Resume Tips...

1. Write your resume in your own words. It may be challenging - especially if writing ranks among your least favored activities - but if you write your own resume and don't hand it off to someone else you'll be able to be sharp in your interview. No embarrassment not knowing what the resume expert meant when he wrote that smart phrase on your resume! If you do hire an expert to help you, work closely with that person to be sure your resume realistically reflects your abilities and your vocabulary.
   
   
2. Put your best foot forward. People remember what they see first and last, so place your least important information in the middle. Have an objective or a key word summary or both in the beginning of your resume and end your document with strong content - such as your educational background.
   
   
3. Tell war stories. Make a list of all the work or volunteer experiences you have had that support your candidacy for the job. Select the best ones and write them so that they show what Problems you've solved, Actions you've taken to do this, and the bottom line Results you've achieved. For example:
   
   
   • Managed the design, equipment selection, installation, and start-up of a four-aisle, man-aboard storage and order-picking system 35 feet high and 120 feet long, handling 6,000 items. Project was completed on time within the $400,000 budget.
   
   
4. Use resume etiquette. The word resume does not belong any place on the document. Never use "I" to start out a sentence. The language of your resume should be specific, clear, succinct, positive, and exciting. Make it easy for someone to contact you. Of course references are available. Don't use valuable resume real estate to say this.
   
   
5. Know what format to use. The two most commonly used and accepted resume formats are the chronological and the functional. Often elements of both are combined. A chronological resume is most widely used and preferred by recruiters and interviewers. It is good for someone with a consistent work history. A functional resume focuses attention on your accomplishments and is often used more successfully if you are trying to change careers or industries or to downplay gaps in your career.
   
   
6. Tell the truth. If you lie about your education, job experience or any other element of your work history, you will probably live to regret it. True stories abound of professionals receiving awards, only to have their careers ruined when research revealed that portions of their resumes were fabricated. On the other hand, if a job title you had does not adequately reflect the work you really did, clarify it. "Clerical Assistant" does not tell the scope of responsibilities as well as "Meeting Planning Coordinator."
   
   
7. Know your audience. Your resume and every interaction in your job search should answer the question to the employer - "Why should I hire you?" Communicate the information necessary to evaluate your ability to do the job. Use language that is appropriate to the industry or field, but be aware that extreme jargon may not speak to those who are intermediaries between you and the ultimate hiring manager.
   
   
8. Get some objective feedback. Have others who have not worked as closely with the resume as you have read it for accuracy and typographical errors before you submit it. Ask questions about whether the resume communicates what you intended. Does your resume support your claim of being qualified for the job? Does it address the requirements of a specific job description you're after? Does it need to be modified to fit the situation exactly?
   
   
9. Know your parts of speech. Action verbs are the bedrock of good writing. Use them liberally throughout your resume to communicate your accomplishments: Developed, streamlined, pioneered, implemented, produced - use your word processor's thesaurus to identify alternatives so that you don't need to repeat yourself. Key words are nouns demonstrating essential skills that are most effective for electronic formats, scanned by computers who are the first line screeners: Operations manager, project planning, data analysis. Use a KeyWord Summary at the top of your resume, choosing the top 20 or 30 words that represent your abilities.
   
   
10. Hit the highlights. Remember that your resume is only one element of your job search strategy. It's important and needs to get you in the door, yet cover letters, email and fax communications and telephone interactions will extend the conversation and add further evidence of your ability to do the job. Be prepared to give more detail later. Think of your resume as your personal brochure.

1. Vary your answers.

   If you’re called back to interview with different interviewers, find ways to make the same information sound different. Don’t describe the same project you managed to all five interviewers. Instead, describe a different project in each of the successive interviews.

2. Activate your interpersonal antennae.

   As quickly as possible, try to read the various personality types and adjust to them.

3. Expect to feel additional stress.
   You’ll have less time to frame your answers than during traditional interviews, when the interviewer might take notes before asking another question. But with several people doing the questioning, you don’t have this luxury, because while one person is taking notes, another will jump in with the next question.

4. Recognize that interviewers are human.

   Most understand that you’re nervous and will try to make the experience as comfortable as possible. They’re not interested in seeing you squirm. Their job is to determine if your talents will mesh with the opening.

5. Practice in advance.

   Assemble three or four friends or relatives with different personalities and have them ask a series of questions without pausing in between. This should replicate an actual team-interview situation. Ask for feedback on which of your answers impressed the mock interviewers and why.

6. Know what characteristics to emphasize.

   List the 10 traits associated with the position you’re seeking and prepare to demonstrate them during the session. Would creativity, presentation or facilitation skills be important? Ask people who are familiar with the kind of job you’re seeking to create short tests that might allow you to illustrate your skills.

7. Ask intelligent questions, do not state the obvious.

   If you’ve done your homework, you’ll know the organization’s culture and how you’ll fit in. Ask questions that reflect your knowledge of that culture. But don’t overdo it.

8. Learn to listen between the lines.
   With several people asking questions consecutively, you won’t have much time to prepare a response. However, if you read people well, you’ll be able to respond to the concern underlying the interviewers’ questions. Picking up on and responding to these issues is certain to impress an interview team. For instance, if an interviewer says, "Here at ABC we have a long tradition of teamwork," what he or she wants to know is, "How good are your teamwork skills?"

Sometimes what you may consider to be of little consequence may be important to the interviewer.

Such as the following examples:

• Be careful about how much cologne or perfume you wear.
   
• Even if you feel that you do not have a problem with bad breath, it makes good sense to take a breath mint before the interview.
    
• Dress appropriately for the type of job for which you are being interviewed.
    
• And last but not least, do not be late.

One word of advice: sell yourself!

Sell yourself. Learn as much as possible about the position, the company, and the interviewers themselves. The more detailed information you have about the company and the position, the better prepared and more interested you look. Visit the company’s website, if it has one.

Employers want someone who wants to work for them. Demonstrate this by:

1. PREPARING QUESTIONS. No matter how thorough the employer is in the interview, you must ask questions. This demonstrates interest and thinking ability.
2. ASKING, "WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?" Tell the employer you were intrigued prior to the interview and are now even more.
3. EMPHASIZING AREAS OF YOUR BACKGROUND. Think of specific examples that demonstrate this.

Be prepared with answers to the following:

1. Why are you willing to leave your current employer?

2. What do you know about this position and company? Why are you interested?

3. What are your short-term and long-term goals?

4. How do you feel about your current supervisor?

5. What are your strengths?

6. What are your weaknesses?

7. What are you currently looking for in salary?

8. What information is important to you in making a decision about this job change?

9. What questions do you plan to ask the employer either about the job, company, or other things?

10. Who have you learned the most from? What was it? Why was it important?

11. What could be improved in your boss?

12. What do you like about your current boss?

13. When are you available to start?

14. What would you change here?

15. Are you willing to relocate? Change industries? Travel?