The Do's and Don'ts of Resume Writing

Don't do this: Have one generic resume that you give to all prospective employers.
The thinking here: I can show the employer all of my experience, ensuring that I don't leave anything out.

Do this instead: Target each resume toward the job description and company you are applying for. A marketing position doesn't need to hear about your experience as, say, a cashier (unless you can find a way to relate cashiering to marketing. For example, cashiering provided you with a first hand knowledge of what customers buy). Look at each piece of information in your resume and ask yourself: Does this relate to the job I'm applying for?

Don't do this: Cram a ton of information into your resume.
The thinking here: The more information they know about me, the better.

Do this instead: Emphasize only the most relevant experience and skills on your resume. This frees up more space to develop the skills that are important to selling yourself to the employer. From a design standpoint, having some white space on the page is a good idea as well, to avoid that cluttered, squished look.

Don't do this: Use vague, generic language. For example: I used strong communication skills.

The thinking here: I can list the skills I know are important to employers, showing them I have the skills they need for the job.

Do this instead: Be direct and to the point. Tell facts. Describe what you did, how you did it, and how that benefitted your previous employer. Example: I used strong communication skills to negotiate a contract between the company and our customers, resulting in increased sales for the company over X amount of time. Get specific! Prove that you used your skills by backing up your assertions with concrete evidence.

Don't do this: Use a resume template.

The thinking here: The template-makers know what they're doing—I can just plug in my information and have a professional-looking resume.

Do this instead: Create your own unique look to your resume! Think of it this way—everyone has access to the same templates in word processing programs. What if someone else shows up with a resume formatted the same as yours? Now your resume is no longer original, and will not stand out as much from other candidates.

Note: If you don't feel comfortable designing your own template, do something to change a pre-formatted template. Maybe change the font on the headings, or align your name to the left instead of the center. Play around with the look and feel of your resume, and have fun with it! Remember, your resume is supposed to represent you.

Don't do this: Print your resume on colorful paper.

The thinking here: This will make me stand out from the other, plain, resumes.

Do this instead: Keep it professional. Print your resume on nice white paper. That way, the focus remains on your experience and skills.

For more tips on how to write your resume, check out our course on Building Your Resume, where we offer three FREE tutorials to get you started. We also have courses on Employment Search, Working to Get Hired, and Job Interview Success, all to get you on your way toward finding and landing your dream job!

Read More

Interview Guide Part III: After the Job Interview

Last but not least, after the interview preparation mentioned in Part I and preparation for the actual interview mentioned in Part II, the final closure to this job interview guide is Part III: Following up with the interviewer after the interview.

Part III: Follow-Up after the Interview

These two actions are the final steps to a job interview preparation: sending a thank you note/letter after the interview and critiquing your interview performance.

Sending a thank you note after your interview can mean the difference between you with a job or not. Hiring managers interview several, if not hundreds of applicants. By sending a thank you letter, you are able to leave a more permanent image of you inside the mind of the interviewer. A thank you note can also show your general interest in the job and may help you stand out.

Do not just send out one thank you letter to the hiring manager if there were multiple interviewers involved. If other organizations and personnel within the company assisted or helped conduct the interview hiring process, be sure to send out thank you notes to everyone involved. Here are some suggestions of what should be included inside your thank you letter.

• Thank the employer for his or her time during the process of a job interview

• Mention what you’ve learned during the interview, especially aspects you feel qualified for

• If there is something you forgot to mention during the interview, mention it in the thank you letter

• If necessary, invite the employer to contact you for more information

• That you look forward to the employer’s decision

• If further paperwork is requested from the hiring manager, attach requested paperwork onto the thank you letter addressed: “As requested, I am forwarding letters of recommendation and certification materials.”

• Signing your thank you letter

Last but not least, the final step to a job interview preparation is to carefully evaluate your interview performance. Go over everything you did during the interview: how well you think you answered questions, how well you maintained eye contact, if your posture was appropriate, the quality of you responses to the questions asked etc.

Practice answering questions that caught you off guard by writing it down. Analyze all the times you felt uncomfortable and see how you can handle similar situations in the future. This is the best way to improve your interviewing skills. If you don’t evaluate your interview performance, understand your strengths and weakness during an interview, you will unlikely improve your future interviews.

Read More

Interview Guide Part II: The Actual Process of a Job Interview

The actual face-to-face interview also has a similar process to that of preparing for an interview beforehand. This section of the job interview guide will consider the following five steps for a successful interview.

Part II: The Actual Interview

[1] Arrive on time: Never be late for an interview. Arriving on time is part of the interview hiring process. By arriving on time, it shows the interviewer that you are prompted, ready, able to follow directions, prepared, and serious about your desire for the position being offered. Arriving at the location five to ten minutes early is your safest bet not to be late. Be warned though, arriving too early is frowned upon as well. You may seem too eager and might be interrupting what the interviewer was doing before your appointment time. Call ahead if you cannot make it on time, providing a good reason for the delay (be prepared for the possibility of having to reschedule if late).

[2] Introduce yourself: For your interview preparation beforehand, you might want to work on your introduction and handshake because the first thing the interviewer will be appraising is how self-assured you look. Make sure you carry yourself with confidence when entering a room. Also remember that a firm handshake conveys strength. Try remembering the interviewer’s name when introductions are being made, the interview will progress on better terms if you respond using the name of the person you are speaking with. Also have in mind that anyone who is introduced to you is an important figure within the organization and may have an input in the decision making process, so act accordingly. After the introductions are made, a seat should be offered to you. But do not sit anywhere, wait until the interviewer motions exactly where he/she would like for you to sit. Once seated and introductions are over and done with, the interview is ready to begin.

[3] Conversing with the interviewer: Probably the hardest process of a job interview is the conversation itself because unlike your daily conversations, an interview conversation is a technical process. You must be truthful, yet not too much. Answers should be answered in such a way that nothing negative is given away, while sounding natural. Don’t mumble or rush your speech. Make sure you speak clearly, loudly, and slowly enough for the interviewer to hear you because the more you sound sure of yourself, the more the interviewer is confident that you are capable of doing the job. Treat the interviewer with respect by listening and responding with interest. The biggest thing to remember is that enthusiasm makes the difference between a good or a bad interview.

[4] Responding to questions: There are four things to keep in mind when you’re responding to the interviewer’s questions:

• Listen Carefully—Make sure you hear the questions correctly because it does not look good if you answer inappropriately for not understanding the question being asked.

• Answers should be specific and organized—Make sure you consider the use of time during your job interview preparation of how you want to answer the most common asked questions, mentioned in Part I of this job interview guide. The interviewer has many things to accomplish in addition to your interview throughout the day, so make sure your answers are precise and short. When asked, think about the question and then consider your reply before answering.

• Frame answers positively while emphasizing your strengths—Avoid going into detail unless it is requested when you answer a question. The key is to highlight your positive assets only and show the interviewer why it would be a good idea for the company to hire you. This does not mean you should be dishonest with your answers though.

• Discuss your weaknesses honestly—More likely than not, you will be asked what you believe is your greatest weakness. Honesty enhances your credibility with this question. Discuss your weaknesses and then tell the interviewer what you have learned from them and how you intend to improve upon them. Turn a weakness into a positive learning experience. Remember, interviewers have interviewed many times before, they can spot a fake answer before it is even out of your mouth (i.e. “I’m a workaholic”).

[5] Do’s and don’t of interviewing: Avoid any bad habits that show your nervousness (i.e. biting your nails, playing with hair, fidgeting, tapping your hand or pen). Practice hiding your bad habits during your interview preparation beforehand if it’s hard to break. Do not assume what the interviewer is going to say or ask. If uncertain about a question, it is better to ask the interviewer to repeat it or explain it further for you to comprehend. Do not lie, exaggerate, or speak badly of your former employer or company (interviewer will wonder if you would do the same thing to his/her company).

Do make eye contact with the interviewer. By making eye contact, you’re showing the interviewer that you are listening and that you are fully involved within the conversation. Watch for the interviewer's body language. Folded arms, yawning, picking up papers, concentrating on something else are signs that the interview lasted too long, or the answers you are giving are too long and vague. React quickly and positively to any negative signs. And most importantly—SMILE.

Read More

Interview Guide Part I: Preparation for the Interview

You finally received the phone call you have been waiting for, “We would like for you to come in for an interview.” The first step through the hiring door is now open. But what comes after that? The process of a job interview is like a performance and with every successful performance, there are preparations to take for a successful show. This job interview guide will go over the three essential parts to a successful interview.

Part I: Preparing for the Interview

Job interview preparation is an important first step to take because your degree of preparation will be noted by the hiring manager. For the interview to be a success, you must be willing to prepare ahead of time. Here are five steps to prepare before an interview:

[1] Identify your personal goals: Understand exactly you want out of a job. What type, kind, and requirements are you looking for? Do you want a 9 to 5, a job that allows you to travel, office position that handles paperwork or a position that requires a more physical challenge? Understanding your personal goals and needs is an important first step to an interview preparation that will help guide you in what companies you should be looking into about possible job openings.

[2] Learn about the company: Part of the interview hiring process is to understand the company you are interested in working for. Understanding what the organization is all about and showing that you are still interested after gathering all the information shows the hiring manager your ability to commit. A basic search should suffice, unless the position requires a more extensive research. There are number of ways to find information on a company: public library, a search on the internet, or speak to a current employee.

[3] Think of questions you may want to ask: Most often than not, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions about the company and the position being offered. This is where your knowledge that you have researched before the actual interview comes into play. Prepare to ask thoughtful and useful questions. Make sure to ask well thought out questions and avoid “me-centered” questions (i.e. salary, vacation time). Here are some questions to ask at interview:

• What are some the responsibilities of the position offered?
• Is there mobility within the organization, a possibility to grow within the company?
• What are the career paths in this department?
• What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
• What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
• Could you describe a typical day or week in this position?
• The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?
• What are the most immediate challenges of the position that needs to be addressed in the first three months?

[4] Consider the type of clothing to wear: Clothes is also an important part for job interview preparation. First impression is made with your appearance, before any words are spoken. You want to dress properly and professionally. Here are some tips on what is considered appropriate interview attire for both men and women according to Career Services at Virginia Tech University:

• Suit: A two piece matched suit is always the best and safest choice.

• But what if the job is in a non-suit-wearing work environment: Even if you would or could wear jeans on the job, or the work environment is outdoors and very non-suit, wearing a suit to the interview shows you take the interview seriously as a professional meeting. Dressing well is a compliment to the person(s) with whom you meet. If you think the industry in which you're interviewing would frown on a suit, or the interview will involve going to a work site where a suit would be inappropriate, look for advice through professional organizations, your professors who have been employed in that industry, and/or by asking the employer directly and politely.

• Conservative colors / fabric: Navy, dark gray (and black for women) — are safe. Other color trends may come and go; avoid the extremes. Solids or very subtle weave patterns or plaids (the kind that look solid across a room) are safest. Wool, wool blends, or good quality micro fiber for women only, are generally the best fabrics in all seasons. Avoid acetate / rayon blends.

• Cost / quality: You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate CEO. Do invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first two or three years on the job. One good quality suit is sufficient for a job search if that is all your budget allows. You can vary your shirt/blouse tie/accessories.

• Details: Everything should be clean and well pressed. Carefully inspect clothes for tags, dangling threads, etc.

[5] Practice answering questions: You will be asked a lot of questions and the more you answer with confidence and eloquence, better the chances are that the position will be given to you. It is the job of the interviewer to find out as much job-relevant information about you as possible, so some of the questions will be easy to answer and others might be a bit more difficult (i.e. why did you leave your last job?) You can’t foresee every question the hiring manager is going to ask you, but there are common questions asked by most hiring departments. Here is a list of some of the most common employment interview questions:

• What are your major weaknesses?
• What type of work experience do you bring to this job?
• What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What assets do you bring to this company?
• Discuss a project or undertaking in which you have been successful, why do you believe you succeeded.
• Discuss something at which you did not succeed, what you learned from the experience.
• If you have supervised others, how do you think your staff would describe your management style?
• How do you feel about working in stressful situations?
• Would you describe yourself as a thinker or an action taker?
• Describe a goal you have set for yourself in the past and the steps you took to accomplish it.
• Pick someone in the business or professional world that you admire- why do you respect this individual?
• What do you do for fun? What are your personal interests?
• Describe the type of manager you would like to work for.

Read More