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Resume Writing * Interview Tips

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How to Prepare For A Job Interview


JOBPRO specializes in placing professionals in a variety of interesting jobs like light industrial, office support, accounting, information technology, manufacturing and management. No matter what type of job you are seeking it is important to prepare for the job interview. JOBPRO wants you to succeed in preparing for the job interview.

The more prepared you are for the interview the better chance you have of being offered a job Whether you are seeking a professional, administrative or industrial job preparing is the key to landing an offer. The main goal of an interview is to get a job offer or be invited back for a second round.

You must have a pencil, pen and note pad by the phone to write down important information when someone calls about a job interview. After you have sent out some resumes you never know when someone will call. There is nothing worse than getting a call from a prospective employer or agency and hunting for paper and pencil to write the information down. The area near the phone at home should be quiet and clutter free. Don’t allow the tv or radio on, kids fighting in the background or kitchen appliances running when on the phone. It is important to be able to concentrate on getting important information about the interview. So plan accordingly.

If you have a voice mail answering function on your phone use a simple professional business message for anyone calling. Don’t have kids talking in the background, animal noises or rock in roll music playing in the message background. An interviewer might be turned off by an unprofessional message and never call back.

Obviously you should have a current resume that you can send through regular mail and email. Many companies accept online applications and you can upload your resume to their site. There are many books and online articles about writing a resume. If you do not have a computer many public libraries have them. Library patrons can use the computers to type up a resume and save it to a disk. You can even print copies of your resume at most public libraries.

When someone calls about a job interview it is important to try to get as much information as possible about the interview. First find out what time the interview is, with whom and where the company is located. You should write all this information down. Try to get a job description if at all possible. A job description is important, as often an interview will revolve around the duties and how your experience fits the company. Try to find out how to dress or the dress code. If you do not know how to dress the best advice is to dress on the conservative side. If the interviewer is pressed for time ask if they can send some of this information by email if you have one.

It is important to find directions on how to get to the company for the interview. You can get directions online by typing in the addresses on Map Quest and then looking at the maps and directions. You can print them out. There are many online services that give directions. Another way is to look at a map to figure out the driving route you. Most often the interviewer will give you directions if you ask. You have to write them down.

It is a good idea to drive to the company a few days before the interview to see how much time it takes to get there. You can observe the dress of employees if you arrive about about lunch time or when work lets out. A dry run before the interview avoids many last minute pitfalls like traffic congestion or going to the wrong location. You will feel less nervous if you know where you are going the day of the interview.

Knowing how to dress for the interview is important. It is important to dress professionally. Sometimes the first five minutes determines whether you get a job. A suit, tie white shirt and dress pants for men in professional positions is a must. Women should wear a skirt and blouse, suit, dress, or dress pants and blouse depending on the position. Even for someone interviewing for a laborer position it is important to wear dress pants and shirt. You shoes should be polished if necessary and simple. The best colors for clothing is blue, navy, black, brown, beige, gray, or black.

Never wear open toed shoes or have bare legs. Ladies wear panty hose and check for runs. Avoid short skirts, bright colors and excessive jewelry. Look for missing buttons, stains on your clothes and rips and tears. It is important to give a good impression on any interview. You hair should be clean and combed. Avoid bows, flowers, and headbands.

Research the company to find out as much as you can before the interview. Use the internet, library and magazines. The website should give you detailed information about the products, locations, officers of the company and some departments. Some business websites like Hoover’s is good for general business company research. You should know what the company products or services are and how the job you are applying for fits into the big picture. Who are the customers or clients that the company or organization serves? How does the department you are interviewing with fit into the company?

Bring a few extra copies of your resume with you. If you have a portfolio of writing samples, drawings, letters, certificates and diplomas they should be professionally displayed neatly in a folder or notebook. They can be used in the interview to show how your qualifications are suited to the position. Bring only your best work that highlights your strong points when showing a portfolio.

Phone interview are very common now. It is important to prepare for phone interviews too as they can screen you out. Don’t use a cell phone and turn off call waiting. If you have time practice speaking in front of the mirror or answering some simple interview questions. It is important to practice answering the phone in a professional manner. It is a good idea to have paper and pen by the phone so you can write down information down while you speak with the interviewer. There is nothing more annoying than getting interruptions when you are speaking to a potential employer. Sometimes it ends the phone interview and your chance for a job.

Research the company before the phone interview if they call ahead to give you date and time so you know what the company does and what the job entails. Clear the room of kids turns off the tv and radio and have a room quiet. Try to schedule the interview on the phone when it is a good time for you to talk. Prepare by practicing answering questions and having your resume handy to look at when the interviewer calls.

Practice speaking about your job skills and how they improved your current job or previous employer. Do this by using number and quantifying the results. For example supervised 30 employees in the computer lab. Raised $20,000 for the library edition though a golf tournament. The more specific and strong your examples the better.

Prepare for some obvious interview questions by knowing your strengths and practicing giving answers to some standard questions in front of the family or the mirror. Contact your references ahead former supervisors, colleagues, and key people in organizations, for permission. Have at least three and don’t surprise them get their permission. Know your skills and state your weaknesses in a positive way. Practice shaking hands with family members for face to face interviews. A firm handshake is important.

Write down some questions to ask the interviewer about the job and the company. Get some feedback from the interviewer about what its like to work at the company. Ask them why they like the company or why the job is open. What are the problems that need to be addressed in the position and the expectations?

Remember that preparation for an interview is important. Always spend the time to prepare before you go.

 

 

Resume Writing Tips   |   ^Top


A resume is a document that sets the tone for an interview. Often it gets you an interview with a company. You should work hard to write an effective resume by following some general guidelines. JOBPRO suggests the following tips on resume writing. A resume usually includes your contact information, job objective, work history and skills ad education.

  • Write an objective that shows a sense of direction. It should be short and to the point. The job objective should match the job you are interviewing for or want to get. Use action verbs even in your objective. Try to make the objective short, concise and powerful.
  • Document your experience by quantifying your experience if you can by using numbers. Say increased membership for the organization by 25 percent last year or supervised 25 employees in the computer lab at school. Prove you have the skills to do the job and help the organization succeed. Show your skills and what you improved or contributed to the company.
  • If you are applying for a technical job put your technical skills at the top of the resume. Use keywords or industry jargon that is relevant to the position you seek. Use keywords that are popular in the industry that you are seeking a position in. Clearly define and sell your skill set whether it is computers or accounting. Never overuse keywords.
  • The number one purpose of a resume is to win a job interview. Keep the length of your resume to one or two pages. Use Times New Roman or easy to read type face in point 10-14. Avoid italics and script type faces. It is professional to use white or off-white paper for a business resume. The paper size is usually 8-1/2 by 11. Always print the resume on one side of the page.
  • Use titles or job headings that fit the type of jobs you want. Don’t exaggerate your qualifications to potential employers. They will often check your background or test your skills. So be honest about what you can do. It is embarrassing to say you can type 50 words a minute when you only type 30. The typing will give you away.
  • Sell yourself by writing about the responsibilities of the job and the results of what you did. Be as specific as possible. This creates an image of someone who gets the job done. Show don’t tell. Be concise and to the point with each section you write.
  • It is permissible to list a web site or link if you have a portfolio to show online. This is a good tactic for writers, graphic designers, web designers, and technical illustrators for example.
  • Resumes should include a job objective, work experiences, education, skills and volunteer experience if applicable to the job. Use complete statements when describing experience. It is important to have your name, address, telephone number and email address on your resume.
  • Do not give personal information on the resume unless it relates to the job. Clubs and religious affiliations do not really have a place on your resume. Do not write about your recent recovery from any illness or personal problems on your resume. It does not belong there. Don’t talk about family or pets. Leave off negative information.
  • Think of your resume as a marketing plan. Ask who you want to market yourself to and who is your audience? Is it computer companies, publishers, accounting firms, or web design companies? What are your strong selling points or skills?
  • To type a scanable resume never use lines or borders. Have adequate margins and a clear easy to read typeface. Avoid script and italic print and excessive formatting.
  • Send a resume that fits the job you are applying for. Read it carefully and see if your experience and talents fit. Submit a resume in the format requested by the company. If they want an electronic submission do so. Follow the instructions when applying for a position.
  • When preparing a resume for a head hunter it is important to put your skills set on the resume. Often they look for specific skills such as technical, accounting, management, and hospitality. Use current versions of the programs or software you have used. Use industry keyword but don’t overdo.
  • Look for misspelling and mistakes when you type up the resume. Typos eliminate people from the market. Information that shows you do not know about an industry is another resume killer.
  • When writing online resumes avoid using the word I at all. If you use industry words only use those widely used and not too many times. Never use negative statements on your resume. Try to have important information listed where the interviewer can find it.
  • If you have gaps in your work history be prepared to explain it. Prepare some reasonable explanation before the interview. Some examples: I worked as a freelance graphic designer for several clients. I worked part time as a freelance web designer along with a regular part time job as a software programmer.
  • Don’t include a photo on your resume unless you are a model or graphics to make the layout more appealing. Most interviewers or job agencies will not be impressed. They may just send it to the trash bin.
  • Older workers can list their most recent work history. This would include the last 15 years. Don’t use dates on education just list degrees and college or universities for example. Emphasize your skills and qualifications for doing the job. Project a positive attitude about what you can contribute to the company.
  • Don’t just list job duties on your resume highlight your accomplishments? What have you done for the employer or company? Have you made money, managed workers, saved time or money with a program, or attracted or retained customers? These are a few points you should focus on when writing your skills.
  • The information on the resume should be listed by the importance of your reader or the job you are applying for. So when the interviewer or manager reads the information they can see why you have the skills to do the job.
  • It is important to have an electronic resume for online submission. Many employers use this method of reviewing candidates. You can have a text resume pasted into an email file which is the safest method. Or another popular format is the Microsoft word document that you attach to the email file. You can apply for jobs using electronic resume through job sites, employer web sites and email.
  • There are many file formats for electronic resumes. One is the text file or plain text resume that is compatible with most computer programs and platforms. It is a file in which the text is stripped of all formatting. It is not visually appealing and carries the txt. file name or extension. Although not appealing it is safe way to send a resume.
  • Rich text format is another for way to send electronic resumes. Most word processing programs can create and save resumes in that format. It is more visually attractive and a relatively safe method of transmission. The document file is created in Microsoft word. It has the doc. Extension and is a very popular way and safe way to send a resume.
  • Use bulleted items to make your resume interesting and break it up for visual appeal to the reader. This is a very popular format for resumes today.
  • Don’t go beyond 2 pages. Instead of a job objective you can use a Summary of Qualifications that lists your skill set.

 

 

How To Conduct Yourself During A Job Interview   |   ^Top


JOBPRO deals with many types of jobs. The way you act during an interview can decide whether you get another interview or a job offer. Below are some guidelines to follow that JOBPRO suggests. The goal of any interview is to get another interview or be offered a job. This is what you must strive for.

Arrive about 10 minutes early to the job interview. Arriving late might rule you out as a job candidate. It is important you know the location of the interview before you get there. Dress professionally this goes for both men and women. It is important to bring extra copies of your resume and a notebook or folder of work related samples if this applies to the job. Any samples that accent your skills are applicable.

Get the driving directions to the job interview location before you go. It is recommended that you take a dry run before the interview by driving there a few days ahead to see what the traffic is like and how long it takes to get there from where you live. This will save you stress on the day of the interview.

During the interview don’t smoke, chew gum or eat. Listen and don’t interrupt the interviewer while they ask questions. Dress professionally in dress pants and shirt for men. Women can wear a blouse and skirt, dress or dress pants with a blouse. The colors blue, navy, gray, black and brown are acceptable colors for an interview. You should check for runs in panty hose and stains on your clothing. It is very important to avoid rips and wrinkled clothing when you dress.

Don’t wear bright colors or short skirts. Avoid excessive jewelry or makeup. Your hair should be clean and not decorated with flowers, head bands or shiny large barettes.

During the interview talk positively about your strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to the job. Always look at the interviewer in the eye. Don’t look at the floor or gaze around the room. Shake hands firmly and speak clearly when you talk.

Try to be enthusiastic about the job duties. You should show how your skills qualify you to do the job. Give strong examples in terms of numbers of how you improved or accomplished a task on the job. If you do not have all the skills for the position try to show that you can learn or would be willing to learn how to do it. Ask questions about the job or company that pertains to the job desciption and duties. .

Never criticize the company or boast that you can do so much better at a job than the other employees that held the position. Listen to the interviewer and don’t interrupt when they are talking. It is important to listen and learn as much as you can about the company and position open.

Phone interview are an important part of the interview process. It is important to know how to act in a phone interview. You should have pen and paper handy by the phone to write something down during the phone interview. Turn off call waiting and do not use cell phones as you do not want to be interrupted. There is nothing more annoying than having constant interruptions during a phone interview. Turn off the TV, radio and let the kids play downstairs in the finished basement. Try to keep the room quiet when you have a phone interview.

On the phone don’t smoke, eat, chew gum or drink. It is ok to keep water handy for a dry throat. Smile to yourself when you talk and speak clearly. Try to use the person’s name and title. On the phone give short answers to questions that are to the point. Thank the interviewer and send a thank you note email or regular mail. Dress for a phone interview to elevate your mood. It is a good idea to have paper, pencils and calculators handy for questions you may not expect from the interviewer.

Speak directly into the phone but let the caller do the talking. If you are unclear what the interviewer asked you on the phone repeat the question back to them. Add some positive selling points about yourself when asked. It is important to convey enthusiasm for the job. Never call the interviewer by a slang term like dude, sister, honey or babe on the phone or in person. That is a way to be eliminated quickly.

Don’t use overpowering cologne or perfume. Avoid too much jewelry and bright colors. Don’t use excessive gesture with your hands or arms. Check your appearance before you leave home. Avoid runs in your stocking, stain on your clothes or rips and tears in clothing. Have clean fingernails and hands. Never call the interviewer by their first name unless instructed to do so.

When in the interview state your qualifications positively. State negative qualities in a positive way such as I am persistent I keep asking the other person until the job is done. Tell the interviewer what you can do for the company and be prepared to give specific examples. How did you raise the sales goal or raise money for the school for example?

Don’t divulge too much personal information that is negative about a former employer or family. It has nothing to do with the job interview. Even a compassionate interviewer may be making a negative judgment based on what you say. It is important to focus on the job and the company not your personal life. When asked why you left a job answer in a neutral statement. I left to work in another field that utilized my education. I wanted to change careers.

It is important to have a summary of education, previous job titles if asked. Try to have examples of how you improved your work environment. You can bring letters, certificates and articles that highlight your achievements. You should have them neatly displayed in a notebook or folder. Letter of recommendation can be included too.

Try to meet with the person who will be your manager or supervisor. That way you can determine whether the person is someone you can get along with. Be honest do not exaggerate your skills and accomplishments. Have some specific questions to ask the interviewer about the job and the company. At least three questions are good. It is important to have your reference handy to give them if they want. Ask why is the job open and why the person left? Why does the interviewer like working for the company? What are the positive duties of the job? If you did research on the company ask a question that pertains to the research you did.

At the end of an interview thank the person you talked with. Ask when they will make a decision. Should you call them or will they contact you. After send an email thank you note or one by the standard snail mail. Try to express enthusiasm for the company and the job. Always sell yourself and your work experience according to the job you are applying for.

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