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Resume Tips

1.Why do we need a resume?
The resume is a one or two page document which depicts a strong statement regarding your skills, abilities and education to peak the interest of the reviewer.

2. Dos & Don'ts of resume preparation
* Include keywords in conveying your skills
* Use active verbs
* Double check for grammar and spelling errors
* Never list your salary on the resume
* Do not indicate skills you do not possess

3. Do not include your personnel information such as:
* Your age
* Your marital status
* Your children's ages
* Any details about your physical shortcomings
* Any type of negativity
* Your height, weight or photo
* Do a self-assessment of your skills and abilities, what makes you an interesting candidate to an interviewer.

4. Setting up your resume in a favorable format which includes the following:

* Name & Address
* Career Objective
* Education
* Technical Skills
* Work Experience
* Interests
* Activities
* Awards
* Miscellaneous
* References

* Name & Address
Record your full name (Surname first) and your current home address.
Provide a phone number where you can be reached at all times complete with area code.
If you have an e-mail address be sure to include it on the resume.

* Career Objective
This is your sales pitch. Keep it short. Keep it precise. Don't ramble. Stay focused.
Write no more than one sentence including position applied for or two, but only if you absolutely have to.
For example, if you are looking for a Hardware Engineering position, can write "A position in Hardware Engineering that will best utilize my skills"

* Education
Employers are not interested in your primary schooling. Make sure you have all educational certificates and be prepared to present them on request.
The educational section should address the following.
* List your undergraduate & graduate degrees first
* Include academic honors
* Brief details of specialized training, internships or graduate projects
* List professional and occupational organizations
* Military Service if applicable

* Technical Skills
Skill is determined as the ability to do something well, especially as a result of experience.
Most skills are transferable to other work settings and can be grouped in many ways.
For example: computer languages, operating systems, years of management, tools required, networking protocols, etc.

* Work Experience
List all jobs held, full or part time, paid or unpaid. Begin with your present or last job and list all jobs you have held in a yearly format(1985-1990). It is important to identify the skills used or learned.
Be sure and include the following for each position held.
* Dates of employment
* Employed Employers' Details
* Job Title
* Your Key Tasks and Responsibilities

* Interests
This is an optional category on your resume. It is your chance to introduce a human element into your resume. List here hobbies, travel experiences, special talents.

* Activities
This is an optional category on your resume. Include this section if you have available space. Include social or civil activities, health, fitness or sports activities, which indicate how you spend your leisure time.

* Awards
This is an optional category on your resume. Be sure to list awards that relate to the kind of job you are seeking. List scholarships, class standing, special recognition and academic achievements.

* Miscellaneous
Your soft skills such as: oral/written communication skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility/Versatility skills, analytical /problem solving skills, organization/planning skills, time management skills, self-starter/initiative skills, team player skills, motivation levels, and leadership skills.

* References
Do not list references on your resume. Better you state on your resume that your references are "Available upon request." Prepare a separate list of professional references (3-5), including name, title, address, and business phone number of each person who agreed to be a reference for you.


Interview Tips

Your main goal at any interview is to successfully communicate to the hiring manager exactly how your experience, education, skills and personality traits will make a substantial positive impact to the position/company for which you are applying.

Listed below are some helpful hints you may wish to consider when interviewing for a position:

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Take advantage of this time to assess yourself. Know what kind of position you are seeking, and the qualifications you possess to be able to do the job.
Recognize both your strengths and weaknesses before you begin the interview process.
Do not expect the interviewer to tell you where you might fit into the organization.
You should have some idea where your skills may be utilized in the company.
Review your resume one last time and bring at least one copy to the interview.

You should make an attempt to gain some knowledge of the organizations products and services, locations of other divisions. It would be to your advantage to know something of the organizations policies and current employment opportunities. Much of this information can be found on the company's internet website.

Be well groomed and in business attire. Never chew gum or smoke during the interview.

Arrive at least ten minutes early for the interview. If you are unsure of the interview location, make that determination a day or two before the day of your meeting. You may wish to call the receptionist and confirm the address and directions to the company.

Be sure you know the interviewers name and the proper pronunciation as well as his/her job title. The receptionist can help in this regard as well.

Prepare a list of questions you would like to know about the position and the company, but only ask if encouraged by the interviewer to do so.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Greet the interviewer by last name (Mr. Smith). Project energy, confidence and enthusiasm. Smile and shake hands firmly. Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, be alert and give the impression that you are genuinely interested. Listen carefully to the interviewer and respond succinctly and articulate well. Look the interviewer in the eye while speaking. Use proper English and avoid slang, remember you have only one opportunity to make a positive first impression.

Sell yourself. Don't just answer the interviewer's question. Look for an opportunity to communicate your past achievements. If it's appropriate, illustrate your strongest abilities providing examples from your past employment. You should also stress personal qualities and that you are considered a team player. Try to address any underlying questions you think the interviewer may have about the suitability for the position.

Ask questions that relate to the business of the company, the organization and most importantly the position. Find out, for instance, what the position responsibilities consist of, what training is provided, how much travel is involved.

Do not make negative remarks about present or former employers. When explaining your reasons for leaving, communicate you rationale professionally. Try not to answer questions with a simple "Yes" or "No". Explain yourself but do not over-answer questions. Should the interviewer steer the conversation into controversial or even illegal topics, try to do more listening than speaking. Keep your responses non-committal.

Do not inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement plans etc., during the initial interview. If the interviewer asks what level of salary you are seeking, indicate what you have earned in the past. Do not inflate salary of prior positions which cannot be verified. Let the interviewer know that you are more interested in the opportunity and not just a higher salary. Be proactive and express you keen interest in the position by asking about the next step in the interview process.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Send a follow-up thank you letter within two days of the interview. Make sure you get the name of everyone who you interviewed with and send them a thank-you letter as well. The follow-up letter is your last chance to sell yourself and your strong interest in the position.