| A good resume is the tool that can get you an | | | | important. Telling a lie now, even if you |
| invitation to the interview for your dream | | | | get hired, could cost you your career later |
| job. If writing a good resume is part of your | | | | if you are exposed as a fraud. |
| preparation for the job hunt, performing at | | | | |
| the interview is an even greater part. Here | | | | TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS |
| are a few tips on how to write a good resume | | | | |
| and ace interviews. | | | | Research The Company |
| | | | |
| TIPS FOR WRITING RESUMES | | | | In brief, you need to have gathered |
| | | | sufficient information on the organization. |
| Select A Format | | | | This should be information that has the |
| | | | potential to affect your long-term |
| A critical part of writing good resume is | | | | employment, such as ethics, environment and |
| using the right format. Without the proper | | | | culture, potential for growth for both you |
| format, your resume will look like a PhD | | | | and the company, your potential boss and |
| dissertation that will instantly bore the | | | | subordinates etc. You also need this |
| interviewer. A scattered and cluttered | | | | information so that you can ask intelligent |
| appearance will send the wrong signals about | | | | questions during the interview. You don't |
| you. One suggestion is to use tables with | | | | want to come off like a robot, or worse, like |
| light grey background for headings and to use | | | | you were not even interested in the company |
| bold font for subheadings. Details under the | | | | enough to do come basic research. |
| subheadings can be on white background and | | | | |
| can be laid out in columns or bullets, if | | | | Be Polite: |
| appropriate. You should always start with | | | | |
| your name and contact details first. Don't | | | | This sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? |
| forget your email address. You want the | | | | Sadly, it isn't always practiced by everyone. |
| person reviewing your resume to know that you | | | | Be polite when greeting the interviewer. |
| at least have an email address! This sends | | | | Shake his or her hand, and finally ask |
| the signal that you are tech-savvy. | | | | questions politely, even if the interview has |
| | | | lasted well over 2 hours. This is the time to |
| Proofing Your Resume | | | | take particular care to mind your manners. |
| | | | Never try to expose the faults of either the |
| A resume with lots of grammatical errors, or | | | | company or the interviewer (if any). Speak in |
| one that contains lots of typos drives | | | | an well-organized, structured manner. Mixing |
| recruiters crazy. Don't forget that your | | | | up concepts has the potential to confuse the |
| resume is really an index of your abilities. | | | | employer and you potentially lose out if they |
| If you can't do this and you are applying for | | | | perceive you as not having clarity of |
| a proofreader's job, you have failed | | | | thought. |
| miserably. More importantly, you run the risk | | | | |
| of looking incompetent. If you can't | | | | Present Your Skills |
| proofread your resume yourself, get a friend | | | | |
| or a professional do it for you! | | | | Present your skills separately - close off |
| | | | all other discussions. Before starting on |
| Presenting Your Skills As The Employers Would | | | | this subject, make them understand what you |
| Like To See | | | | are beginning to say, so that they are |
| | | | attentive. This is the most important factor |
| This is where you can make the best possible | | | | they want to know about you after your |
| impression, even if your education is not | | | | character. Use concrete examples, and explain |
| exactly what the employer is looking for. For | | | | how they can benefit by hiring you. Speak |
| example, you have applied for a job where the | | | | about six sigma, justifying your expertise in |
| employer wants to know whether you can handle | | | | this area with examples of various companies |
| 1ooo payable and receivable accounts. Simply | | | | that are benefiting by implementing the |
| writing a bland statement that you maintained | | | | methodology. Tell them that you can implement |
| account records will not interest him. You | | | | it in their company as well, or at least |
| need to make your skills match that of the | | | | become a key player. Let them know that you |
| job description. Put yourself in the shoes of | | | | play to win! |
| the employer. | | | | |
| | | | Ask Questions |
| Use Power Words | | | | |
| | | | Any questions should be limited to your work |
| Use power words or phrases such as "managed | | | | and the company. They should never be |
| workflow direction" instead of "gave work | | | | personal unless you have a special reason. |
| assignments to staff". Also use | | | | |
| action-oriented words and instead of passive | | | | Practice, Practice! |
| ones. Using high-end industry jargon also | | | | |
| immediately creates a positive impression | | | | Even if you are well prepared, employers can |
| about you, that you are professional and | | | | smell anxiety a mile away, and if you display |
| knowledgeable. You want the employer to know | | | | this to the employer it will wreck your |
| that they are looking at a senior-level | | | | chances of getting the job. Anxiety often |
| resume, not one of someone who merely takes | | | | comes across to employers as desperation. |
| orders. | | | | Don't let this happen to you. Practice, with |
| | | | a friend or in front of the mirror if you |
| Be Truthful | | | | have to. The point to remember about the |
| | | | interview is to not let yourself fall prey to |
| Quantify your achievements and highlight them | | | | your own anxiety. |
| in bullets. But being truthful is just as | | | | |