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Resumes, Coverletters, Interviewing Final

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Miriam Lamb Perrone
Miriam Lamb Perrone

The document provides tips for writing effective resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. It discusses highlighting achievements and skills in resumes, researching companies for cover letters and interviews, and having examples prepared to answer behavioral questions in interviews. Resumes should focus on skills and accomplishments rather than just job descriptions. Cover letters should convey interest in the company and position while interviews require researching the employer and practicing common questions.

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Writing Effective éܳé and Cover Letters & Effective Tips for Interviewing by Miriam Lamb Foothill De Anza CCD
Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to help you develop an effective résumé and cover letter. You will also be provided with tips regarding the interview process.
éܳé
Effective Résumé The best way to land a job interview. Grab readers’ attention and highlight your achievements. Cover any skill sets the recruiter may specify when looking to fill a position.
What are they looking for? Appearance Attitude/Personality Thoughtful Questions Good Communication Skills Effective Résumé Knowledge of Company Education Good First Impression Confidence
Preparation Do a self assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities. Summarize your work experience and extracurricular activities.
Role of the Résumé -Part of a Larger Campaign I. ID info about yourself Work setting preferences Personal Skill Inventory II. Targeting your Employer Narrowing the field Aligning credentials Optimizing documents III. Researching Industries and Companies Identifying Prospects Informational Interviews & Networking IV. Securing an offer Determining Fit Submitting materials and references Interview Preparation Negotiation
Preparing your Résumé The job search is a marketing campaign about yourself. Ask yourself: Who will review this document? What are the primary skills/traits for which they are looking? How will this compliment other application materials? Where is this application going? Do you have any transferable skills applicable to this position?
What Information Should be in a Résumé Identify Yourself Education (Degrees) Continuing Education Work or Professional Experience Activities Awards/ Honors/Achievements Extracurricular Activities Certifications/Publications Computer Skills Professional Associations
Characteristics Of A Successful Résumé Focuses on skills. Uses action words to define the responsibilities of your job-related experience. Easy to read and understand. Visually powerful; free of gimmicks. One page, or at most 2 pages long.
Characteristics of A Successful Résumé Language- grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal style.
Characteristics of A Successful Résumé Must be 100% truthful. Contains no inappropriate personal information. Produced on a computer. Data presented in chronological order (unless functional).
Résumé Design Use 8.5”X11” quality white or off-white résumé paper. Print on one side of the paper. Use a font size between 10 to 12 points. Don’t use line graphics or shading. Do not fold or staple your resume. Use a large envelope to mail your resume.
Scannable Résumé Watch bullet points (they don’t always scan). Use “key words.” Use dashes in lieu of bullets. Keep the design simple. Minimize use of abbreviations.
Types of éܳé Chronological This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order (i.e. from most to least recent). Employers tend to prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.
Types of éܳé Functional A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas.
Types of éܳé Combination (Uses a Career Profile) A combination resume uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the above two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section.
Chronological Resumes
Formatting Heading: name, address, phone, e-mail. Objective statement: clarifies the type of work you are looking for. Tailor your objective to each employer you are pursuing. Education: list only schools where a degree or certification was earned. Skills and abilities: leadership, teamwork, communication, computer skills, languages.
Work History Overview of work history that has provided you with useful skills. Use action words to describe your job duties: Managed, Conducted, Demonstrated, Motivated, Trained. List recent job first and work backward, including: title of position and name of organization, location (city, state) and dates of employment. Summary of responsibilities, with emphasis on special skills, achievements.
Educational Information New graduates list educational information first. List most recent education information first. Include your degree (A.S.), major, institution, minor/concentration. Add GPA if >3.0. List any academic honors/achievements.
Functional Resumes
Functional Resumes Doesn’t go in chronological order. Based on competencies or skills. Used for career changers or those with unconventional work histories. Drawbacks to this style (not as popular, employers sometimes think it is being used to hide “gaps”). Typically brief with a simple list of positions held, etc. De-emphasizes importance of specific jobs.
Good Résumé Resources List of Good Résumé books: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_books.html éܳé That Knock Em Dead -- Yate List of online sites http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/resume
Cover Letters
Writing an Effective Cover Letter Give enough information to interest the reader, don’t overwhelm. Research the company. Address the letter to a specific person. Mention the person who referred you if appropriate.
How to Write A Cover Letter-Contents Your address, city, state, zip, telephone number, e-mail Date Name, title, company, address, city, state, and zip code of person you are writing to Greeting
How to Write a Cover Letter 1st Paragraph-what you want, how much you know about the company, enclosure of your résumé. 2nd Paragraph-consise overview of work history and skills required by employer, why you are interested in position. 3rd-Paragraph-confidence in your ability, how you can be contacted. 4th paragraph-appreciation. Closing, signature, typed name.
Interviewing
Successful Interviewing Skills Making the Best Impression Be on Time Professional dress Good Eye contact Smile Avoid Fidgeting
Types of Interviews Face-to-Face Panel/Committee Behavioral Telephone Group Lunch/Dinner Stress
Preparation Research the job and company. Review the job requirements. Know your résumé. Know where you are going. Be prepared to give behavioral based examples. Anticipate questions. Be prepared to sell yourself!
Parts of an Interview Greetings and small talk. Interviewer gives details of the position/organization. Interviewer asks you questions. You ask the interviewer questions. Closing: the next steps.
Prepare For All Aspects of the Interview Research the employer. Practice sample interview questions. Write down questions to ask.
Learn As Much As You Can About the Employer Approximate number of employees Products and/or services Types of clients Growth and financial stability Competition Mission/values/vision statements Typical career path
Know Yourself Before the interview, think of your goals, interests, strengths, and experiences. Be able to discuss them.
Completing Applications… Follow directions. Print clearly, be neat. Avoid providing negative information. If you do not have a lot of experience, emphasize education, volunteer work, etc. If something is unclear, ask.
Types of Interview Questions Behavioral Questions Describe a situation in which you: … employed good time management skills. … had to persuade someone to do something. … made a split second decision. … had to go beyond the call of duty in order to get job done.
Types of Interview Questions Broad based questions such as: Why do you want to work with us? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Why did you choose this major/career? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Types of Interview Questions The Ice Breaker Question-Tell me about yourself: Have a concise, relevant task: “ I am a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering. I chose this major because I always liked math and science and I have a natural curiosity of how things work. When I researched different majors, Chemical Engineering seemed to offer the most potential for leading me to a career I would enjoy. I am active in several organizations on campus and am eager to begin a Co-op to apply what I know and also learn more about this field.”
Answering Interview Questions Set up the situation(s) Describe the Task Describe the Action State the Result
Example of Setting Up the Situation After working one week at my summer job with XYZ, the person who supervised my position left. I was asked to take on some of his responsibilities until a replacement was hired. I didn’t mind helping out, and was eager to contribute and take on a higher level of responsibility.
Example of Describing the Task One of the assignments I was given involved contracting vendors to confirm delivery dates of inventory items. The vendor numbers and delivery dates were written in a notebook, and in some cases it was difficulty to interpret the notes.
Example of Describing the Action When I had a little down time between customers, I created a record in Excel showing vendor names, numbers, inventory items being shipped, dates and any adjustments being made to the order. I also recorded the date of the confirmation call so the new assistant manager would know that status.
Example of Stating the Result When the manager asked if I had been able to reach all the vendors, I showed him the Excel program letting him know I could transfer the information back into the notebook if he preferred. He was pleased with the file I created and asked me to explain the process to the other staff. He also asked if I could set up files for other data.
When Preparing for the Interview Think of examples you might share if asked about… Showing initiative Leading others Coping with disappointment Juggling responsibilities Using logic to solve a problem Achieving Working under pressure
Interview DO’s Arrive ten minutes early unless they ask you to arrive even sooner for paperwork. Sit straight with legs uncrossed or crossed at ankles. Stand straight with shoulders back and eyes ahead. Smile!!! Offer a firm, but not crushing handshake.
Interview DO’s Dress appropriately for the industry. When in doubt be conservative (i.e suits and jackets with button down shirts or pull over tops/camisoles and simple accessories; jackets with pants or skirts; plain, neutral colored hose; moderate heal shoes (black, navy or neutral); neatly groomed hair, conservative makeup; clean breath; conservative jewelry, and pressed/clean clothes). Personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable. Cologne and perfume should be at a minimum. Know the exact location and time of the interview.
Interview DO’s Treat the interview seriously and show interest in the employer. Watch the tone of your voice (keep tone consistent). Answer questions using professional experiences or descriptive information to demonstrate how you would react or respond to a situation. Evaluate the interviewer and the organization. Make sure you understand the next step in the process.
Interview DO’s Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by Mr. or Mrs. Maintain eye contact during the interview. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. Use good grammar (i.e. yes, not yeah; avoid um or ah; you know, like, see or okay.
Interview Don’ts Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions. Don’t make negative comments about previous employers (or supervisors) or others. Don’t treat the interview casually, as you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. Don’t give the impression you are desperate for employment. Don’t chew gum or smell like smoke. Don’t take cell phone calls during an interview. Turn the cell phone off.
Other Interview Tips Consider developing a biography about yourself to assist you in examining what you enjoy doing and what has given you a sense of accomplishment (use this to gather your thoughts so you feel comfortable answering challenging questions). Discuss long/short term goals in interview. Discuss qualities you have that will assist you in reaching the goals.
What to Ask Them What is a typical day like for this position? How are employees trained? Evaluated? Does each employee have a mentor? What types of assignments might I expect during the first six months? What is the biggest challenge the organization faces today?
Save $$$ Questions Until After the Second Interview In your first interview, keep the focus on your qualifications and interest in the job. You can inquire about money, benefits, vacation, etc. during the 2nd interview. Know your worth!!! Research salary ranges (in the geographical area) for an entry level employee with qualifications similar to yours (http://www.salary.com/).
After The Interview Inquire about the next step. Close with a smile and handshake. Send a thank you note to everyone with whom your interviewed. Make sure you have an appropriate outgoing voicemail message and good system for receiving messages.
Interview Presentation Be prepared and responsive for questions. Take time to organize your thoughts. Make effective eye contact and smile. Express confidence in your abilities. Consider each interview and adventure! Be attentive to body language. No gum, watch those pens!
Resources www.quintcareers.com www.jobweb.com www.careerbuilder.com www.collegegrad.com www.wetfeet.com www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/interview/l/aatp_interview.htm Great Interview ; Eyre, Osen Williams
Questions? My contact info: Miriam Lamb-Perrone Employment/Classification Supervisor Foothill/De Anza Comm. College (650) 949-6216 [email_address]

More Related Content

Resumes, Coverletters, Interviewing Final

  • 1. Writing Effective éܳé and Cover Letters & Effective Tips for Interviewing by Miriam Lamb Foothill De Anza CCD
  • 2. Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to help you develop an effective résumé and cover letter. You will also be provided with tips regarding the interview process.
  • 4. Effective Résumé The best way to land a job interview. Grab readers’ attention and highlight your achievements. Cover any skill sets the recruiter may specify when looking to fill a position.
  • 5. What are they looking for? Appearance Attitude/Personality Thoughtful Questions Good Communication Skills Effective Résumé Knowledge of Company Education Good First Impression Confidence
  • 6. Preparation Do a self assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities. Summarize your work experience and extracurricular activities.
  • 7. Role of the Résumé -Part of a Larger Campaign I. ID info about yourself Work setting preferences Personal Skill Inventory II. Targeting your Employer Narrowing the field Aligning credentials Optimizing documents III. Researching Industries and Companies Identifying Prospects Informational Interviews & Networking IV. Securing an offer Determining Fit Submitting materials and references Interview Preparation Negotiation
  • 8. Preparing your Résumé The job search is a marketing campaign about yourself. Ask yourself: Who will review this document? What are the primary skills/traits for which they are looking? How will this compliment other application materials? Where is this application going? Do you have any transferable skills applicable to this position?
  • 9. What Information Should be in a Résumé Identify Yourself Education (Degrees) Continuing Education Work or Professional Experience Activities Awards/ Honors/Achievements Extracurricular Activities Certifications/Publications Computer Skills Professional Associations
  • 10. Characteristics Of A Successful Résumé Focuses on skills. Uses action words to define the responsibilities of your job-related experience. Easy to read and understand. Visually powerful; free of gimmicks. One page, or at most 2 pages long.
  • 11. Characteristics of A Successful Résumé Language- grammatically correct. Spelling has been checked. Formal style.
  • 12. Characteristics of A Successful Résumé Must be 100% truthful. Contains no inappropriate personal information. Produced on a computer. Data presented in chronological order (unless functional).
  • 13. Résumé Design Use 8.5”X11” quality white or off-white résumé paper. Print on one side of the paper. Use a font size between 10 to 12 points. Don’t use line graphics or shading. Do not fold or staple your resume. Use a large envelope to mail your resume.
  • 14. Scannable Résumé Watch bullet points (they don’t always scan). Use “key words.” Use dashes in lieu of bullets. Keep the design simple. Minimize use of abbreviations.
  • 15. Types of éܳé Chronological This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order (i.e. from most to least recent). Employers tend to prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.
  • 16. Types of éܳé Functional A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas.
  • 17. Types of éܳé Combination (Uses a Career Profile) A combination resume uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the above two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section.
  • 19. Formatting Heading: name, address, phone, e-mail. Objective statement: clarifies the type of work you are looking for. Tailor your objective to each employer you are pursuing. Education: list only schools where a degree or certification was earned. Skills and abilities: leadership, teamwork, communication, computer skills, languages.
  • 20. Work History Overview of work history that has provided you with useful skills. Use action words to describe your job duties: Managed, Conducted, Demonstrated, Motivated, Trained. List recent job first and work backward, including: title of position and name of organization, location (city, state) and dates of employment. Summary of responsibilities, with emphasis on special skills, achievements.
  • 21. Educational Information New graduates list educational information first. List most recent education information first. Include your degree (A.S.), major, institution, minor/concentration. Add GPA if >3.0. List any academic honors/achievements.
  • 23. Functional Resumes Doesn’t go in chronological order. Based on competencies or skills. Used for career changers or those with unconventional work histories. Drawbacks to this style (not as popular, employers sometimes think it is being used to hide “gaps”). Typically brief with a simple list of positions held, etc. De-emphasizes importance of specific jobs.
  • 24. Good Résumé Resources List of Good Résumé books: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_books.html éܳé That Knock Em Dead -- Yate List of online sites http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/resume
  • 26. Writing an Effective Cover Letter Give enough information to interest the reader, don’t overwhelm. Research the company. Address the letter to a specific person. Mention the person who referred you if appropriate.
  • 27. How to Write A Cover Letter-Contents Your address, city, state, zip, telephone number, e-mail Date Name, title, company, address, city, state, and zip code of person you are writing to Greeting
  • 28. How to Write a Cover Letter 1st Paragraph-what you want, how much you know about the company, enclosure of your résumé. 2nd Paragraph-consise overview of work history and skills required by employer, why you are interested in position. 3rd-Paragraph-confidence in your ability, how you can be contacted. 4th paragraph-appreciation. Closing, signature, typed name.
  • 30. Successful Interviewing Skills Making the Best Impression Be on Time Professional dress Good Eye contact Smile Avoid Fidgeting
  • 31. Types of Interviews Face-to-Face Panel/Committee Behavioral Telephone Group Lunch/Dinner Stress
  • 32. Preparation Research the job and company. Review the job requirements. Know your résumé. Know where you are going. Be prepared to give behavioral based examples. Anticipate questions. Be prepared to sell yourself!
  • 33. Parts of an Interview Greetings and small talk. Interviewer gives details of the position/organization. Interviewer asks you questions. You ask the interviewer questions. Closing: the next steps.
  • 34. Prepare For All Aspects of the Interview Research the employer. Practice sample interview questions. Write down questions to ask.
  • 35. Learn As Much As You Can About the Employer Approximate number of employees Products and/or services Types of clients Growth and financial stability Competition Mission/values/vision statements Typical career path
  • 36. Know Yourself Before the interview, think of your goals, interests, strengths, and experiences. Be able to discuss them.
  • 37. Completing Applications… Follow directions. Print clearly, be neat. Avoid providing negative information. If you do not have a lot of experience, emphasize education, volunteer work, etc. If something is unclear, ask.
  • 38. Types of Interview Questions Behavioral Questions Describe a situation in which you: … employed good time management skills. … had to persuade someone to do something. … made a split second decision. … had to go beyond the call of duty in order to get job done.
  • 39. Types of Interview Questions Broad based questions such as: Why do you want to work with us? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Why did you choose this major/career? Where do you see yourself in five years?
  • 40. Types of Interview Questions The Ice Breaker Question-Tell me about yourself: Have a concise, relevant task: “ I am a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering. I chose this major because I always liked math and science and I have a natural curiosity of how things work. When I researched different majors, Chemical Engineering seemed to offer the most potential for leading me to a career I would enjoy. I am active in several organizations on campus and am eager to begin a Co-op to apply what I know and also learn more about this field.”
  • 41. Answering Interview Questions Set up the situation(s) Describe the Task Describe the Action State the Result
  • 42. Example of Setting Up the Situation After working one week at my summer job with XYZ, the person who supervised my position left. I was asked to take on some of his responsibilities until a replacement was hired. I didn’t mind helping out, and was eager to contribute and take on a higher level of responsibility.
  • 43. Example of Describing the Task One of the assignments I was given involved contracting vendors to confirm delivery dates of inventory items. The vendor numbers and delivery dates were written in a notebook, and in some cases it was difficulty to interpret the notes.
  • 44. Example of Describing the Action When I had a little down time between customers, I created a record in Excel showing vendor names, numbers, inventory items being shipped, dates and any adjustments being made to the order. I also recorded the date of the confirmation call so the new assistant manager would know that status.
  • 45. Example of Stating the Result When the manager asked if I had been able to reach all the vendors, I showed him the Excel program letting him know I could transfer the information back into the notebook if he preferred. He was pleased with the file I created and asked me to explain the process to the other staff. He also asked if I could set up files for other data.
  • 46. When Preparing for the Interview Think of examples you might share if asked about… Showing initiative Leading others Coping with disappointment Juggling responsibilities Using logic to solve a problem Achieving Working under pressure
  • 47. Interview DO’s Arrive ten minutes early unless they ask you to arrive even sooner for paperwork. Sit straight with legs uncrossed or crossed at ankles. Stand straight with shoulders back and eyes ahead. Smile!!! Offer a firm, but not crushing handshake.
  • 48. Interview DO’s Dress appropriately for the industry. When in doubt be conservative (i.e suits and jackets with button down shirts or pull over tops/camisoles and simple accessories; jackets with pants or skirts; plain, neutral colored hose; moderate heal shoes (black, navy or neutral); neatly groomed hair, conservative makeup; clean breath; conservative jewelry, and pressed/clean clothes). Personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable. Cologne and perfume should be at a minimum. Know the exact location and time of the interview.
  • 49. Interview DO’s Treat the interview seriously and show interest in the employer. Watch the tone of your voice (keep tone consistent). Answer questions using professional experiences or descriptive information to demonstrate how you would react or respond to a situation. Evaluate the interviewer and the organization. Make sure you understand the next step in the process.
  • 50. Interview DO’s Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by Mr. or Mrs. Maintain eye contact during the interview. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. Use good grammar (i.e. yes, not yeah; avoid um or ah; you know, like, see or okay.
  • 51. Interview Don’ts Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions. Don’t make negative comments about previous employers (or supervisors) or others. Don’t treat the interview casually, as you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. Don’t give the impression you are desperate for employment. Don’t chew gum or smell like smoke. Don’t take cell phone calls during an interview. Turn the cell phone off.
  • 52. Other Interview Tips Consider developing a biography about yourself to assist you in examining what you enjoy doing and what has given you a sense of accomplishment (use this to gather your thoughts so you feel comfortable answering challenging questions). Discuss long/short term goals in interview. Discuss qualities you have that will assist you in reaching the goals.
  • 53. What to Ask Them What is a typical day like for this position? How are employees trained? Evaluated? Does each employee have a mentor? What types of assignments might I expect during the first six months? What is the biggest challenge the organization faces today?
  • 54. Save $$$ Questions Until After the Second Interview In your first interview, keep the focus on your qualifications and interest in the job. You can inquire about money, benefits, vacation, etc. during the 2nd interview. Know your worth!!! Research salary ranges (in the geographical area) for an entry level employee with qualifications similar to yours (http://www.salary.com/).
  • 55. After The Interview Inquire about the next step. Close with a smile and handshake. Send a thank you note to everyone with whom your interviewed. Make sure you have an appropriate outgoing voicemail message and good system for receiving messages.
  • 56. Interview Presentation Be prepared and responsive for questions. Take time to organize your thoughts. Make effective eye contact and smile. Express confidence in your abilities. Consider each interview and adventure! Be attentive to body language. No gum, watch those pens!
  • 57. Resources www.quintcareers.com www.jobweb.com www.careerbuilder.com www.collegegrad.com www.wetfeet.com www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/interview/l/aatp_interview.htm Great Interview ; Eyre, Osen Williams
  • 58. Questions? My contact info: Miriam Lamb-Perrone Employment/Classification Supervisor Foothill/De Anza Comm. College (650) 949-6216 [email_address]