Tracy Davidson

• Important that you create the RIGHT resume, to get the Interview! Especially in today’s economy.  
• Understand each job and send an appropriate resume to reflect your experience. 
• Describe where you are going, not where you have been.
• Remember you are “Selling Yourself” so know your product!

SUGGESTED RESUME FORMAT BASICS:

 1-2 Pages, Simple/Consistent Text/Fonts – sizes 10-12, Bullet Format, Check Contact Information, & Appropriate Emails Only! Your information should be easy to scan for a ‘quick read’.

RESUME CONTENT:

• Overview or Summary (Not both, 3-5 sentences at MOST, written in 3^rd Person.)
• Does your resume state your relevant experience?  [Keywords to relate to the job listing.]
• Are your Key Accomplishments listed? What makes you different from someone in the same job?
• Did you Quantify & Qualify”- i.e.  “Managed team” instead try “Managed a staff of 5 operators as direct reports.“Saved company money” try “Cost savings of 15% in 2008”

• Action Words: Developed, Trained, Managed, Implemented…
• Clean Clear & Concise Content

RESUME No-No’s:

Do not: Use I or me, lie, exaggerate, leave out dates, leave Education vague with no degree/year, leave gaps, write everything you did with laundry lists, use different fonts with multiple sizes and MOST IMPORTANT, do not rely on SPELL CHECK alone!

TRACK YOUR RESUME:

• “Spray & Pray” will not work.
• Know where your resume is at all times.
• Know what version was submitted, then you can bring the correct version for an interview.

COVER LETTERS:

• Better safe then sorry… it’s suggested to include one.
• Keep it simple, short and to the point.
• Address the person by proper name, if you don’t know, call the company.
• Express your interest in the company and job – customize each letter

CAREER RESOURCES:

• Newspapers & Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, JobCircle – “JOB BOARDS”
• Associations/Professional Organizations
• Recruiter/Agencies/Career Coaches
• Personal Networks/Former Colleagues
• LinkedIn / Facebook / Twitter (Social Media Outlets)
• Indeed (www.indeed.com) / SimplyHired (www.simplyhired.com)  *Spiders job boards/websites.

INTERVIEWING:

• The INTERVIEW will get you the OFFER!
• Practice & Prepare, Practice & Prepare, Practice & Prepare. . .
• Know the type/style of interview, who you are meeting with and length of interview.
• Anticipate objections.
• Arrive with a firm handshake, look them in the eye, introduce yourself and thank them for their time. When you leave, a firm handshake and thank you and confirm your interest.
• Be PRESENT, acknowledge the person speaking, smile, nod when appropriate.
• Wear Business Professional Attire, arrive onsite at least 15 minutes early.
• Remember the interview starts when you arrive! Assume everyone has a say in hiring you, even assistants.

PREPARE & PRACTICE:

• Research the company
• Study and know the job description
• Prepare a few questions for the interview (always ask at least 1 questions, NOT Salary/Benefits)
• Be discretely confident.
• There is a noticeable difference in delivery from someone who has actually practiced.

INTERVIEW NO-NO’S:

Don’t Be: Late, looking around or seem distracted, over talk, be negative or talk down about a previous employer or boss, use slag, umms or yeah.

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

• What experience do you have that can relate to our company/job? (Know the Company)
• Why do you want to work for us? / Why should we hire you?
• What did you like/dislike about your last company/job? (Remain POSITIVE)
• Why are you seeking a new job? / What are you looking for in your next job?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• Do you work better in a team or independently? Which do you prefer?
• What motivates you?
  What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What salary are you looking for? (Consider staying open, based on the overall package.)
• Tell me about yourself. (Relevant to the job and your journey, past/present/future)
• Tell me of your best accomplishment. (Give example and provide details)
• Give me an example of multi-taking.
• Describe an objection and how you overcame it. (Explain objection, steps to overcome it, along with your outcome, what you learned.)

REFERENCES:

Ask for them BEFORE you leave your job, ask for contact information including personal in case they change positions. If you are unemployed reach out to those co-workers/managers to request them as a reference, asap. Make sure they can give you a reference.

NETWORKING:

• Create business cards for free: www.vistaprint.com (Contact Info, Typical Titles, LinkedIn Link)
• Attend events: Industry Specific, Job Fairs, Chamber of Commerce, and other career functions.
• Educate your family, friends and former co-workers of what you are looking for, they can be a great resource.
• Do not define yourself as “Unemployed.” Explain you and experience and you are “in transition.”

AGENCIES/STAFFING FIRMS/CAREER COACHES:

All are excellent resources! Manage your relationship, know where your resume is, keep them up to date.

10 Resume Tips to Consider

By: Kristin Kane, Kane Partner

1.         Font and Size – Keep it consistent. 10-12 size, Arial and Times New Roman are most common.

2.         Details – Do not re-write your job description. Instead, incorporate your accomplishments and what value you added to the job description. Examples: cost savings of $x, meeting deadlines on time or ahead of schedule, implementing processes or procedures etc. What makes you different or unique?

3.         Dates – Double check your dates to be sure they are accurate on your resume. Do not lie or misrepresent this in any way. It will cost you the job or offer. Using months and years are preferred.

4.         Education – Clarify if you are degreed or ‘in process’ taking classes, note your major/minor and if you have a strong GPA consider including that as well.

5.         Objective – Consider omitting the objective and replacing it with a summary or overview that sums up your experience and value added.  Remember to keep this objective and factual, written in third person.

6.         Customizing – Always review your resume before sending it to a company. If you know you are a fit for the role, your resume has to read that you can do the job. You may have to edit your resume to fit a job and ensure a call.  Do not assume the person reading your resume knows what you do because of your job title. Remember an employer is looking to see what you can do for them!

7.         Industry Terms/Acronyms – Each company/industry has terms/acronyms that are unique. Spell out the acronym first and define it if needed. For example if you are running a proprietary software database write that vs. just INLEX CRM. Do not miss an opportunity to link your skills and experience to the job description. Do not get lost in translation!

8.         Approach – Write your resume for the job you want not the job you have. The resume is the vehicle to get you the interview the interview is what will get you the job.

9.         Style – In today’s market the competition is fierce, making a well crafted resume is even more important. It should be easy to read locate skills, catch the attention of the reader and say “Pick Me.” Consider Bullets that begin with Action Verbs that explain your experience, most important/significant at the top.  Add a skills section that pulls out keywords explaining your industry skills/exposure.

10.       Spelling/Grammar – This is your first impression to potential employer. Grammatical errors, spacing, word use, spelling all are the most common mistakes on a resume. If you want to stand out don’t rely of spell/grammar check, get a second person’s opinion!

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