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Resume and Interviewing Notes
Resume
 A Resume is a MARKETING PIECE--not a "career obituary!"
 Mass Mailings result in a 1% return rate.
 Employers spend an average of 30 seconds looking at resumes.
 Resumes should focus on the skills you developed not just the fact that you held a position.
 Use Action Words
 Make it look Good: Business font, good white paper
 Don't include ethnic or religious affiliations (inviting pre-interview discrimination) UNLESS it SUPPORTS your job objective
 Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply.
 Use something such as "Spring 1996" or "Summer 1996" rather than 6/96 to 9/96.
Chronological-style resume or a Functional one?
 Choose the chronological if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile).
 Choose a functional if you're changing fields, because a skills-oriented format shows off your transferable skills better and takes the focus off your old job-titles.
Fill your resume with Problem-Action-Results statements
 State the problem that existed in your workplace
 Describe what YOU did about it
 Point out the beneficial results.
Sample Results Statement
"Transformed a disorganized, inefficient warehouse into a smooth-running operation by totally redesigning the layout; this saved the company $250,000 in recovered stock."
"Improved an engineering company's obsolete filing system by developing a simple but sophisticated functional-coding system. This saved time and money by recovering valuable, previously lost, project records."
ELEMENTS OF A RESUME
 Name, Address, Phone
 Objective: Should change for each job you are applying for
 Education: Degree, Institution
 GPA if 3.0 or above or/ GPA in major
 Year Graduated or expect to graduate
 Experience: Include jobs, volunteer work, internships
 Leadership: Extracurricular activities (if relevant)
 Other: Awards, languages, computer skills, research, travel
Use Headings:
 Sales Experience
 Retail Experience
 Political Activities
 Foreign Travel
 Writing Experience
 International Experience
 Student Teaching Experience
 Related Experience
 Childcare Experience
 Related Courses
 Community Volunteer Work
 Workshops & Conferences Attended
 Technical Skill
 Special Skills
 Computer Skills
 Certificates
 Leadership
 Accomplishments
 Professional Memberships
 Military Experience
 Language Proficiencies
 Engineering Experience
 Human Services Experience
Cover Letter
Purpose: To introduce yourself, highlight resume, and to get the interview.
Paragraph 1: Why are you writing?
 To inquire about opening or apply for specific opening?
 Did another employee tell about the opening?
Paragraph 2: Why are you qualified for the job?
 Why do you want to work for this company?
 Highlight 1 or 2 items from resume
 Match your skills with the needs of the company
 Don't restate your resume
Paragraph 3: State what your next action will be or what action they should take.
 Let them know you are waiting to hear form them
 Offer to come for an interview.
 Tell them how to contact you.
Additional Notes
 Address to a specific person
 No more than one page
 Proofread-have 2 other people read it
 Neatly typed, send original
 White paper, should match resume and envelope
 Use business format
 Always sign letter
 Save a copy and take to your interview.
 Use one inch margins
 Don't use clichés "Smart as a whip"
Interview
Rehearse answers to these questions:
 What are your short and long term career goals?
 How would a friend/ previous employer describe you?
 What are your strengths?
 What are your weaknesses?
 How can you contribute to this company?
Notes on Interviews:
 Think of 5 points that you want to make crystal clear to an employer--write them on a note card and keep in front of you.
 Ask questions--it shows your interested
 day to day responsibilities?
 training programs?
 opportunities for advancement?
 Silence is OK
 Research the company
 Ask at the end of the interview:
 When do you expect to make a decision?
 When can I expect to hear from you?
 Bring your own pen
 If an application , fill out completely
 Never grumble about old jobs, Relate positive experiencesCompetencies Sought By Employers
15 Traits Sought By Employers
· Ability to communicate
· Flexibility
· Intelligence
· Interpersonal Skills
· Willingness to accept responsibility
· Self-knowledge
· Initiative
· Ability to handle conflict
· Leadership
· Competitiveness
· High energy level
· Goal achievement
· Imagination
· Vocational skills
· Direction
10 "Hottest" Skills Any Major Can Acquire
· Budget management
· Speaking
· Supervising
· Writing
· Public relations
· Organizing/managing/coordinating
· Coping with deadline pressure
· Interviewing
· Negotiating/arbitrating
· Teaching/Instructing
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