"Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills Tips"
 Resume VS CVs:
CV - A CV is used by professionals in medical, academic and scientific fields. A CV is a record
of professional activities that focuses on academic pursuits and achievements.
Resume - A Resume is a selling tool that outlines your skills and experiences so an employer can see, at a glance, how
you can contribute to the employer's workplace.
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Resume Heading:
The Resume Heading should include your Name, Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, E-Mail address, and Web address.
Additionally, it should include a summary of:
- Skills
- Experiences
- Qualifications
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Chronological, Functional Format or Combination Format?:
Chronological Resume
- Highlights your job titles, places of employment and dates of tenure by presenting them as headings
under which your achievements are listed.
Functional Resume
- Presents your experience under skill heading, giving you the freedom to prioritize your accomplishments
by impact rather than chronologically.
- Work history is listed very concisely in a section seperate from your achievements.
Combination Resume
- Highlights your relevant experience, achievements and appropriate skills.
- Highlights your job titles, places of employment and dates of tenure by presenting them as line items.
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When to use Chronological Format:
- Staying in the same field
- Your overall work history shows growth
- You have no gaps in your work history
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When to use a Functional Format:
- You are changing careers
- You are re-entering the job market
- You need to emphasize skills or experience from an early part of your work history
- Your volunteer experience is relevant and needs to be highlighted
- Your most recent position is not relevant
- Your job title doesn't accurately reflect the level of responsibilities you had
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When to use Combination Format:
- When you need to emphasize particular skills or experiences
- Your work history shows career growth
- You've gained practical as well as academic experience
- Your volunteer experience is relevant to the position you are applying for
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Gaps in your Resume:
- Use only years and not months
Explain gaps greater than 2 years such as:
- Family Financial Management
- Independent Study
- Personal Travel
- Volunteer Work
- School Activities
- Internships
- Education Pursuits
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Cover Letter Tips:
- Make it specific to the position
- Show off your knowledge of the department
- Answer their needs
- Show and don't just tell
- Check for typographical and grammatical errors
- Have someone else read your letter
- Make the connection
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Successful Interviewing:
Definition:
An interview is a business meeting between two parties to mutually exchange information
for the purpose of determining a reason to offer and accept employment.
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Employer/Applicant Objectives:
The employer and the applicant each have their own objective in the interview.
- Main objectives
- Preparation
- Know yourself
- Image
- Non-verbal Comm.
- Interview day
- Business etiquette
- Enthusiasm/positive
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- What interviewers look for
- HR agenda
- Hiring authority's agenda
- Types of interviews
- Behavioral questions
- Control techniques
- Questions of your own
- Post interview follow-up
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Main Objectives:
- Gather information
- Sell yourself
- Get the offer
- Accept OR reject offer
- Ask yourself, What is good about rejecting an offer?
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Know Yourself:
- Abilities/strengths
- No weaknesses
- Learn how to be a good listener
- Develop confidence
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Prepare for Interview Day:
- Know exact location/directions
- Plan parking
- Arrive 5 minutes early
- Bring a notebook
- Bring a tape recorder
- Bring pen and pencils that work
- Bring extra resumes
- Bring a list of references
- Bring information for application
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Non-Verbal Communication:
- Show good posture
- Make eye contact
- Handshake
- Facial Expressions
- Gestures
- Allow adequate space
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After the Interview:
Follow up with a letter within 24 to 48 hours
Choosing a format
- Business letter
- Email
- Professional hand written thank you note
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Business Etiquette:
- Remember the introduction/remember names
- Topics - be politically correct
- Never drink or smoke
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Show Enthusiasm:
- Listen
- Be sincere
- Fit yourself into the job
- Be honest
- Be confident in your skills, talents and work ethic
- Never speak negatively about past employers
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Information Gathering:
The reason for the interview
- Skills to do the job
- Experience to do the job
- Fit in with the culture
- Any negatives that may disqualify
- Can do the job(technical skills)
- Fits in with the culture(people skills)
- Will do the job(proper motivation)
- Wants to do the job(desire/convince)
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Sticky Situations:
- Questions regarding your personal life
- Any skeletons in your closet
- Salary concerns/issues
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Types of Interviews:
- Traditional(HR, recruiters, group)
- Decision makers
- Telephone
- Behavioral
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Behavioral:
Types of questions usually involve:
- Analytical thinking
- Continuous improvement
- Flexibility
- Initiative/persistence
- Problem resolution
- Self-directedness
- Stress tolerance
- Team focus
- Judgment/decisiveness
- Leadership
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Always tell stories that illustrate
your skills and successes such as:
Team leader/member
Work or other projects
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Interview Strategies:
- Learn to be relaxed
- Determine what the interviewer is looking for
- Do your homework
- Key points you wish to make
- Examples of work(certain careers)
- Watch for non-verbal clues(don't bore)
- Remember, not all hiring managers are good interviewers
- Ask for the job!
- Ask what the next step in the process is
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Questions of your own:
Prepare for interaction, not reaction
Ask probing questions:
- Why have you decided to look outside to fill this position?
- What are the company's growth plans?
- Why is this job open?
- Who are the major customers for the orginization's products/services?
- What has kept you interested in remaining with the company?
- What opportunities are available for an individual who performs well in this job?
- How is performance measured?
- I'm interested! What is the next step in the process? OR When can I expect to
hear from you regarding the next step?
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Post Interview Follow Up:
- Thank-you note(to anyone with whom you spent 5 minutes or more)
- Follow-up calls
- Always let employers know that you are on an active job search campaign
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