You should have a standard resume and cover letter that you can use at a moment’s notice, so if you meet someone you can provide it, or you can send it out immediately if there is a quick turn-around time. However, if you have time, you should tailor your standard resume to meet the […]
Tips for Job Seekers
Resume Tip 9. Avoid including personal information on the resume if this is for a job search.
Too many candidates list all types of personal information on their resumes. As a recruiter, I want to know about your professional and career experience. You do not need to tell that you are married, have 3 children, are a hiker, a fraternity member, a gardener or a piano player. All of this information […]
Resume Tip 8. Indicate type of company, size of organization (total staff) or budget you handled.
Some companies are very well known—Wal-Mart, IBM, or Aetna Insurance, for example—but most are not. You will need to indicate if the company is a computer or manufacturing firm, and describe the type of computer firm (software or hardware) or products manufactured. Indicate the size of the organization, total staff, and whether it is […]
Resume Tip 7. Indicate if you supervised staff (and how many) to show your management responsibilities.
Some titles don’t make it clear that they have management responsibility, so you need to add that to the description of the position. If a position title says you are a Supervisor or Manager, remember to indicate how many people you supervise or manage—even if it’s only one person. You should also describe your […]
Resume Tip 6. List titles of position and description of position responsibilities in case people are unclear about position title.
List your position titles and general responsibilities, since not all those reading your resume will be familiar with all titles, and titles vary for different careers. For example, the title “IT Coordinator” in one firm could mean managing or directing IT, while in another firm it could be the person in charge of only […]
Resume Tip 5. Include dates of each paid or unpaid position. If you had a break in positions, then indicate why.
Dates are important because they provide valuable information to the recruiter: Dates indicate how many years of experience you have in your field. Dates indicate your longevity in each position and whether you have a habit of job-hopping. Without dates, the recruiter assumes you are trying to hide something. If your volunteer work is […]
Resume Tip 4. Highlight the most important work that relates to the position you are seeking.
You want to catch the attention of the recruiters so they will continue to review your resume, so highlight the most relevant experiences first. It is important to list your most recent positions first. If the most recent position is not as relevant as the previous position, then keep the information short on the […]
Resume Tip 3. Include your educational degrees – make sure it is clear whether you received a degree or only attended college.
Use terms like BA, MBA, AS when you list your education, don’t just list the university. This will indicate that you have a degree. Also, list your major if it is not obvious from your degree. For example, an MA (Masters) does not need further explanation, unless you had a specific concentration or specialization […]
Resume Tip 2. Use consistent formatting and indenting, and plenty of white space so it is easy to read quickly.
Recruiters may spend only 30 seconds to one minute reviewing your resume to determine if you have the correct qualifications. If the print size is too small and there is no spacing between positions, your resume will be hard for recruiters to read. Besides being pleasing to the eye, the resume needs to be […]
Resume Tip 1. Make sure you include your name, phone number and email (both of which you check daily especially when applying for new positions).
This is important because when Recruiters or Human Resource Directors are working on a specific position, they do not want to wait a few days to receive a reply to their call or email. They have lots of other candidates to contact! If you don’t return the call or email, they will assume you […]
Interview Tip 9. What to order at a Lunch Interview
If the interview is over lunch, do not order an alcoholic drink or something that is messy to eat. (Choose a salad rather than a huge layered sandwich.) Lunch interviews are always tricky – “What should I order? Will I be able to really provide enough information while they are eating, or, more importantly, while […]
Interview Tip 8. Understand the responsibilities of the position – for example, if position title has the word supervisor or manager in it, be ready to explain your past experience in supervising or managing people and projects.
Research the position and know what is expected of the position for this particular organization. What are the responsibilities, the qualifications required, and the special projects? Once you know these, demonstrate your abilities to meet the requirements and special duties of the position based on your past experience in similar positions or your education. […]
Interview Tip 7. Explain why you are qualified for and excited about the position. Show your enthusiasm and interest during the interview.
A typical question at the end of an interview is, “Why do you think you are the best qualified person for the position?” Or they may provide you an opportunity to summarize. You should always be ready for this type of question. Based on what you have learned in the interview and the information […]
Interview Tip 6. Be ready to provide examples of how you handled situations in past positions.
The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior, which is why interviewers want to know how you handled situations in the past. It is important to provide detailed examples of how you dealt with stressful situations, irate customers, and poor employees. They also want to know how you handled projects, with descriptions of […]
Interview Tip 5. Review your resume and letter before your interview, so you don’t have to refer to them to answer questions like, “How long have you worked for ABC Agency?”
In most cases, the interviewer will have a copy of your resume and letter, so you need to remember what you sent to this specific organization. In some cases, they will not have your resume and letter, so bring an extra copy just in case. You need to be able to talk about your […]