Career and Scholarship Center
  Résumé Examples & Resources

Job Interview Skills

An interview gives you a chance to display your intelligence, talent and enthusiasm. How you handle yourself can make or break your chances of getting the job you want.

What's the purpose of an interview?

• It lets an employer learn about you and your:
  abilities, talents, interests, personality, work experience, education, motivation
• It lets your find about the employer and its:
  needs, history, work environment, business activities, plans for the future

Knowing yourself is critical.

• Interests
  What types of work excite you? What job do you really want?
• Abilities
  What skills do you have? Which ones do you need for the job you want?
• Education
  List the schools you've attended, courses you've taken, and degrees and certificates you've earned.
• Experience
  List all your previous jobs, including part-time, freelance and volunteer work.
• Values
  What basic attitudes do you have toward the world, other people and yourself?
• Strengths and weaknesses
  What are you good at? What weaknesses must you overcome to get the job you want?
• Goals
  Ask yourself what you want to be doing 5 years from now. Know your immediate and long-range goals.

Know the organization, too.

• Research the employer's:
  history, products or services, business methods, philosophy, location(s), standing in the industry, organizational structure.
• How to get information:
  Talk with current or former employees.
  Send for the organization's annual report catalogs, press releases or other literature.
• Consult the New York Times Index, Business Periodicals Index and other publications at the library.
• Check business directories, trade associations, professional organizations, almanacs, yearbooks, magazines, newsletters and computer databases.
• Talk to family, friends, coworkers, teachers, a school placement directory, an alumni director and industry experts.
• Browse Internet sites on organizations and employment.

Prepare for the interview

• Gather any needed work samples
• Rehearse your answers.
• Write down your questions.
• Review your work history.
• Be Prepared.

How to conduct yourself in an interview

• Be on time.
• Dress properly.
• Be friendly.
• Show your enthusiasm.
• Be positive.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Express yourself.
• Be aware of body language.
• Be a good listener.
• Be yourself.

Some Questions your might face

• What are your career goals, both short-and long-term?
• What do you want this job?
• What are you doing to achieve your goals?
• What are your strengths and weakness?
• How would you describe yourself?
• Why did you choose this career?
• Why should I hire you?
• What does success mean to you?
• How can you contribute to this organization?
• Will you relocate?
• What achievements have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
• Do you work will under pressure?
• Do you work well with others?
• Why did you leave your last job?

Some questions you might ask

• What would my responsibilities and duties be?
• How would my performance be evaluated?
• How would I be supervised?
• What opportunities for advancement exist?
• Is there a training program?
• Whom would I be working with?
• How much travel is required?

Writing a Winning résumé

A résumé is a one or two page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your résumés purpose is to get your foot in the door. A résumé does its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration.

To prepare a successful résumé, you need to know how to review, summarize, and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your achievements briefly and concisely.

Your résumé is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself!

Résumé Writing

résumés and curriculum vitae are necessary are necessary elements of a job search campaign. résumés, usually one page, or vitae, two or more pages (generally used in the education field), give employers a written summary of your qualifications and experience. The purpose of a résumé is to obtain an interview. On average, employers give each résumé 15-30 seconds of their attention. It is important, therefore, to make your résumé highly readable.

One-page résumés usually include:

• Contact Information
  Display your name, permanent address, local address if appropriate, and telephone number with area code at the top of the page.
• Objective (optional)
  Keep your career objective general in nature. If you do not put an objective on your résumé, you must include it in your cover letter.
• Education
  List the school from which you have or will graduate. Also include your degree, major, date of graduation, minors or course concentrations, foreign language proficiency, computer languages, publications, research projects, and academic honors. Grade point average is optional.
• Experience/Employment History
  Present paid and volunteer experience in reverse chronological order. Include job titles. List extracurricular activities and military experience if applicable. Note leadership experience. Describe duties, responsibilities, and skills at each position.
• References
  State that references (and portfolio, if applicable) are available on request.
  
  When Writing a résumé Do:
• Be specific and results-oriented.
• Use action verbs.
• See whether it passes a 30-second scanning test.
• Laser print it on quality paper.
• Proofread it carefully.
  
  Don't:
• Misspell anything.
• Include personal information (height, weight).
• Forget to include your telephone number.
• Type it on a typewriter.
• Forget to highlight your selling points.
  
  

Tips for Success

More tips for successful interviewing

• Emphasize your strengths.
• Don't criticize.
• Have something to offer.
• Be assertive.
• Avoid personal issues.
• Thank the interviewer.

When it's time to talk about salary

• Do your homework
• Be realistic.
• Don't undersell yourself.

Know your career Goals.
Prepare for the job interview
Practice your job interview skills before any interview.
Communicate your strengths.
Be persistent, don't become discouraged.