Is your Resume On Target?
When writing a resume, create a mental picture of a desk piled high with dozens or even hundreds of resumes next to each other. These resumes were submitted by people who want the job you are applying for and are just as qualified as you. Keeping this image forefront is critical to your success in creating compelling “ad copy.”It will force you to focus on creating a strong title and a targeted opening which tells the employer to consider your qualifications with care.
Each reader who picks up your resume will make a quick decision as to whether to read it carefully — therefore, the top one-third of your resume should include a powerful statement that sums who you are and encapsulates your professional experience.
These are the questions a hiring manager wants answered:
The field you are in — even more specifically, what department you want to work in and the title you would like to have.
How much experience you have in a similar position or in the field?
What special skills and/or certifications you have?
The difficult problems you have solved and what you have accomplished.
The advances you have made throughout your career.
The type of person you are and your work characteristics.
A profile statement is an overview, a brief summary of your accomplishments. It should be 1-2 paragraphs long with of 3-4 sentences, or perhaps a series of bulleted points.
Here’s an example of a tightly written, short summary statement
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Accomplished marketing and business development executive with perennial record of success driving marketing strategies and capitalizing on opportunities that have led to multi million-dollar growth.
Able to deliver results that position organizations for immediate and long-term growth. Expert presenter, astute marketer, and confident team leader with documented strength in forging strong, sustainable executive-level relationships. Skillful change agent with advanced problem solving and communication skills. Understands both macro picture of market issues and minute details necessary for successful business solutions. Goal-driven.
Below is an example of series bulleted statements
Accomplished manager with 20+ years of experience as Environmental, Health & Safety specialist for industry-leading organizations. Maintain highest quality standards to avoid time and cost expenditures.
Quality and safety specialist with the ability to analyze operations, pinpoint areas for improvement and redesign, and implement plans that generate profitable results.
Excellent relationship builder with success in forming strong, sustainable relationships and securing consensus among cross-functional team members for key initiatives.
To wrap up
The most qualified candidate is not always the one to get an interview — the one with the strongest resume is. Your profile sets the tone for the rest of the resume, and serves as a tease that invites the reader to take notice. A resume is more than just a piece of paper, and as a job seeker it is your responsibility to make it easy for the reader to conclude that you are the best candidate for an interview. A targeted opening will capture the interest of the reader.
Tips on Behavioral Interview
Definitions:The behavioral interview technique is used by employers to evaluate a candidate’s experiences and behaviors in order to determine their potential for success.?
“The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior”
Behavioral Interviews are very common today. Behavioral interview questions are designed to find out how you would react (or have reacted) in specific situations. The idea is that past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior. You must be prepared for some of these questions; they are often quite difficult to answer well without preparation.
A behavioral interview is one of the methods recruiters use to establish your potential to succeed. In the majority of cases, the company will prepare specific questions for you to answer. The answers you give will then be used to determine your potential and your ability to perform the role you are applying for.
The ‘behavioral interview ” is based upon the premise that past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior.
The central role of interviewing in most selection processes demands that the interviewer is skilled to collect the most relevant and valid behavioral examples from candidates to
Behavioral interviews are commonly used by larger international companies to get a better sense of how a candidate approaches tasks and solves problems. This type of interview usually focuses on a number of individual ‘behaviors’ or ‘competencies’ that the company has identified as being particularly important for the job. These competencies would include teamwork, creativity, persistence, communications and so on.
The technique that the interviewer uses is to ask the candidate to describe situations that they have actually experienced. For example, if they want to examine the issue of teamwork they might ask you about your best team experience and why you consider it the best.
The basic idea is that past performance determines future performance and if you have strong teamwork capabilities or tendencies this will come through when you describe your best team. A candidate who prefers to work alone will find it difficult to think about and describe an effective team.
The Behavioral Interview – Some Tips
The interviewer asks specific questions about a candidate’s skills, character and preferences based on examples of past behavior. During the behavioral interview, questions are directed towards specific experiences. Some examples are shown below:
“Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person at work.”
“What proactive steps have you taken to make your workplace more efficient and productive? Specifically describe a policy, project or system you created or initiated.”
“Describe a high pressure situation you had to handle at work. Tell me what happened, who was involved and what you did in terms of problem solving.”
“Some situations require us to express ideas or opinions in a very tactful and careful way. Tell me about a time when you were successful in this type of situation.”
Helpful Hints:
The key in behavioral interviewing is to paint a picture of the reasons and think about the decision or behavior without bringing in unessential details. It is expected that forming an answer will take time. Think your examples through.
Be aware of the tendency to become too relaxed and reveal information that you didn’t intend to share. You need to do your part to foster the conversational tone, but don’t become so relaxed that you start straying from the point. Be friendly and remain professional.
Job Interview Mistakes You Should Avoid
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING
When you interview with a prospective employer, you probably have 100 things running through your head, and this may cause you much anxiety. However, if you can focus on the most important items of the interview, then you will feel more relaxed and in control of the message you wish to send. Many people find it helpful to know what not to do in the interview in order to better understand what they should do.
TOP 8 INTERVIEW MISTAKES TO AVOID
In order to best prepare yourself for that all-important interview, make sure you avoid the following mistakes that could prevent you from winning that position.
1. Dressing inappropriately
Know the culture of the company. Don’t dress in business casual if many of the current employees wear more conservative clothing—you want to look like you already fit the bill.
2. Appearances that are loud, bright, excessive, or extreme
Resist the temptation to wear perfume, bright colors, or loud nail polish; cover up those tattoos. You want the interviewer to focus on your skills and accomplishments, not your appearance.
3. Being late to the interview
This mistake pretty much speaks for itself. This leaves a bad taste in any prospective employer’s mouth. If you can’t be on time for the interview, how dependable could you be as an employee? Arrive at least ten minutes before the interview begins.
4. Not asking questions
Do not sit like a bump on a log during your interview. Show interest in the company by asking the employer what his or her biggest challenges are; what the average work day for this position is like; or what the next step is following the interview. The questions you ask are indicative of your interest in the position. If you don’t ask questions, the interviewer will assume you won’t accept the job offer if it is extended.
5. Asking about salary and benefits
The appropriate time to discuss issues of compensation is when a firm offer is on the table. Don’t bring up the topic prematurely. Take the time to learn about the company and the open position. In the end, money isn’t everything. Career satisfaction comes in many forms (opportunity for growth, a collaborative team environment, etc.). Most individuals are seeking positions due to issues other than financial matters. So during the interview, concentrate on what really matters—the responsibilities of the job at hand.
6. Lack of resume or vita copies
Don’t assume that the employer already has a copy of your resume. Many employers now conduct group interviews, so you should always bring extra copies of your resume to pass around. This will demonstrate that you have foresight and consideration.
7. Being unprepared for the questions
Avoid going blank during the interview by preparing your answers in advance to some of the most common interview questions. You will appear poised and confident to the employer.
8. Dishonesty
Never, ever lie to an employer to get the position. You undermine your own strengths and abilities and the trust of the interviewer. If you can’t get the position based on current and potential skills and accomplishments, then you probably shouldn’t be applying for that particular position.
MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION
Now that you are aware of the most common interview mistakes, you can take proactive steps to ensure that your interview is the best that it can be. Review the above list before each interview and formulate your plan to make an outstanding impression.
Simple and Essential Interview Etiquettes To Follow
When appearing for that all-important job interview, you must make sure that everything you say and do goes in your favor. Since the job interview is a crucial part of your job search, it is imperative to present to the interviewer a side if you that is courteous, responsible, pleasant, intelligent, trustworthy and talented. Actually several other points can be added to this list!
This is where the importance of following Interview Etiquette’s gains importance.
Though very basic, often candidates fail to follow these essential etiquette’s which are primarily associated with a successful interview. Here are some -
Appearing for the Interview On Time: Whatever you do, never be late for the interview. Do your homework in advance – acquaint yourself with the location of the interview venue so that you do not have to hunt for directions at the last minute. Start early – there is no harm in arriving early and waiting for your turn.
Communicate Well With the Interviewer: Make eye contact and reply to their questions with confidence and ease. Never use crude language and don’t speak out of turn.
Dress Professionally: First impressions are often the last. refrain from being too casual, ostentatious or over the top when it comes to dressing suitable for the interview. Short skirts, wrinkled and ill fitted clothes, t-shirts and very loud colors are a strict NO-NO. Instead, opt for well ironed, clean and conservative clothes that enhance your appearance and add to your professional, no nonsense image.
Personal Cleanliness: Cut and clean your nails, wear well ironed clothes, comb your hair properly and refrain from wearing over powering colognes, perfumes, junk jewellery and excessive makeup.
While at a lunch interview, your social skills will be put to the test. Hence, remember to -
* Eat slowly
* never speak with food in your mouth
* focus your attention on the conversation rather than your food
* refrain from ordering messy food
Most importantly, smile, be positive and shake hands with confidence.
Cover Letter Writing
What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume in response to an advertised position. It is a letter of introduction that highlights your key achievements and entitles you for a job opening. A cover letter should be tailored to different jobs, different employers. Few employers seriously consider a resume that is not accompanied by a cover letter. Cover letters are typically one-page documents.
What is the purpose of a Cover Letter?
A cover letter reflects your communication skills and your personality. The main purpose of this document is to introduce you in such an interesting manner that the reader will not only continue reading your resume but also be willing to call you in for an interview.
Why is a Cover Letter so important?
A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you are seeking, and exactly how you are qualified for that position. It also tells the hiring manager what caused you to apply: whether an advertisement, the recommendation of a friend who works there, or your own research, etc. This information tells the hiring manager how well you know the firm and position. This alone can encourage the employer to keep reading.
This is the first document the reader views, and if it fails to captivate interest your resume might not be viewed at all.
Cover Letter Writing Tips
* Make your cover letter brief and simple
* Be direct and natural
* Mention the position you are applying for
* Explain how you learned of the position
* Write why you are a perfect candidate for the position
* Propose a meeting
* Tailor your cover letter to different readers
Professionalism
Professionalism
Interviews are like anything else in life, they take practice to perfect. The job market is highly competitive so you should always maintain a high standard of professionalism. This is guaranteed to impress your potential employer, as it will show focus and maturity.
What is Professionalism?
Professionalism is: Presentation, Punctuality and Preparation.
Presentation: Presentation is not just the clothes you wear, but your general presentation during the interview. Dress for success, formal attire is the best option. Look the part and you will be more likely to get it. Body language such as eye contact and how you greet your interviewer are important. Shaking hands is a sign of confidence and respect so is making regular eye contact. Always be polite not just during the interview but to any one you may have contact with in the office or work environment.
Punctuality: Being on time is essential to a successful interview. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, map out a route if you are unsure in any way. Being early gives you time to relax and prepare for your interview. If you are going to be late or unable to attend for any unforeseeable reason call ahead and let them know. This will show them that you are serious and that you take your commitments seriously.
Preparation: Get to know the company you are hoping to work for. A little background information can go a long way. You should research the company well before applying to it. You must be prepared to discuss the industry, the company’s relative size within that industry and show that you know who the major players and competitors are
Frequently Asked Questions
All interview questions are designed to find out your ability to fit-in and contribute to the specific workgroup. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions to help you prepare for your interview:
Tell us about yourself?
Tell them in detail how your experience would relate to the position you are being interviewed for. Be as detailed as possible about your family background, educational background and previous job experience.
Why are you interested in this position?
Tell your employer why you chose to apply for this position. Explain why you are a perfect match for the position and how you will do full justice to the same. Use relevant examples from your family background, educational background and previous job experience.
What do you know about this company?
You should research the company well before applying to it. You must be prepared to discuss the industry, the company’s relative size within that industry and show that you know who the major players and competitors are
What salary are you drawing?
The question is not difficult to answer – just be honest and give the figure. In all probability, your next employer may base your salary on this amount. However, the problem arises when you feel you are being underpaid in your current organization. You may feel tempted to lie, but do not give in, as checks can be easily made and you may be disqualified. In case you are getting additional perks, incentives or commissions, do not forget to mention them, as they are important while negotiating salary.
Most Successful Interview Tips
An Employer looks for intelligence (intellectual and emotional), communication skills, leadership qualities, ethics, competence, energy, imagination etc., from the candidate.
Why Do Candidates Fail In An Interview
* Poor grooming
* Discourteous and ungraceful body language
* Poor manners
* Poor diction
* Vague responses
* Unappealing resume
* Monetary benefits-centric approach
* Lack of punctuality
* Poor waiting hall behaviour
Some Behavioural “Unfavourable” Aspects
* Lack of personal or career goals
* Lack of enthusiasm and confidence
* Not owning up responsibility for mistakes
* Self-justification, aggressiveness
* Lack ofemotional maturity
* Negative and cynical attitude
* Over-reacting to questions
* Lacking sense of humour
* Complaining about various things and previous employers
Preparing for an interview – Look for
* Company’s main products and services and likely new products and services
* Its key markets, its position in market and between major competitors
* Its financial position / profit / turnover
* Its history, reputation and achievements
* Arrange all the papers required in a folder : Resume / CV, call letters, degree certificates, mark lists, NSS, NCC, sports / games certificates, experience certificates, references.
The Previous Day
* Confirm the venue of the interview, distance, and mode of transport
* Locate the venue earlier
* Relax, have good sleep, visualize and pray
The Interview Day
* Reach the venue at least 45 minutes ahead of the interview
* Get familiar with the amblience
* Don’t carry too much baggage
* Report to the authority concerned
Types of Resumes
There are three basic types of resumes: Chronological, Functional, and “combined” Chronological – Functional. To see what these styles look like, get a resume book. They are usually terrible guides for how to write an excellent resume, but they are good to see different formats. We would love to show you what complete resumes look like but your web browser would probably do unspeakable things to the formatting.
CHRONOLOGICAL
The chronological resume is the more traditional structure for a resume. The Experience section is the focus of the resume; each job (or the last several jobs) is described in some detail, and there is no major section of skills or accomplishments at the beginning of the resume. This structure is primarily used when you are staying in the same profession, in the same type of work, particularly in very conservative fields. It is also used in certain fields such as law and academia. It is recommended that the chronological resume always have an “Objective” or “Summary,” to focus the reader.
The advantages: May appeal to older, more traditional readers and be best in very conservative fields. Makes it easier to understand what you did in what job. May help the name of the employer stand out more, if this is impressive. The disadvantage is that it is much more difficult to highlight what you do best. This format is rarely appropriate for someone making a career change.
FUNCTIONAL
The functional resume highlights your major skills and accomplishments from the very beginning. It helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them, rather than having to read through the job descriptions to find out. It helps target the resume into a new direction or field, by lifting up from all past jobs the key skills and qualifications to help prove you will be successful in this new direction or field. Actual company names and positions are in a subordinate position, with no description under each. There are many different types of formats for functional resumes. The functional resume is a must for career changers, but is very appropriate for generalists, for those with spotty or divergent careers, for those with a wide range of skills in their given profession, for students, for military officers, for homemakers returning to the job market, and for those who want to make slight shifts in their career direction.
Advantages: It will help you most in reaching for a new goal or direction. It is a very effective type of resume, and is highly recommended. The disadvantage is that it is hard for the employer to know exactly what you did in which job, which may be a problem for some conservative interviewers.
COMBINED
A combined resume includes elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It may be a shorter chronology of job descriptions preceded by a short “Skills and Accomplishments” section (or with a longer Summary including a skills list or a list of “qualifications”); or, it may be a standard functional resume with the accomplishments under headings of different jobs held.
There are obvious advantages to this combined approach: It maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes, avoiding potential negative effects of either type. One disadvantage is that it tends to be a longer resume. Another is that it can be repetitious: Accomplishments and skills may have to be repeated in both the “functional” section and the “chronological” job descriptions.
Technical Interview
After clearing the written test Technical Interview is another hurdle to cross. Most of the candidates are filtered in Technical Interview. Questions asked in Technical Interview entirely depend on the interviewer. Imagine the situation in which you are very proficient in Java, but the interviewer does not know Java. Interviewers prefer to ask questions in the subjects which they know well. I should say that luck plays a bit in the Technical Interview.
One more thing to be mentioned here is that, most of the interviewers dont prepare for the interview. As most of the interviewers are 4 to 5 years experience, they might have lost the touch on the subjects. So you should be confident in answering the questions. It is another interesting is that interviewers dont know answers for some of the questions they ask. They will judge the confidence of the candidate by asking this type of questions.
Being confident while answering does not mean that you should argue with the interviewer. If you make a blunder and interviewer finds it, you should be humble enough to accept your blunder.
Most of the interviewers look for passion for learning in you. You should be able to convey to the interviewer that you are eager to learn and you have passion for technology.
Interviewers prefer to ask questions for the subjects or languages mentioned in your resume. You should be proficient in the languages or technologies mentioned in your resume. Many candidates feel that if you putting more languages and technologies in resume will help. But that is not true. Even if you know one or two languages, if you are able to answer most of the questions in those languages you will be selected. So my advice is that you should go through your resume and delete the technologies or languages in which you are not proficient or lost the touch.
Gearing Up for the Interview
That nobody is perfect is the maxim that sounds even more pertinent in the context of an interview. Interview is without a doubt a trepidation for everyone, and the novices and the old hands alike find themselves on pins and needles at the prospect of being interviewed.
What makes people lose sleep over the interviews is essentially an apprehension of the unforeseen, a dread of being confronted with something they don’t know; and no matter how many interviews has one faced and sailed through, every new interview brings a new pain in the neck. Jitteriness hangs over everyone; only the intensity may differ.
And though there are no alternatives to awareness and conviction, there are certain guidelines which when followed will put off some seemingly trifling slip-ups, which could turn your interview into a dismal affair at the end of the day. These are the gimmicks that must be exercised if the interview is to be saved from some apparently petty blunders.
Before Taking the Bull by the Horns
The homework starts right from the word go- immediately after you receive the interview call. Apart from brushing up your technical know-how, which is undoubtedly pivotal to your success, you need to pay heed to some aspects that will pump up your confidence level and help keep off nerves at the interview table.
Reaching for the interview late may put the interviewer off, as it can also dampen your spirit. So to have an idea as to when you should leave for the interview, just go by the venue at least one day prior to the interview as a rehearsal.
Envisage the likely questions and picture yourself answering them with confidence. Keep telling yourself that you are good enough to sail through. This will infuse just enough confidence in you, and that’ll make all he difference in the interview.
Consider the dress you’ll be wearing. ‘Formal dress’ is often a deceptive phrase as it may mean different clothing for different companies. Sometimes, it’s indispensable to put on a three-piece, while the other day it may seem too much of affectation; only a tie with formal shirt and trousers may do. Make out what dress could be apposite for a particular company.
If the company is too far-off and your dress is likely to get rumpled in the bus, better travel in a taxi. Carry a comb in your pocket. There is no excuse for a clumsy appearance in the interview.
Reach the venue at least half an hour in advance so that you have enough time for having a breather and bracing up for the interview. Arriving at the last minute and entering the interview room panting will reveal you in a poor light and you won’t be in the right kind of frame to take on the interview.
In case the interview does not commence on the scheduled time, don’t lose you focus. Don’t be distracted and maintain your composure. Read some magazine or talk to the people about the company. Go out for a breath of air but don’t go too far away. And don’t ever let it show that you disliked being made to wait. You have got some time on hand, so use it discreetly.
Inside the Interview Chamber
Pull yourself up the moment you are summoned inside the interview chamber, and enter the room with an air of confidence. And while you are taking on the real deal, practice the following:
Maintain a body language suggesting confidence and cheerfulness. Don’t look uneasy or dispirited. Smile at appropriate moments.
Maintain eye contact while answering the questions. This will suggest that you are confident enough.
If there is more than one interviewer, address to all of them. Remember names if you can and address by the names. Sound confident but avoid being brash.
Saying ‘sorry’ or ‘pardon’ when you couldn’t quite get the interviewer is civility, but making the interviewer repeat something for you too often could really make you sorry at the end of the day. You say ‘sorry; once, and the interviewer willingly repeats, you say again, and he takes notice, you say thrice, and his exasperation shows, you go on to say yet again, and you just lose it all. What puts the interviewer off is the revelation that you are not all ears during the interview. So better listen attentively and minimize ‘being sorry’ or ‘begging pardon’.
Don’t speak too loudly or too faintly. Maintain a pitch that is audible as well within the perimeter of courtesy.
Don’t delve too much on a topic. Neither keep the answers too short. Just speak enough on every topic.
Use wit and make the interviewer smile. But again, discern the faint edge between humour and discourtesy. Also, whatever you speak to bring smiles on the interviewers’ face should sound germane to the topic. However, use this trick sparingly- making the interviewer chuckle twice in an interview is just sufficient.
Some questions may be devised to judge your self-restraint and tolerance as a professional. So if a question sounds provoking, don’t fall for the trick. Avoid acting feverishly and maintain your cool. Handle such questions discreetly and with shrewdness.
Try to make out what is going through the interviewer’s mind while you are answering to the questions. His body language may well give you a clue if he’s listening to you attentively or you are just pushing on an off-putting gab. Put on the brakes the moment you discern that you have deviated off the point.
The interviewer might ask you towards the close of the interview if you have any questions. Don’t think it impolite to ask a question or two. Rather, not asking a question could revel that you just want the interview to be over, so go ahead. However, exercise caution regarding the question you pose. Never inquire about the salary. Preferably, show inquisitiveness about your role or the organisation.
In the end when all is said and done and you make an exit from the interview cell, you might well be knowing in your heart that you’ve just made it. After all, it’s all about being confident and acting astutely.