|
|
How to Successfully Set Up Your Resume,
Prepare for the Interview, and Close the Deal!
The Basics of Setting up Your Resume
A good resume is your best tool in showing employers and recruiters how you can meet and exceed expectations for the required job skills. Keep in mind that it is your first, and sometimes, only impression on the employer.
Creating a resume that sticks out in the crowd
Personal Information:
Put only the essentials such as name, address, phone number, fax number, and email address. Do not volunteer your personal information such as age, ethnicity, religion, marital status, etc. (Companies should not discriminate according to this information, but you never know who you will be dealing with.)
Example:
JOHN DOE
1.234 Main St.
Austin, TX 12345
Home Phone: (512) 555-1234
Fax: (512) 555-4567
Email: johndoe@jobsearch.com
Mission Statement or Objective
Your objective is to tell employers what you are looking for and what you have to offer them. Stay away from using personal pronouns such as "me" and "I" when writing your objective.
Example:
"Software Sales Engineer wanting the freedom to teach and learn from fellow employees. Acquired over 5 years experience to bring to the company."
Basic Summary
The Basic Summary is for you to let the reader know about your most valuable strengths and abilities as they relate to the job. Employers love to hear words like "team player", "proactive", and "leader."'
Example:
"Software Sales Professional with excellent track record of "closing the deal." Build and sustain customer base in SW territory and trained new sales associates. Definitely a leader by example, but open to learning new things and acting as a team player."
Work History
This is where you will list all the jobs that you have had. Always list them in reverse chronological order and include the position that you currently have. If you have held different job titles within the same company, list them all so the employer can see how you moved up the chain of command.
That is important because it shows that you have stuck with that same company for a while and you were anxious to learn and advance. You don't want to get too fancy here. Tell about what you specifically did for the company and how that was a contribution.
Example:
"June 1997-Present-Sonny's Software, Inc., Austin, TX Software Sales Professional Sold software upgrades to OEMs through cold-calling and other sales techniques. Set up a new system of networking that broadened the company's customer base as well as implemented new training methods within the company. Excellent knowledge of computer software field."
Education
Only include high school, college, or graduate school. There is no need to list any schooling before that. Include the school's name, location, degree received, and what year you finished. Including your GPA is helpful and any awards or honors that you may have received will look very good.
Closing
The closing is for any other information you may want to add like business
awards that you have received or any affiliations that you belong to. This is also a good place to mention special skills that you have (computer skills) or any licenses you attained.
Example:
- "Awarded as 1999 Salesperson of the Year for the southwest region."
- "Very proficient in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Microsoft Office Pro, and Oracle."
Main Points
Remember, your resume might be your only connection to the employer or recruiter so make sure you cover your high points. Let them know why you were an asset to the company-boast a little-because no one else is going to do it for you.
Preparing for the Interview
The best thing that you can do, when walking into an interview, is to already know as much as possible about the company you are interviewing with and the position that you are interviewing for.
Information is very easily able thorough the internet, your staffing agency, or by a simple phone call to the company receptionist. Write down a list of questions that you can ask the employer at the interview.
This is very professional and very useful because you will always be asked if you have any questions. It lets the employer know that you are proactive and are willing to put time into their company.
Example:
- What is the exact job description?
- What opportunities are there for me to move up in the company in the future?
- Why is the position available?
- What kind of training will I be receiving?
During the Interview
This is the time when the employer can really get a sense of what your personality is like and how you handle yourself under pressure. To establish yourself as a capable, professional business person in their eyes keep the following in mind:
-Arrive early to the interview and go over your notes to keep them fresh in your mind.
-Ask the interviewer to describe the position that you have come to interview for and the responsibilities that you will have so that you can relate yourself to the job as much as possible. This will allow you to show them how you will fit into the mold that they are looking for.
-Be conscious of your body language. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
Maintain good eye contact, sit up straight, and nod approvingly when you
agree with what is being said.
-Dress appropriately for the interview. You can find out what the usual work attire is from your recruiter or from the employer beforehand.
-Listen intensely. Employers and people in general will assume that you are interested in what they are saying if they have your undivided attention. Do not cut them off in the middle of a sentence. Let them say their piece while you are evaluating how you are going to respond to the question.
-Pause. Allow yourself a few brief moments before responding to a question. This does two things. One, it grabs the employers attention and makes them think that you have excellent speaking skills. Two, this gives you time to arrange your thoughts and decide what you are going to say and how you are going to say it.
Finishing up the Interview
This is your time to shine. At this point the nerves should be gone and hopefully you feel pleased with how the interview went. If you do have a sincere interest in the company and you feel confident about the interview, tell the employer how you feel-build yourself up a bit.
Ask if they feel that you have what it takes to fill the position successfully. Reiterate your strong points and how they can be applied to help the company out. LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE POSITION!
If the position is not offered to you on the spot, don't worry. It is not something that is always customary. The person that interviewed you may have to consult with other people in order to hire you on as one of their employees.
There are a lot of reasons why you may not get offered the job right then. Thank the interviewer for their time and get a card from them so you have a record of whom you talked to and a contact number as well.
If at any point (on your way home, when you get to your car, when you are at home) you think of some questions or concerns that were not covered in the interview, write them down so you can get them answered in the future.
The Final Step in closing the Deal
The final step in the interview process is to send the person who interviewed you a thank you letter. This is where their business card comes in handy because you have all of their contact information.
The thank you letter should be sent ASAP. In writing the thank you letter, make sure to address many of the issues that were discussed in the interview. Restate the reasons that you feel you are qualified for the job and tell them why you would like to have the job.
Mention and thank everyone that you directly dealt with in the interview process from top to bottom. This can be very professional and still be handwritten. It gives the thank you letter a sense of sincerity. Most of all, just let them know that you want the job and feel qualified for it.
|
|
|
|
