Tips for Interns
1. Talk with co-workers and supervisors
This will assist you in getting a better insight into the company as well as into the possible growth areas.
2. Ask for things to do
Do not wait to be asked to undertake a task. Ask what you can do to assist someone else or take the initiative to look for or offer a solution to an existing problem.
3. Learn about the industry
Browse the Net, talk to colleagues, clients and vendors. Find out more about the industry of which you have become a part.
4. Be informed - read everything you can
Read trade publications, letters, contracts, case studies – anything that will inform you about the different facets of the business that the company is involved in.
5. Remember no job is insignificant
Each task fits into the picture somehow and is important to the overall scenario. Do whatever is assigned to you keeping this in mind.
6. Attend meetings, seminars, conferences and events
There is always a lot to learn. Be hungry for knowledge
7. Build relationships
Make sure that whoever you come into contact with is left with a positive impression of you and your abilities. You never know when you may come into contact again along your career path.
www.mobiblues.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Benefiting from an Internship
Tips for Interns
1. Talk with co-workers and supervisors
This will assist you in getting a better insight into the company as well as into the possible growth areas.
2. Ask for things to do
Do not wait to be asked to undertake a task. Ask what you can do to assist someone else or take the initiative to look for or offer a solution to an existing problem.
3. Learn about the industry
Browse the Net, talk to colleagues, clients and vendors. Find out more about the industry of which you have become a part.
4. Be informed - read everything you can
Read trade publications, letters, contracts, case studies – anything that will inform you about the different facets of the business that the company is involved in.
5. Remember no job is insignificant
Each task fits into the picture somehow and is important to the overall scenario. Do whatever is assigned to you keeping this in mind.
6. Attend meetings, seminars, conferences and events
There is always a lot to learn. Be hungry for knowledge
7. Build relationships
Make sure that whoever you come into contact with is left with a positive impression of you and your abilities. You never know when you may come into contact again along your career path.
1. Talk with co-workers and supervisors
This will assist you in getting a better insight into the company as well as into the possible growth areas.
2. Ask for things to do
Do not wait to be asked to undertake a task. Ask what you can do to assist someone else or take the initiative to look for or offer a solution to an existing problem.
3. Learn about the industry
Browse the Net, talk to colleagues, clients and vendors. Find out more about the industry of which you have become a part.
4. Be informed - read everything you can
Read trade publications, letters, contracts, case studies – anything that will inform you about the different facets of the business that the company is involved in.
5. Remember no job is insignificant
Each task fits into the picture somehow and is important to the overall scenario. Do whatever is assigned to you keeping this in mind.
6. Attend meetings, seminars, conferences and events
There is always a lot to learn. Be hungry for knowledge
7. Build relationships
Make sure that whoever you come into contact with is left with a positive impression of you and your abilities. You never know when you may come into contact again along your career path.
The Career Planning Process
Planning your career
Self-Assessment is a vital and often overlooked step in planning your various career paths. In order to evaluate the suitability of work options, it is important to know who you are as a person. This involves taking a careful inventory of your current values, interests, skills, passions and personal qualities.
Once you have assessed what interests you and what you have to offer employers, you can begin brainstorming possible career options and investigating them thoroughly. You will learn about the descriptions and qualifications for positions, typical entry points and advancement, and other important facts in order to determine if there is a good fit.
Research - Online resources is one way of gathering preliminary information. The next step will be to speak with as many people as possible that are involved in work that is of interest to you. By interviewing these individuals for information and advice about their work, you will be getting an insider’s perspective about realities of the field and recommended preparation.
Internships and part-time jobs are an excellent way to sample a field of interest. They provide the opportunity to perform some of the job functions, observe others work and evaluate the environment.
Decision-making involves an evaluation of the pros and cons prioritizing and sometimes risk-taking. Since the work landscape is constantly changing, it is unrealistic to aim for decisions based on absolute certainty. Flexibility and adaptability are important.
Head out there - Once you have made up your mind on your work objective, you can begin looking for a job. Networking, identifying prospective employers, writing cover letters and resumes, and interviewing and all part of this process.
Acceptance - Finally, you will accept employment. It will mark the beginning, or a milestone, in your exciting and varied career. If you are like most people, you will change jobs from 8-12 times during your work life. You will continue the process of self-assessment, research and decision-making in order to make effective and fulfilling changes but make sure that whenever you leave a job, you do it ethically and professionally, without causing any harm or disruption to the company. Leave on good terms so that no doors are closed on a future opportunity.
Self-Assessment is a vital and often overlooked step in planning your various career paths. In order to evaluate the suitability of work options, it is important to know who you are as a person. This involves taking a careful inventory of your current values, interests, skills, passions and personal qualities.
Once you have assessed what interests you and what you have to offer employers, you can begin brainstorming possible career options and investigating them thoroughly. You will learn about the descriptions and qualifications for positions, typical entry points and advancement, and other important facts in order to determine if there is a good fit.
Research - Online resources is one way of gathering preliminary information. The next step will be to speak with as many people as possible that are involved in work that is of interest to you. By interviewing these individuals for information and advice about their work, you will be getting an insider’s perspective about realities of the field and recommended preparation.
Internships and part-time jobs are an excellent way to sample a field of interest. They provide the opportunity to perform some of the job functions, observe others work and evaluate the environment.
Decision-making involves an evaluation of the pros and cons prioritizing and sometimes risk-taking. Since the work landscape is constantly changing, it is unrealistic to aim for decisions based on absolute certainty. Flexibility and adaptability are important.
Head out there - Once you have made up your mind on your work objective, you can begin looking for a job. Networking, identifying prospective employers, writing cover letters and resumes, and interviewing and all part of this process.
Acceptance - Finally, you will accept employment. It will mark the beginning, or a milestone, in your exciting and varied career. If you are like most people, you will change jobs from 8-12 times during your work life. You will continue the process of self-assessment, research and decision-making in order to make effective and fulfilling changes but make sure that whenever you leave a job, you do it ethically and professionally, without causing any harm or disruption to the company. Leave on good terms so that no doors are closed on a future opportunity.
Make your mark during an Interview
Make your mark during an interview
Before stepping into an interview, be sure to practice, practice, practice. A job seeker going to a job interview without preparing is like an actor performing on opening night without rehearsing.
To help with the interview process, keep the following ten rules in mind:
1. Keep your answers brief and concise.
Unless asked to give more detail, limit your answers to two to three minutes per question. Tape yourself and see how long it takes you to fully answer a question.
2. Include concrete, quantifiable data.
Interviewees tend to talk in generalities. Unfortunately, generalities often fail to convince interviewers that the applicant has assets. Include measurable information and provide details about specific accomplishments when discussing your strengths.
3. Repeat your key strengths three times.
It’s essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they might benefit the potential employer. If you repeat your strengths then they will be remembered and—if supported with quantifiable accomplishments—they will more likely be believed.
4. Prepare five or more success stories.
In preparing for interviews, make a list of your skills and key assets. Then reflect on past jobs and pick out one or two instances when you used those skills successfully.
5. Put yourself on their team.
Ally yourself with the prospective employer by using the employer’s name and products or services. For example, “As a member of __________, I would carefully analyze the __________ and __________.” Show that you are thinking like a member of the team and will fit in with the existing environment. Be careful though not to say anything that would offend or be taken negatively. Your research will help you in this area.
6. Image is often as important as content.
What you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say. Studies have shown that 65 percent of the conveyed message is nonverbal; gestures, physical appearance, and attire are highly influential during job interviews.
7. Ask questions.
The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out specific questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. Don’t ask about benefits or salary. The interview process is a two-way street whereby you and the interviewer assess each other to determine if there is an appropriate match.
8. Maintain a conversational flow.
By consciously maintaining a conversational flow—a dialogue instead of a monologue—you will be perceived more positively. Use feedback questions at the end of your answers and use body language and voice intonation to create a conversational interchange between you and the interviewer.
9. Research the company, product lines and competitors.
Research will provide information to help you decide whether you’re interested in the company and important data to refer to during the interview.
10. Keep an interview journal.
As soon as possible, write a brief summary of what happened. Note any follow-up action you should take and put it in your calendar. Review your presentation. Keep a journal of your attitude and the way you answered the questions. Did you ask questions to get the information you needed? What might you do differently next time? Prepare and send a brief, concise thank you letter. Restate your skills and stress what you can do for the company.
In Summary
Because of its importance, interviewing requires advance preparation. Only you will be able to positively affect the outcome. You must be able to compete successfully with the competition for the job you want. In order to do that, be certain you have considered the kind of job you want, why you want it and how you qualify for it. You also must face reality: Is the job attainable?
In addition, recognize what it is employers want in their candidates. They want “can do” and “will do” employees. Recognize and use the following factors to your benefit as you develop your sales presentation. In evaluating candidates, employers consider the following factors:
• Ability
• Character
• Loyalty
• Initiative
• Personality
• Communication skills
• Acceptance
• Work record
• Recommendations
• Outside activities while in school
• Impressions made during the interview
Before stepping into an interview, be sure to practice, practice, practice. A job seeker going to a job interview without preparing is like an actor performing on opening night without rehearsing.
To help with the interview process, keep the following ten rules in mind:
1. Keep your answers brief and concise.
Unless asked to give more detail, limit your answers to two to three minutes per question. Tape yourself and see how long it takes you to fully answer a question.
2. Include concrete, quantifiable data.
Interviewees tend to talk in generalities. Unfortunately, generalities often fail to convince interviewers that the applicant has assets. Include measurable information and provide details about specific accomplishments when discussing your strengths.
3. Repeat your key strengths three times.
It’s essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they might benefit the potential employer. If you repeat your strengths then they will be remembered and—if supported with quantifiable accomplishments—they will more likely be believed.
4. Prepare five or more success stories.
In preparing for interviews, make a list of your skills and key assets. Then reflect on past jobs and pick out one or two instances when you used those skills successfully.
5. Put yourself on their team.
Ally yourself with the prospective employer by using the employer’s name and products or services. For example, “As a member of __________, I would carefully analyze the __________ and __________.” Show that you are thinking like a member of the team and will fit in with the existing environment. Be careful though not to say anything that would offend or be taken negatively. Your research will help you in this area.
6. Image is often as important as content.
What you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say. Studies have shown that 65 percent of the conveyed message is nonverbal; gestures, physical appearance, and attire are highly influential during job interviews.
7. Ask questions.
The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out specific questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. Don’t ask about benefits or salary. The interview process is a two-way street whereby you and the interviewer assess each other to determine if there is an appropriate match.
8. Maintain a conversational flow.
By consciously maintaining a conversational flow—a dialogue instead of a monologue—you will be perceived more positively. Use feedback questions at the end of your answers and use body language and voice intonation to create a conversational interchange between you and the interviewer.
9. Research the company, product lines and competitors.
Research will provide information to help you decide whether you’re interested in the company and important data to refer to during the interview.
10. Keep an interview journal.
As soon as possible, write a brief summary of what happened. Note any follow-up action you should take and put it in your calendar. Review your presentation. Keep a journal of your attitude and the way you answered the questions. Did you ask questions to get the information you needed? What might you do differently next time? Prepare and send a brief, concise thank you letter. Restate your skills and stress what you can do for the company.
In Summary
Because of its importance, interviewing requires advance preparation. Only you will be able to positively affect the outcome. You must be able to compete successfully with the competition for the job you want. In order to do that, be certain you have considered the kind of job you want, why you want it and how you qualify for it. You also must face reality: Is the job attainable?
In addition, recognize what it is employers want in their candidates. They want “can do” and “will do” employees. Recognize and use the following factors to your benefit as you develop your sales presentation. In evaluating candidates, employers consider the following factors:
• Ability
• Character
• Loyalty
• Initiative
• Personality
• Communication skills
• Acceptance
• Work record
• Recommendations
• Outside activities while in school
• Impressions made during the interview
Interview
Interview Q & A
Some sample interview questions and answers.
Common Interview Questions:
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep your answer short and focused on your professional life. This is not the time to bring up relationships, childhood experiences, family etc. A brief history of education, career and special interests is what is called for here. End it with why you are interested in this particular job.
2. Why are you applying for this particular job?
Show interest and demonstrate that you have researched the job and know what you are getting into. Bring up evidence from past work/ studies that supports your interest in this role and any skills you have acquired in preparation for the role. You can say something like 'I would like to work for a leader in innovative network and telecommunications solutions and my college degree in computational mathematics has given me a solid background for this role. Mention the value-added you can bring to the job.
3. What do you know about our company?
Indicate what you have learnt from your research activities - from their annual reports, newspapers, word of mouth, other employees etc. Use this to flatter them and show that you have done your homework.
4. What makes you qualified for this particular job?
Again, explain that you are very interested in the job and demonstrate what it is about your past experiences, education and qualifications that makes you ideal for the job. Show enthusiasm and support your answers with evidence wherever you can (eg. my summer internship at Citibank gave me broad exposure to the area of equity analysis and I think I can apply many of the tools I learnt there in this job). Elaborate on all the past experiences and skill sets that make you suitable for the job.
In cases where your past experience is not directly relevant, you can still find elements of it that can be useful. Play up teamskills, computer skills, leadership roles, specific courses and independent research activities that can be useful to the job at hand to show your initiative even where you don't have directly relevant job experience.
5. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Demonstrate key strengths, skills and personal characteristics.
6. Why should we hire you?
See 3. Because you have all the experience/ traits/ credentials demonstrated in 3 and in addition to being qualified, you are enthusiastic, intelligent, hardworking, flexible and willing to learn. Also mention any key relationships you may have that may assist you in the job.
7. What do you look for in a job?
Be honest. Also mention keywords such as challenging, steep learning curve, good work culture, demanding, rewarding, opportunities for advancement and growth, team environment, opportunity to build and maintain client relationships etc.
8. Why are you looking to make a career change?
Mention your interests and make sure you bring up all skills/ experience however insignificant that can support your move in this new direction. It is quite common in this day and age to make a career switch. You need however to show that you have very carefully thought about the change, have a strong interest in the new career and can use some of your previous skills/ education/ relationships to make that move.
9. Why did you leave your last job?
Do NOT use this as an opportunity to badmouth past employers or peers or talk about a failure of any sort. Any of these answers are acceptable: you were looking for a new challenge, your learning curve had flattened out in the previous job and you were looking for a new learning opportunity, the company or department were restructuring, you were ready to start something new after achieving your career goals at the previous company etc.
10. Why do you want to work for us (as opposed to the
competitor companies)?
Demonstrate that you know something about the company, that you believe they are leaders/ innovators in what they do, or you think their work culture is exactly what you are looking for, or you like their product(s) or you have friends who work there and have always been attracted to the company etc. Flatter the company and show you know something about it.
0.
12. What are your strengths?
See 14 below. In addition, keywords such as good teamplayer, work very well under pressure, very creative, very strong quantitative or computer skills, and very strong client relationship skills may be appropriate depending on your chosen field.
13. What are your weaknesses?
Do NOT mention key weaknesses here. This is not the place to say you are bad at meeting deadlines or you never mastered highschool mathematics etc. Turn this question around to your benefit. For example, you are 'overambitious' or 'extremely attentive to detail' or 'like to take on too many projects'. Make it sound positive.
14. What are your career goals?
Show you have thought forward and are committed to your career.
15. How would you describe yourself?
Any of these are good examples of attributes employers are looking for: intelligent, hardworking, quick to learn, enthusiastic, honest, efficient, productive, ambitious, successful, compassionate (in the medical fields).
18. What did you most like/ dislike about your past job?
Do not use this to badmouth past jobs/ employers. Keep it light and in your favour eg I outgrew the job, there wasn't a clear career progression, I wasn't learning anything new etc. Ideally, you will have loved your last job and would like to achieve the same kind of success and job satisfaction in a more challenging area as you have now 'outgrown' that job and are ready for 'new challenges'.
20. What were your main responsibilities in your last job?
Have these ready and list them all. Dwell on the ones that are most relevant to the new job. This answer should be smooth and practiced.
21. What do you consider your greatest accomplishments?
Many of us have one or two milestones in our career that we are very proud of eg. that early promotion, that 'huge' deal we brought in, the design we came up with, the costs we saved, the revenues we increased, the people we trained, a new invention or process we came up with etc. Examples of accomplishments may be: 'Reduced costs by X%; or renamed and repositioned a product at the end of its lifecycle, or organized and led a team to do do XYZ, or achieved sales increase of X% etc. If you are a fresh college graduate, talk about extracurricular activities, leadership roles and grades.
23. Do you work better in teams or independently?
Show that you are a proactive teamplayer and like to bounce ideas off others and get input; however you are very capable of working independently (give examples).
24. How do you work under pressure?
Well. Give evidence.
26. How did you do in college?
Keep it positive. It's okay to say you were very busy making the most of college and were very involved in sports, activities, social life etc. Employers want humanbeings not robots. Mention the areas you did very well in even if it was just one or two courses you excelled in. They will check for themselves.
28. Do you have any questions for me?
YES you do. Questions engage the Interviewer and show your interest. Ask questions that show you know something about the company or the job, that you are planning ahead, that you are anxious and willing to learn the ropes and that you are committed to the position. See Questions to Ask the Interviewer for examples.
Some sample interview questions and answers.
Common Interview Questions:
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep your answer short and focused on your professional life. This is not the time to bring up relationships, childhood experiences, family etc. A brief history of education, career and special interests is what is called for here. End it with why you are interested in this particular job.
2. Why are you applying for this particular job?
Show interest and demonstrate that you have researched the job and know what you are getting into. Bring up evidence from past work/ studies that supports your interest in this role and any skills you have acquired in preparation for the role. You can say something like 'I would like to work for a leader in innovative network and telecommunications solutions and my college degree in computational mathematics has given me a solid background for this role. Mention the value-added you can bring to the job.
3. What do you know about our company?
Indicate what you have learnt from your research activities - from their annual reports, newspapers, word of mouth, other employees etc. Use this to flatter them and show that you have done your homework.
4. What makes you qualified for this particular job?
Again, explain that you are very interested in the job and demonstrate what it is about your past experiences, education and qualifications that makes you ideal for the job. Show enthusiasm and support your answers with evidence wherever you can (eg. my summer internship at Citibank gave me broad exposure to the area of equity analysis and I think I can apply many of the tools I learnt there in this job). Elaborate on all the past experiences and skill sets that make you suitable for the job.
In cases where your past experience is not directly relevant, you can still find elements of it that can be useful. Play up teamskills, computer skills, leadership roles, specific courses and independent research activities that can be useful to the job at hand to show your initiative even where you don't have directly relevant job experience.
5. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Demonstrate key strengths, skills and personal characteristics.
6. Why should we hire you?
See 3. Because you have all the experience/ traits/ credentials demonstrated in 3 and in addition to being qualified, you are enthusiastic, intelligent, hardworking, flexible and willing to learn. Also mention any key relationships you may have that may assist you in the job.
7. What do you look for in a job?
Be honest. Also mention keywords such as challenging, steep learning curve, good work culture, demanding, rewarding, opportunities for advancement and growth, team environment, opportunity to build and maintain client relationships etc.
8. Why are you looking to make a career change?
Mention your interests and make sure you bring up all skills/ experience however insignificant that can support your move in this new direction. It is quite common in this day and age to make a career switch. You need however to show that you have very carefully thought about the change, have a strong interest in the new career and can use some of your previous skills/ education/ relationships to make that move.
9. Why did you leave your last job?
Do NOT use this as an opportunity to badmouth past employers or peers or talk about a failure of any sort. Any of these answers are acceptable: you were looking for a new challenge, your learning curve had flattened out in the previous job and you were looking for a new learning opportunity, the company or department were restructuring, you were ready to start something new after achieving your career goals at the previous company etc.
10. Why do you want to work for us (as opposed to the
competitor companies)?
Demonstrate that you know something about the company, that you believe they are leaders/ innovators in what they do, or you think their work culture is exactly what you are looking for, or you like their product(s) or you have friends who work there and have always been attracted to the company etc. Flatter the company and show you know something about it.
0.
12. What are your strengths?
See 14 below. In addition, keywords such as good teamplayer, work very well under pressure, very creative, very strong quantitative or computer skills, and very strong client relationship skills may be appropriate depending on your chosen field.
13. What are your weaknesses?
Do NOT mention key weaknesses here. This is not the place to say you are bad at meeting deadlines or you never mastered highschool mathematics etc. Turn this question around to your benefit. For example, you are 'overambitious' or 'extremely attentive to detail' or 'like to take on too many projects'. Make it sound positive.
14. What are your career goals?
Show you have thought forward and are committed to your career.
15. How would you describe yourself?
Any of these are good examples of attributes employers are looking for: intelligent, hardworking, quick to learn, enthusiastic, honest, efficient, productive, ambitious, successful, compassionate (in the medical fields).
18. What did you most like/ dislike about your past job?
Do not use this to badmouth past jobs/ employers. Keep it light and in your favour eg I outgrew the job, there wasn't a clear career progression, I wasn't learning anything new etc. Ideally, you will have loved your last job and would like to achieve the same kind of success and job satisfaction in a more challenging area as you have now 'outgrown' that job and are ready for 'new challenges'.
20. What were your main responsibilities in your last job?
Have these ready and list them all. Dwell on the ones that are most relevant to the new job. This answer should be smooth and practiced.
21. What do you consider your greatest accomplishments?
Many of us have one or two milestones in our career that we are very proud of eg. that early promotion, that 'huge' deal we brought in, the design we came up with, the costs we saved, the revenues we increased, the people we trained, a new invention or process we came up with etc. Examples of accomplishments may be: 'Reduced costs by X%; or renamed and repositioned a product at the end of its lifecycle, or organized and led a team to do do XYZ, or achieved sales increase of X% etc. If you are a fresh college graduate, talk about extracurricular activities, leadership roles and grades.
23. Do you work better in teams or independently?
Show that you are a proactive teamplayer and like to bounce ideas off others and get input; however you are very capable of working independently (give examples).
24. How do you work under pressure?
Well. Give evidence.
26. How did you do in college?
Keep it positive. It's okay to say you were very busy making the most of college and were very involved in sports, activities, social life etc. Employers want humanbeings not robots. Mention the areas you did very well in even if it was just one or two courses you excelled in. They will check for themselves.
28. Do you have any questions for me?
YES you do. Questions engage the Interviewer and show your interest. Ask questions that show you know something about the company or the job, that you are planning ahead, that you are anxious and willing to learn the ropes and that you are committed to the position. See Questions to Ask the Interviewer for examples.
Tips On Resume Writing
How to effectively put together a Resume
DOs
Be concise
Your resume should be an outline of your career and qualifications. It is a place for bulleted points— items easily read with a quick scan. You can expound upon things in your cover letter and go into detail in interviews.
Create a resume that fits the vacancy
Especially important for career changers, you should highlight your skills that are pertinent for the job you want.
For instance, a librarian with strong computer programming skills who set up a research database might want to explore work in information systems. On his resume, his computer expertise would get lost using a chronological format. Instead, a functional resume emphasizing his information systems skills would better present this information. Remember, there is nothing unusual about having two or three resumes on hand targeted for different types of jobs.
Carefully proofread and edit your resume
Take the time to read your resume at least twice and read it aloud to help catch awkward phrasing. A tip: After you’ve read your resume, get away from it for a while before reading it again. Reading it over and over makes you more prone to skim over sections and overlook mistakes.
Make the effort to produce a quality finished product
If you do not have access to a personal computer, don’t rely on your typewriter; make a trip to a copy center. Most chains offer computer and printer rentals for minimal cost. With a draft of your resume prepared before you go in, you should be able to create your resume and get multiple copies on high-quality paper. It’s a small investment when you consider the long-term return.
Keep your resume up to date
You might be comfortable and happy in your current situation, but you never know
• You never know when you might learn of a more ideal job;
• You never know when your department might be reduced or restructured;
• You never know when your personal situation might dictate the search for a new job (i.e., your spouse gets an attractive offer in another city).
It’s rare that anyone has lifetime contentment and security in a job. Always be prepared. Especially as you get promotions and new responsibilities, you should note these in your resume, purging outdated material. Also, if you develop outside interests that might make you more marketable (new computer skills, published articles, learning a foreign language), be sure to add these.
Mention accomplishments
Quantify your on-the-job accomplishments. Show the reader how you cut costs, increased revenue, developed products/procedures, etc. For example, “Designed the audio module for the company’s state-of-the-art virtual reality simulator” sounds more impressive than “Assisted in the production of”
Also, where you can use figures, do so. Cut costs by how much? Increased revenue how much? Managed department of how many?
DON’Ts
Don’t be cute or fancy when it comes to layout and presentation.
Desktop publishing programs can be dangerous things. Even the most basic word processing programs on the market today offer users great flexibility to create. A variety of fonts, point sizes, and special characters are at your fingertips as is the ability to bold, italicize and underline words. When it comes to your resume, however, use restraint. Save the flashy stuff for your party invitations and holiday newsletters.
Your resume is one of the first impressions you give an employer. You want to show that you are a viable candidate for the job. Your ability to use multiple fonts and graphics is irrelevant. For a clean, professional-looking resume, it’s best to err on the conservative side (a good font: Times New Roman).
Don’t use passive phrases
Outlining your work history by stating “Duties included” or “Was responsible for” takes away from what you actually accomplished. Show action in your statements with words such as developed, designed, generated, sold, wrote.
Don’t exaggerate
Padding your resume is not acceptable. You should be able to tell from a job description whether or not you are qualified. And even if you’re not a perfect fit, it’s likely that few others are, either. Don’t try to make up qualifications for a specific job. Employers’ want ads are often wish lists, and they don’t necessarily expect every applicant to have all the desired qualifications.
Don’t overlook non-work experiences
Your time organizing a charity fund-raiser, presiding over a cultural organization or even participating in groups such as Toastmasters not only looks good on resumes, but also gives you legitimate professional experience.
DOs
Be concise
Your resume should be an outline of your career and qualifications. It is a place for bulleted points— items easily read with a quick scan. You can expound upon things in your cover letter and go into detail in interviews.
Create a resume that fits the vacancy
Especially important for career changers, you should highlight your skills that are pertinent for the job you want.
For instance, a librarian with strong computer programming skills who set up a research database might want to explore work in information systems. On his resume, his computer expertise would get lost using a chronological format. Instead, a functional resume emphasizing his information systems skills would better present this information. Remember, there is nothing unusual about having two or three resumes on hand targeted for different types of jobs.
Carefully proofread and edit your resume
Take the time to read your resume at least twice and read it aloud to help catch awkward phrasing. A tip: After you’ve read your resume, get away from it for a while before reading it again. Reading it over and over makes you more prone to skim over sections and overlook mistakes.
Make the effort to produce a quality finished product
If you do not have access to a personal computer, don’t rely on your typewriter; make a trip to a copy center. Most chains offer computer and printer rentals for minimal cost. With a draft of your resume prepared before you go in, you should be able to create your resume and get multiple copies on high-quality paper. It’s a small investment when you consider the long-term return.
Keep your resume up to date
You might be comfortable and happy in your current situation, but you never know
• You never know when you might learn of a more ideal job;
• You never know when your department might be reduced or restructured;
• You never know when your personal situation might dictate the search for a new job (i.e., your spouse gets an attractive offer in another city).
It’s rare that anyone has lifetime contentment and security in a job. Always be prepared. Especially as you get promotions and new responsibilities, you should note these in your resume, purging outdated material. Also, if you develop outside interests that might make you more marketable (new computer skills, published articles, learning a foreign language), be sure to add these.
Mention accomplishments
Quantify your on-the-job accomplishments. Show the reader how you cut costs, increased revenue, developed products/procedures, etc. For example, “Designed the audio module for the company’s state-of-the-art virtual reality simulator” sounds more impressive than “Assisted in the production of”
Also, where you can use figures, do so. Cut costs by how much? Increased revenue how much? Managed department of how many?
DON’Ts
Don’t be cute or fancy when it comes to layout and presentation.
Desktop publishing programs can be dangerous things. Even the most basic word processing programs on the market today offer users great flexibility to create. A variety of fonts, point sizes, and special characters are at your fingertips as is the ability to bold, italicize and underline words. When it comes to your resume, however, use restraint. Save the flashy stuff for your party invitations and holiday newsletters.
Your resume is one of the first impressions you give an employer. You want to show that you are a viable candidate for the job. Your ability to use multiple fonts and graphics is irrelevant. For a clean, professional-looking resume, it’s best to err on the conservative side (a good font: Times New Roman).
Don’t use passive phrases
Outlining your work history by stating “Duties included” or “Was responsible for” takes away from what you actually accomplished. Show action in your statements with words such as developed, designed, generated, sold, wrote.
Don’t exaggerate
Padding your resume is not acceptable. You should be able to tell from a job description whether or not you are qualified. And even if you’re not a perfect fit, it’s likely that few others are, either. Don’t try to make up qualifications for a specific job. Employers’ want ads are often wish lists, and they don’t necessarily expect every applicant to have all the desired qualifications.
Don’t overlook non-work experiences
Your time organizing a charity fund-raiser, presiding over a cultural organization or even participating in groups such as Toastmasters not only looks good on resumes, but also gives you legitimate professional experience.
Professional Resume Template
NAME
Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Telephone: Number
e-mail: address
PROFILE
OBJECTIVE
WORK EXPERIENCE
COMPANY NAME, City, Province or State
Date Started – Date Ended
Regional Sales
Manager
(Month/Year)
Sales Management:
·
·
·
·
Marketing/Promotions:
·
·
·
·
Staff Coaching/Development:
·
·
·
·
Account Management:
·
·
·
·
Client Relations:
·
·
·
Continues...
Page Number, Tel:
Number
Name
EDUCATION
INSTITUTION NAME, City, Province or State
Date Started - Date Ended
Degree, Diploma,
Certificate – Specialization, Majors
(Month/Year)
INSTITUTION NAME, City, Province or
State Date Started - Date
Ended
Degree, Diploma, Certificate – Specialization,
Majors
(Month/Year)
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Name of awards, scholarships
·
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COMPUTER SKILLS
PERSONAL SKILLS
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
Association Name, City, Province or
State Date Started –
Date Ended
Membership
Title
(Month/Year)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
NAME OF ORGANIZATION, City, Province or
State Date Started – Date Ended
Job Title or Area
worked
(Month/Year)
INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
References will be provided upon
request
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