Resumes and Interviews

Check out the latest tips from John Smith, a contributor for CNN.com, regarding resume presentation and interviews.

On your résumé

• It's never one-size-fits-all. "Don't try to sell what you are selling; sell what the employer is buying. Make sure your résumé fits the position and the organization where you are seeking employment," George says. "Hiring managers look at skill set, education, experience and where you got that experience. They want to make sure you are going to be able to do the job and fit into the corporate culture."

• Make it easy on the eyes. "Envision a hiring manager looking at a resume like a driver going by a billboard. Try to make it absorbable at high speeds," says Gwen Martin, managing partner of NumberWorks, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based staffing firm. "Use bullet points and leave white space so it's easy on the eyes to read. Give the bird's eye view -- you can give the story behind the résumé in the interview."

Wendy Enelow, author, trainer and career consultant, strongly suggests using a typestyle other than Times New Roman. Stay conservative and use fonts like Georgia, Tahoma, Bookman or Verdana.

• Include success stories. Write down several career achievements of which you are most proud, suggests Joanne Meehl, author of "The Résumé Queen's Job Search Thesaurus and Career Guide."

"Choose one or two of these career success stories to go on the résumé, in very brief form, near the top of page one," she says. "These examples of what the candidate has done and can do, grab the employer's attention."

• Analyze keywords. Analyze several job postings in the field for which you are looking for a job, says Cheryl Palmer, certified executive career coach and résumé writer. "Develop a list of keywords from those postings that you incorporate into the résumé under a subheading entitled 'core competencies.'

Employers search their database of résumés by keyword, so having these terms on your résumé increases your chances of your résumé being selected for further review."

During the interview

• Identify why you are a good fit. "Often people peruse a job for no other reason than it is available," says Danielle Weinstock, author of "Can This Elephant Curtsy on Cue? Life Lessons Learned On A Film Set For Women In Business." "Until you can determine why you and the company are a good match, you can't sell yourself."

• Keep your responses job-related. Many job seekers start off the interview on the wrong note when they respond to the statement, "Tell me about yourself," Palmer says. "Job seekers give a personal response instead of a professional response.

Your response will say, 'Hire me,' if you tailor your responses to the position you are applying for. Review that job announcement the night before the interview and write out some bullet points for yourself to speak to the employer's needs."


Entire story can be found at http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/17/cb.what.says.hire.me/index.html


Additional Interview Tips


• Know before you go. Be familiar with the background of those you're meeting with. This will help to remove some of the nerves that accompany interviews while removing the mystique of the interviewer. Also this shows you've gone above and beyond in your preparation. Disclaimer: be careful not to appear "stockerish" as this will creep-out the interviewer, undermining your overall effectiveness.

• Always request a business card. At the end of the conversation with each interviewer, make sure to ask for their card. If they don't have one, make sure to get a contact email address. You should email each interviewer within 24 hours of your interview to thank them for the interview and to express your interest in the opportunity. This is also an appropriate time to mention points you failed to emphasize during the interview and to address any red flags. Most important is to be thorough while remaining CONCISE!

• Remember the SAR method. Hiring managers want concrete examples to illustrate your strengths. "Situation", "Action", "Result".