seating posture during the interview (don't slouch or sit casually)

Take notes and listen carefully

Discuss your skills and SPECIFICALLY what value you will bring to the company if they hire you

Discuss situations from your past that demonstrate how you applied those skills in a productive manner and what achievements resulted

Be prepared to discuss how you deal with adversity or difficult situations in the workplace

Be prepared to discuss how you will solve the client's needs if they hire you

Ask prepared questions that you have brought with you when the interviewer gives you the opportunity to do so

Thank the interviewer for sharing time with you and let them know that you are interested in the position

Ask the interviewer about the next step in the hiring process

Thank any other staff members or personnel as you leave the company premises and do so with sincerity and friendliness

Review any notes you took during the interview and make new ones after mentally reviewing the entire experience

Resume Writing

Your resume is your first impression to a potential employer. It should catch the immediate attention of the reader and contain specific facts that demonstrate your potential value to an organization. The resume should:

Start with your most important quality or attributes under the heading "Key Skills"

Omit using an "Objective" heading and statement

Read clearly, concise and free of grammatical and spelling errors

Contain a work history and education section that is done in chronological form

Be one page in length for internet posting or mailing to companies but multiple pages if necessary for an actual interview

State factual information with no dishonest entries or omissions

Be printed on high quality paper

Not include personal data such as height, weight or family information

Include dates of graduation and degrees received in the Education Section

Offer "References Available Upon Request"

Be revised and improved until perfect

There are millions of resumes in circulation on any given day. It is estimated that only 10% are resumes of serious job seekers. Recruiters and hiring managers have the tedious duty of determining and identifying serious candidates and thus only allow a very brief view of the average resume. Therefore, your best and most impressive features and attributes should be formatted to the top 10% of the page where the recruiter or hiring manager will most likely look first. If your resume does not impress the viewer in only a few seconds, the chances of the entire resume being viewed is extremely small.

Lastly, never put your picture on your resume or include other information such as your social security number. Never make a copy of your resume on a photocopier to use as the initial resume in an interview. If you feel that creating a high performance resume is beyond your skills and abilities, contact a professional resume service.