Resume, Job Hunting and Interviewing Skills

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Resume, Job Hunting and Interviewing Skills
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Class Schedule

• Tuesday
• Periods 1 4
• With standard breaks and lunch

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About You and I

• Who I am?
• My background
• I am happy and excited to be here
• About this Course
• Who are you?
• Your background
• Your expectations for the day

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Handouts and Participation

• Yours to keep
• Additional Materials
• How we will use it
• A few notes on Participation
• Ask questions
• If you fall behind

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(1) Resumes

• The facts about your resume
• Suggested format for your resume
• Suggested format for your references
• Suggested format for your portfolio

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Facts about your resume

• You are going to need one
• No one will want to read it
• A resume must be all things to all people
• It must be short and easy to read
• It must portray you as a problems solver
• It is used for one purpose TO GET YOU INFRONT OF
  THE INTERVIEWER

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Formatting your resume

• Things to remember about your resume, references
  and cover letters
• Always use quality paper, ivory is best
• Use matching envelopes
• It shows attention to detail and quality
• Always bring extra copies to the interview
• Match the headers and footers of all three

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Formatting your resume

• When creating your resume
• Margins
• .75 all around
• .50 minimum
• Fonts
• No more than two
• no less that 10 pts.
• Size
• Single page only
• Two pages if including references

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Formatting your resume

• Resume sections and order
• Name with certification abbreviations
• Address, phone, email
• Brief Overview with positive personal traits
• Technical Education
• Technical Certification
• Skills and Achievements
• Work History
• Education

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Group Activity - 1 Power Wordsand Terminology
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Formatting your references

• Things to remember
• Always call your references
• Make sure you have their permission
• Business and education references are best
• Shy away from friends, family, neighbors

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Formatting your references

• Reference sections and order
• List three references, these should include
• Name Current Title
• Relationship, ie, Supervisor
• Company
• Phone Number, email address
• Best time and way to reach them
• List publishing's, websites, etc. that you have
  worked on and that you are proud off

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Formatting your portfolio

• Dependent on you area of expertise
• A portfolio is a window into your skills
• Shows your creativeness
• Should contain your crowning achievements
• Provide only a representation
• Graphic Design
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Animation
• Business Writing
• Proposal Creation

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Formatting your portfolio

• Things to remember
• Purchase an 8 ½ x 11 leather or quality fabric
  portfolio
• Less is better, pick out only the best
• Always bring it to the interview
• Be prepared to show it only if asked
• Always use high quality color output
• A black and white Xerox is not acceptable

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Activity - Lab 1Building Yourself Up
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Resume Review

• We understand why we need a resume
• We know how to build a resume
• We know how to build a set of references
• We know how to build a portfolio

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(2) The Job Search

• Where to look locally
• The pre-interview process
• Using your references
• Suggested format for your cover letters

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The Job Search

• Where to look for jobs locally
• The Newspaper
• Company Websites
• Trade Journals/Chamber of Commerce
• Internships
• Job Fairs
• Placement Companies/Temporary Firms

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The Job Search

• The Pre-interview Process
• Research each job before sending a resume
• Modify your cover letter to each specific job
• Keep track of who you are sending resumes to and
  when
• Create a folder structure for storing all cover
  letter and resumes

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The Job Search

• The Pre-interview Process
• Follow-up a resume with a phone call 5 days later
• Take notes every time you speak with a person
• If you are able to speak to some one ask
• Did they receive your resume
• Is the position still open
• When will they begin interviewing
• Can we setup an interview
• Ask permission to call again
• Stay persistent
• Learn from your mistakes

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Group Activity - 2Internet Searching
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Group Activity - 2

• Find one or more Vermont Chambers
• Find the Burlington Free Press Postings
• Find the State of Vermont Job Posting Site
• Find a Temp Agency Postings for Vermont
• Find a Fed Gov Job Postings for Vermont
• Find a Job Posting for
• Fletcher Allen Health Care
• National Life of Vermont
• IDX

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The Job Search

• Notifying Your References
• Your references will make or break your
  employment opportunities
• These people are key to your success
• Notify all of your potential references
• Prepare your potential references

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The Job Search

• Notifying Your References
• Ask permission to use them and for how long
• Explain to them what you are looking for
• Explain what qualities and skills the jobs
  require
• Explain how your experience with them can help
  with this
• Reaffirm their experiences with you

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The Job Search

• Notifying Your References
• Confirm the time they have known you
• Reaffirm your last title and duties
• Your five or six most important duties
• Your attitude toward your job, peers, management
• Your timeliness and quality and quantity of work
• Your willingness to achieve and go above and
  beyond the call of duty
• Would they rehire your if they had the chance

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The Job Search

• Notifying Your References
• Have a friend or parent do a dummy check
• See if they are saying what you need

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Formatting your cover letters

• A resume has its drawbacks
• It is too general to relate your qualifications
  to a specific job.
• The Executive Briefing
• Use a customizable executive briefing cover
  letter
• Allows quick resume customization
• Assures each resume addresses the jobs specific
  needs
• Tells the interviewer what you are looking for

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Formatting your cover letters

• Creating an executive briefing cover letter
• Always research the company
• Go to their website find out what they do
• See if you can get a job description
• Explain why you want this job or to work for this
  company
• Extol their companys success and virtues
• Match your skills to that of the job description
• Highlight relative experience and training to the
  job
• Give the employer a vision
• How you would improve their business
• What specific value you bring

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Activity Lab 2Preparing Your Cover Letter
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(2) Job Search Review

• We understand how to search for jobs
• We Understanding the pre-interview process
• We understand how to use our references

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(3) Preparing for the Interview

• How to dress
• What to bring
• How to prepare questions

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Preparing for the Interview

• Dress for the position you want
• Unless you look the part, dont expect an offer!
• By dressing professionally we tell people that
• We understand the niceties of corporate life
• We send a subtle message that we can be relied
• We can deal one-on-one with a companys prized
  client base
• Dressing well will add to your self-esteem

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Preparing for the Interview

• The safest look is traditional and conservative
• Research what the companys dress code is
• Good fitting well made suits is or skirts are
  your first step
• Remove any non traditional piercings
• Neat professional hair cut or hair style
• No visible tattoos

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Preparing for the Interview

• The look for men
• Dark suits are better, Medium gray or blue
• Do not wear a black suit or white suite
• Good fitting shirts are a must
• Always wear a long-sleeved shirt
• Always wear a white, cream or pale-blue shirt
• Pure silk ties are best
• The pattern should complement your suit
• Width should be 2 ¾ or 3 ½ inches
• No symbols, cartoons, sports, fish, etc..
• Length between the top and bottom of your belt
  buckle

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Preparing for the Interview

• The look for men
• Jewelry and accoutrements
• Do not use cologne
• Tie clip or pin is your choice, but are now passé
• Remove necklaces, bracelets and earrings
• A nice watch is acceptable
• Wedding and class rings are acceptable
• Remember its the shoes that make the man
• Shoes should be black or brown leather, dress
  shoes.
• Lace-up wingtips are the most conservative
• Slip on with tassel or plain vamp can get you by

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Preparing for the Interview

• The look for women
• Error on the side of conservative
• Wear nylons
• Skirt and blouse or pant suit
• Below the knee for skirts or dresses
• Navy, gray or black, no leather
• Wear sleeves, no spaghetti straps
• Where professional women's shoes
• No sandals
• Shoes should be black or brown leather, dress
  shoes

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Preparing for the Interview

• The look for women
• Jewelry and accoutrements
• No overwhelming perfume
• Conservative makeup
• No distracting jewelry
• Watch showing too much skin

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Preparing for the Interview

• What to bring and not to bring
• Do not bring change and large sets of keys
• Do not bring food or drink
• Do not bring cell phone or pager
• Be freshly showered
• Bring a brief case and/or portfolio that contains
• Note pad and Pen
• Questions for the interviewer
• Copies of resume, cover letter, references,
  reference letters
• Breath mints
• Contact info and maps

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research the company youre via the Internet
• This shows you understand the company
• It shows you have interest in what they do
• Using this research you will build a list of
  questions to bring with you

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Preparing for the Interview

• Questions about the position
• Could you please explain the daily routine of the
  position?
• How was this opening created?
• What department would I be a team member it?
• What other departments do they interact with?
• What growth potential or opportunities will be
  available?
• Questions about the company
• How was the company founded?
• Is the company showing revenue growth each year?
• How is the department that I will be working in
  contributing to that growth?
• Is there a corporate vision that you can share?

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Group Activity - 3Creating Questions for the
Interview
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Group Activity - 3

• With a Partner
• Research a position on the Internet
• Use your internet research to create questions to
  ask the interviewer
• Create 5 Questions
• Be prepared to share with the class

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(3) Preparing Review

• We Have Learned How to Dress
• We Have Learned What to Bring
• We Have Learned How to Prepare Questions

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(4) The Interview

• Understanding the interviews purpose
• How to avoid common traps
• Basics of a good interview
• Legalities of interviewing
• The Five proofs
• The proper interview exit

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The Interview!!!

• It is the interviewers job to ask you dozens of
  searching questions to test
• your confidence
• Your poise
• Your desirable personality traits
• Questions that trick you into contradicting
  yourself
• Questions that probe your quick thinking and job
  skills

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The Interview

• Questions are designed so that the interviewer
  can make decision in some critical areas
• Can you do the job?
• Will you complement of disrupt the department?
• Are you willing to take the extra step?
• Are you manageable?
• Is the money right?

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The Interview

• This is a trial and the courts jury has four
  deadly traps that you must avoid
• Your failure to listen to the questions
• Annoying the interviewer by answering a question
  that was not asked
• Providing superfluous information
• Being unprepared for the interview

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The Interview

• The basics of good interviewing
• Be on-time
• Give a firm handshake
• Make eye contact and smile
• Say Hello, Mr. or Ms. Smith. I am Sam Jones.
  I have been looking forward to meeting you

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The Interview

• The donts of good interviewing
• Use first names
• Smoke or eat
• Sit down until invited
• Show anxiety or boredom, look at your watch
• Discuss equal rights, sex, race, national origin,
  religion or age
• Ask about benefits, salary or vacation (first
  interview)
• Assume a submissive role
• fidget

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The Interview

• Understanding Body Language
• Where are you looking?
• Where are your hands?
• How are you sitting?
• What parts of your body are in motion?

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The Interview

• The five things you must prove to the interviewer
• Ability and suitability
• Willingness
• Manageability and teamwork
• Professional behavior
• Everyone hires for the same job, you must prove
  you are problem solver

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The Interview

• Learning to answer interview questions
• Standard Questions
• Illegal Questions
• Problem Solving Questions
• Practice, Practice, Practice

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Activity Lab 3Answering Common Questions
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Activity Lab 4 Answering Problem Solving
Questions
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The Interview

• Exiting the interview
• You want to leave the correct impression
• Your strengths
• Your enthusiasm
• Your goal at the interview is to
• Generate a job offer
• Or at the very least a second interview

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The Interview

• Exiting the Interview items to remember
• Ask any final appropriate job related questions
• Bring up any relevant strengths that havent been
  addressed
• When you are interviewed by multiple people
• Make sure you have the correct spelling
• Make sure you have their correct title
• This will be used for your follow-up letter
• Review the jobs requirements with the interviewer
• Highlight how your skills match the duties

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The Interview

• Exiting the Interview items to remember
• Find out whether this is the only interview
• If you are feeling positive ask for the job
• Do not press for a early decision if they avoid
  this question
• Ask for when a decision is being made
• Ask for the next interview
• Always depart in the same polite and assured
  manner you entered

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(4) The Interview Review

• We Understanding the Purpose of the Interview
• How to avoid common traps
• The Basics of Interviewing
• We Understand The Five Proofs
• We Understand how to Exit the Interview

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(5) Following Up the Interview

• How to stay involved

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Following Up the Interview

• It is often the last interviewee or last contact
  that gets the job
• It is your duty to stay in touch
• You must develop a strategy to keep your name and
  skills constantly in the forefront
• These finishing touches often make all the
  difference

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Following Up the Interview

• The first thing you do when you leave an
  interview is to take notes
• Whom did you meet? Names and titles
• What does the job entail?
• What are the first projects, the biggest
  challenges?
• Why can you do the job?
• What aspects of the interview went poorly? Why?
• What information was left outstanding
• Do you need to get back to them on anything?

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Following Up the Interview

• Follow-up with a letter or email
• This shows that you paid attention
• Understood the interviewers comments
• Are excited about the job
• That you can contribute to the company
• It shows you can do it and want to do it
• You will use your notes
• Address the follow-up to the main interviewer, cc
  the others
• Dont write to much, one page or one card is
  enough
• Send it within 24 hours
• If you do not hear back in 5 days place a
  follow-up call

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Group Activity 2 Thank You Email
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Group Activity - 2

• Your have interviewed today for a job as a
  Microsoft Office Support Person
• With two partners prepare a thank you follow-up
  email
• You met with
• Ann Johnson HR Director Main Contact
• Bob Smith Support Manager
• A few reminders
• They are doing second interviews
• They will make a decision in two weeks
• You very much want this job
• You have prior experience in a similar job
• You like the direction the company is moving in
• You and they know the pay was lower than what you
  expected, but you still want it

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(5) Following Up the Interview

• We have learned how to stay involved

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Thank You for Attending

• Home work as assigned by your teacher
• Create a Resume
• Create a Reference Sheet
• Prepare for Practice Interviews