CV Rsum Writing and Interviewing Tips and Traps

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CV/ Résumé Writing and Interviewing Tips and
Traps

• Bill Gouveia Bill Puckett
• Boston Orlando

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Objectives

• Not a complete overview of resume/CV writing,
  applying for a job, interviewing skills, salary
  and benefit negotiations, EEOC rules, and career
  development.
• Is Tips and Traps, Dos and Donts advice from
  Bill Bill, based on excessive years of
  experience!
• So, lets go!

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Getting a Job

• Dont panic!
• Dont let stress become distress
• What is the right mindset to have?
• Sales and Marketing (of You)
• Both parties are truly seeking a Win-Win outcome
  (not adversarial)
• 1. The job is right for you!
• 2. You are desired for the job!

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The Résumé

• Purpose To get you an interview!
• Do Get to know yourself
• Do Focus on accomplishments and outcomes
• Remember, you are selling yourself!
• You need to show that you are a differentiated
  product that they need
• Trap A résumé is a two-edged sword

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Résumé Formats

• Students Do use a chronological format
• Others Do consider a more functional format
• Residencies Use the CV format
• So, whats that? Whats the difference?

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Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Record of life
• Complete, formal, detailed, structured listing of
  relevant accomplishments
• Used for academic positions
• Résumé? Use for getting an interview for a job
  less structured, more focused on marketing you!

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Résumé Content

• Career objective?
• Yes!
• Do make it specific to the job
• Do choose your words carefully
• Do be brief, concise, meaningful
• Trap Dont try a one-size-fits-all

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Résumé Content

• Do remember intent Marketing you for an
  interview. Does it?
• Do front-end the résumé
• Do be brief, but be complete
• Trap the one-page obsession

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Résumé Content

• Do reflect on your accomplishments using action
  words
• Do show yourself as a leader
• responsible, accountable, in-charge
• Tip Include any activities that demonstrate
  these, or communication skills, life-balancing,
  self-responsibility

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Résumé Content

• Do show yourself as a do-er
• skills, experiences, accomplishments
• team player, communicator, initiator, dedicated,
  people skills
• Do include rotations, focusing on the above
  skills and attributes
• Do note language, speech, and computer skills

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Résumé Appearance

• Do have a nice looking package
• Trap Typpos are awfull!
• Tip Look at others model the best
• Tip Have friends critique
• Trap Distractions detract
• Tip Off-white is nice
• Trap Lay off different fonts underlining

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The Cover Letter

• Do Always!
• Do personalize to you and the job
• Tip Good place for core values
• Tip Research the organization first
• Tip End with looking forward to my interview I
  will call you to arrange
• Tip One-page rule applies
• Be brief, professional, personal, formal

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Submitting the Résumé

• Tip Hand-deliver if you can
• Trap Dont submit only to HR, despite what they
  say
• Tip Submit to several people if possible
• Tip Call say its coming Call ask if
  received Ask if an interview can be scheduled!

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Electronic Submissions

• Do cc yourself open and read
• Do carefully proof on-line applications Do mail
  one anyway
• Trap Dont send a photo or references unless
  they insist
• Do take references list with you to the interview

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Common Mistakes

• Unrelated career goals
• Informality
• Wasted space
• Form letters
• Inappropriate stationery
• Typpos

• Cutesy
• Erroneous information about company or yourself
  (sin!)
• Confessed shortcomings
• Photographs

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The Perfect Résumé . . .

• is a well-structured, easy to read, concise
  presentation of your accomplishments and
  capabilities, designed to convince a potential
  employer to want to interview you for a position
  for which you are qualified.

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The Interview

• The interview is the single most important part
  of getting the job

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Getting the Interview

• Trap Dont sit by the phone, use it!
• Tip Secretaries know all and tell all
• Tip Set an open-ended appointment time (have
  plenty of time)
• Tip Try to interview last
• Tip If no jobs available, ask for a screening
  interview and tour

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Preparing for the Interview

• Do research the organization, the job, and the
  interviewers
• Tip Know their website(s)
• Tip Talk to current past employees
• Tip Do a rehearsal (scouting) trip
• Do rehearse questions and responses with friends
• Do develop your questions

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Interview Day Arrives

• Do go alone, uncluttered
• Do dress up, lookin good!
• Do be punctual (5-15 min. early)
• Tip Stop by the bathroom
• You dont get a second chance to make a first
  impression
• Do have résumé, references list, and license copy
  with you

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The Interview Happens

• Do remember the objectives
• the job is right for you
• you are desired for the job
• Do ask where to sit
• Try to face the door, try for an end seat
• Do have good posture, but relax!
• Do take brief notes, keywords only

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The Interview Continues...

• Do make eye-contact and be friendly
• Tip Repeat names of introductions
• Tip Practice your handshake
• Tip Have a tissue and water handy
• Tip Do exchange cards
• Do think before you speak understand the
  question
• Tip Answer to everyone in the group

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The Interview Continues...

• Do assure you are being understood
• Tip Reflect on what you have said to assure
  continuity
• Tip Dont let stress questions unglue you
  what do they want to hear?
• Do focus on your positives
• Tip Spin negatives back to positives
• Tip Treat each question as an opportunity to
  sell your virtues

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The Interview Continues...

• Do interview the interviewers never ask nothing
• Trap No sex, no religion, no race, no
  disparaging, no gossip, period
• Trap Avoid Ill do anything to work here have
  clear job objectives
• Do try to get a tour meet other employees does
  it feel right?

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The Interview Wraps Up

• Do deliver a good impression how you look,
  listen, speak, respond, interact, learn,
  apply,laugh, and fit
• Do leave graciously thank everyone, repeat their
  names
• Tip Try to thank the secretary also
• Do ask if any further information is needed or
  desired

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Other Interview Tips

• Trap If a meal, avoid getting informal
• Do order conservatively no alcohol
• Telephone interviews
• Do by appointment only
• Dont have distractions in background
• If speakerphone, ask for introductions
• Do take keyword notes
• Tip At end, ask when you can come for an on-site
  interview!

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Inappropriate Questions

• Do assume no negative intent
• (usually trying to determine ability or
  dependability)
• Dont answer directly answer the real question
• If disparaging, acknowledge and try to move on
• Trap Dont over-react. Get it over with and
  leave graciously.

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After the Interview

• Do a self-debriefing
• Do send real thank-you letters, with an updated
  résumé and anything requested (E-mail only if
  necessary)
• Do follow-up by phone to see if anything else is
  needed
• Tip Ask the secretary for the time-line
• Do tell them if you take another job

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You Dont Want Their Job?

• Trap Never take a job you dont really want
• Do send a letter so stating as soon as possible.
  Thank them!
• Tip Build bridges, dont burn them
• Do make each interview a learning experience

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They Dont Want You?

• Dont feel dejected if rejected!
• You cant always get what you want, but you may
  get what you need.
• The Rolling Stones, 1977
• The right job is out there for you!