NuevaVida
Posts: 6707
Joined: 8/5/2008
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I would add to the good advice already given on this thread:
* List your accomplishments. Anyone can be responsible for XYZ and do a lousy job at it. What did you accomplish? How much money did you save the company? How many projects did you juggle at one time, and did you come in on deadline, under budget? etc.?
* If you have one or more degrees, list them. Often times resumes are fed through resume scanners, programmed to search for particular words. Many resumes are automatically rejected without ever being read.
* List any pertinent organizations you are a part of, and any certificates you hold. When I was a Notary Public I always listed that on my resume, because regardless of what position I was in, it was a useful skill to offer a company. If you are a member of Rotary Club, or anything of the like, list it, but keep political affiliations off your resume.
* After sending your resume, call and follow-up, asking if they have received it and what their timeline is for scheduling interviews, stating you look forward to meeting with them.
* Be confident in your interview. Practice with someone if you feel you might be rusty in your interview skills. You don't want to get there and start stuttering nervously while trying to come up with your answers to their questions. Also, this is your interview, too, meaning you should interview them as much as they are interviewing you. Do your homework about the company and ask questions about what direction they're taking, and about the department you're interviewing to be placed in - what are their goals and objectives, what projects do they have on the horizon, etc.
* Know why you want to work there. The odds are, you'll be asked. You love what they do, and why. You are impressed with their company values (this is where doing your homework pays off). They make a great product and you want to be part of it, or they have a great reputation in the community, etc.
* When you receive an offer, a rule of thumb I have often heard (and only occasionally exercised) is whoever states a dollar figure first loses the negotiation. While this is not always true, there is some substance to that. Do your homework - go to www.salary.com to research what the going salary is for that particular position in that particular area in that particular industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics site can also be helpful in this regard.
* Be careful about name-dropping, if you already know someone in the organization. Unless done with great finesse, name-dropping can be obvious and annoying, and can work against you.
* Dress for success! Wear a suit and present yourself as well put together, alert, and ambitious.
* Organize yourself. I always kept an Excel spreadsheet of where I sent resumes, a sentence or two describing the company, the date I sent the resume, and a follow-up date. You don't want to receive a phone call and be clueless as to who they are; rather, you've been waiting for their call as you're eager to talk to them about joining their firm.
* If you're mailing your resume, use good resume paper. Don't experiment with fonts or paper colors. Arial is a good standard font to use, no less than 11 point. In the days before emailing resumes, I used a thicker stock of paper than the standard, and everyone I interviewed with commented on it positively. But online resumes are typically the way things work these days.
Enjoy the process!
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Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.
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RE: Resumes and interviews - 
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