Job Hunting: The Application Process and Interview Techniques
Job Hunting: The Application Process
Finding, applying, and interviewing for jobs can be an overwhelming process. The following pages and resources will hopefully simplify the process and make your job search more successful! You will find resume tips and a template to help create that eye-catching document that potential employers see first, typically before ever meeting you in person. There are also interview tips and suggestions as well as possible questions to consider in an interview.
Culturally, we have become very casual. As you begin your career/job search, you may find it helpful to know what traits employers use to define good employees. Take the following quiz (excerpted from the 12/14/15 Career Solutions Publishing newsletter) to see if you know what those traits are. If you do, good for you. If you don't, make an effort to incorporate them into your work habits! Then check out the resume and interview pages nested within this section.
How to Be a Great Employee
What's the difference between a great employee and an adequate employee?
A great employee takes pride in doing excellent work, while an adequate employee just wants to get the job done. If you love what you do, you will do your best. When you are passionate about your job, you take your first step to becoming a great employee. Great employees get promotions, pay raises, respect, responsibility, excellent relationships, and career advancement. Adequate employees get by with slow advancement and limited financial rewards.
Action: Enter a plus (+) at the left if the sentence represents a great employee and a minus (-) if it indicates an adequate employee.
1. I go beyond what I'm told to do.____________
2. I stick to deadlines when I can.____________
3. I keep trying to improve myself.____________
4. I do things right the first time.____________
5. I get frustrated with things and people, and they can see it.____________
6. I don't miss deadlines.____________
7. I wait for someone else to tell me what to do.____________
8. I do the best I can without exerting myself.____________
9. I tie down all the details before stopping.____________
10. I can't wait to stop having to learn new things.____________
11. Personal problems bother me at work.____________
12. I overcome negative thoughts and look for the positive.____________
13. I handle as many details as possible in the time available.____________
14. I leave my personal problems at home.______
Which employee will you be—great or adequate? Enter an "X" on the right for each description that represents you.
Numbers that describe great employees: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14
Resume Best Practices
Always remember that the purpose of a resume is to get an interview and the resume is typically the first impression you can make with a potential employer. There are 3 important principles to remember.
PRINCIPLE 1: Depending on the size and organization of a company, a resume will be read by either a department manager, a human resource manager, or both. A resume is typically scanned for the highlights, so you want to get noticed quickly in written form.
PRINCIPLE 2: Managers receive a minimum of 150 to 200 resumes per job posting. Few of us like to read documents (which is what a resume is), so you want to make a quick impact by standing out against the other resumes submitted for the same position.
PRINCIPLE 3: A resume is the first impression that you give. Make it perfect and engaging.
Develop a master resume for your reference. Ignore length as it will never be sent. It is a working document.
Tailor the resume as best as you can each time you submit it.
Including only the specific qualifications that best match the posted position.
Make the resume reader friendly and visually appealing
Use an easy to read font like Ariel or Calibri, nothing smaller than 10 pt. type.
Balance white space and text. Avoid 1/2" margins and huge blocks of text.
Time limitations and the volume of resumes received cause recipients to scan a resume.
Use keywords and job or industry appropriate terms.
No secret to keywords. Refer to the prospective employer's job description and use those same precise words within your resume.
Use bullet statements to make a point.
Make the resume engaging.
Limit the resume to 2 pages (1 if you are a student).
Be sure the most relevant information is in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the 1st page.
Don't expect the hiring manager to sift through text in order to discover why you're a great candidate.
Provide a short job description and emphasize results.
Limit job descriptions to 2 to 3 sentences.
Focus on relevant accomplishments.
Start each sentence with an action verb. Use present tense for a current position, present or past tense for previous positions.
Don't give anyone a reason to throw your resume out!
Proof and reproof a resume for typos, incorrect spelling, and poor or incorrect grammar.
Make sure your contact information is accurate.
Do not abbreviate or use acronyms. Spell out street names, schools, and terms.
Be honest. Lies and exaggerations will be flushed out during interviews and reference checks.
Include all employment, even if you don't list responsibilities and accomplishments.
Managers look for employment gaps.
Gaps won't prevent an interview if they can be explained.
Include a cover letter.
Managers may not read the, but failure to include one looks as though you failed to complete the task.
Use the "T" cover letter format.
Keep your resume current with formatting trends.
Include your LinkedIn URL. Delete your street address if you need space.
Depending on the job location, you may want to omit your physical address and use only your electronic address.
If your email address is: loveskittycats@gmail.com, open a professional sounding account to be used for job applications.
Replace the Objective Statement with a Professional Summary.
Do not include:
References or a reference statement.
Pictures of yourself and personal information.
Your GPA after your first job
SIMPLE RESUME TEMPLATE:
If you've never created a resume before, download this document and use it as a template. First Resume
The Interview: Tips and Techniques
Congratulations! If you are reading this page, it probably means that you have either submitted a resume or job application and have been called for an interview. It is critical to remember that although you have been given the opportunity to interview for the job, you are not the only candidate. There are probably others being interviewed that are equally well qualified. Consequently, you need to put your best foot forward. Your appearance, your behavior, and your responses to interview questions will be scrutinized.
To interview successfully, you will need to follow these 5 important steps:
Do some research about the company.
Dress appropriately for the interview.
Be on time or even a little early.
Ask intelligent questions.
Thank the interviewer for his or her time and send a thank-you card or email.
Do Some Research
It will work to your advantage to know a little about the prospective employer before you go in for the interview. You can find a tremendous amount of information about the company by checking out their website, talking to employees (if you know any), and simply by calling the company and talking to the operator.
Dress For Success
One of the greatest challenges for students is dressing professionally. Although fashion changes and the workplace is becoming increasingly more casual, dressing professionally is critical when interviewing for a job, even if you know that you won't be dressing in the same manner once you've been hired. Employers will assume you are dressing your best. If you arrive for the interview in torn jeans they will only anticipate that you will come to work in tattered clothing. Be mindful and make a GREAT first impression!
Arrive Early
You should arrive at least 10-15 minutes early. Take the extra time to review and then relax so you will be ready to make a great impression in the interview. DO NOT RUSH! Review your directions and have a clear understanding of where you are going, where to park and where to meet for the interview. Allow time for delays due to traffic. Be prepared for the unexpected.
Ask Intelligent Questions
A common mistake during the interview process is for the applicant to fail to ask questions about the company with whom they are interviewing. Some candidates fear that by asking questions about the company they may look stupid. To the contrary, appropriate questions make the candidate look genuinely interested in the position as well as the company. Before your interview, review the following list of questions from The Muse.com. Based on your research, jot the questions down in a notebook (that you will take to the interview) that are relevant to the position. For example, if you are interviewing for a position as a cook at McDonalds the question, "What are the skills and experiences you're looking for in an ideal candidate?" would be appropriate, while the question, "What sort of budget will I be working with?' is not.
The following is an excerpt from The Muse.com The Muse Website
First, make sure you have a handle on exactly what the day-to-day responsibilities of the job will be—both now and in the future.
What does a typical day look like?
What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?
Can you show me examples of projects I'd be working on?
What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?
What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill with a new hire?
What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
What sort of budget would I be working on?
Is this a new role that has been created?
Do you expect the main responsibilities for this position to change in the next six months to a year?
Training and Professional Development
Think of each new job not just as a job, but as the next step on your path to career success. Will this position help you get there?
How will I be trained?
What training programs are available to your employees?
Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
Would I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?
Where is the last person who held this job moving on to?
Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
Your Performance
Make sure you're setting yourself up for success by learning up front the goals of the position and how your work will be evaluated.
What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?
What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?
What is the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?
What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
The Company
Because you're not just working for one boss or one department, you're working for the company as a whole.
I've read about the company's founding, but can you tell me more about ___?
Where will you see this company in the next few years?
What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?
What gets you most excited about the company's future?
The Team
The people you work with day in and day out can really make or break your work life. Ask some questions to uncover whether it's the right team for you.
Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
Who will I work with most closely?
Who will I report to directly?
Can you tell me about my direct reports? What are their strengths and the team's biggest challenges?
Do you expect to hire more people in this department in the next six months?
Which other departments work most closely with this one?
What are the common career paths in this department?
The Culture
Is the office buttoned-up conservative or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of place? Learn the subtle, but oh-so-important, aspects of company culture.
What is the company and team culture like?
How would you describe the work environment here—is the work typically collaborative or more independent?
Can you tell me about the last team event you did together?
Is there a formal mission statement or company values? (Note: Make sure this isn't Google-able!)
What's your favorite office tradition?
What do you and the team usually do for lunch?
Does anyone on the team hang out outside the office?
Do you ever do joint events with other companies or departments?
What's different about working here than anywhere else you've worked?
How has the company changed since you joined?
Next Steps
Before you leave, make sure the interviewer has all of the information he or she needs and that you're clear on the next steps by asking these questions.
Is there anything that concerns you about my background being a fit for this role?
What are the next steps in the interview process?
Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
Can I answer any final questions for you?
ALWAYS Thank the interviewer and send a Thank-you Card or Email after the interview.
All too often, candidates assume they are doing the employer a favor. The employer has actually done the candidate a tremendous favor. The employer has taken the time from a very busy schedule and given the candidate undivided time and attention during the interview process. Be sure to thank the employer for their time and consideration when the interview is ending.
If the employer has not already done so, ask for his or her business card. Why? Because when you get home you are either going to send a thank you note via traditional mail or email. Why? Because it's polite, it gives you one more attempt to tell the employer why you would be the perfect person for the job, and because it just might be the one thing that sets you apart from the other job applicants!