1. Tips on Writing a Resume
2. Thank you Letter
3. Job Search Tips
4. Interviewing
5. Interview Questions
6. Cover Letter
7. Dress for Success

Tips on Writing a Resume

You should …

• Customize your resume.
  Tailor resume for each position. Focus on employer's needs, identifying how individual skills & accomplishments meet/exceed their requirement.
• Keep it short
  Make resumes one to two pages long.
  Write qualifications & accomplishments in concise bullet points that can be read quickly.
  Select words with care and avoid run-on sentences. Read every sentence out loud. If you find yourself gasping for breath, break the sentence in two.
• Showcase your achievements
  Mention at least two of your top achievements within the top third of page one–this is the most valuable real estate on your resume.
• Use action words
  To add life to your resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action words like prepared, developed, monitored, presented, etc.
• Match your resume with the position
  Review want ads for positions that interest you. Use the key words listed in these ads to match them to bullets in your resume.
• Make it readable
  Select an easy-to-read font & type size–no less than 11 points.
  Leave some white space, rather than a full page of text, with no breaks.
  Use a standard font if sending resume via e-mail. And, to preserve formatting, send the resume as an attachment, rather than cutting and pasting into the e-mail text box.
• Edit & proof your resume
  Read resumes carefully–check spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  Send to friends, a mentor or a career counselor to review.
• Think quality
  Use good quality paper stock.
  Select white or cream-colored paper.
• Format
  Put your job duties under each employer.
  Be detailed in your job duties.

Thank you Letter

• Send a thank you letter or card after an interview.
• Thank them for taking the time to meet with you.
• Express your interest in the position.
• Don’t be too wordy. Short and sweet.

Job Search Tips

• Apply early in the day.
• Always be prepared in case the company wants to interview you right then.
• Follow up on leads.
• Network with anyone you know such as friends and family.
• Make a to-do list.

Interviewing

How you present yourself is just as important as your experience.

• Timing
  Plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to give yourself a margin of comfort in the event of unexpected delays such as traffic jams, parking difficulties or missed turns. If you arrive early, ask not to be announced until a few minutes before your scheduled interview time. Research the company before your interview.
• Attitude
  Maintain a friendly demeanor. Be gracious and respectful to all you meet, from the receptionist to the interviewer and everyone in between. You may not know who they are, and they could be important in the decision to hire you. Always speak positive about past employers and avoid personal problems.
• Positioning
  Only sit when the interviewer offers you a chair or is seated. Take a seat directly opposite the interviewer. Do not place handbags or briefcases on the desk or table between you.
• Eye contact
  Direct eye contact demonstrates confidence and sincerity, and shows you are interested in what the interviewer has to say. Avoid nervous habits such as pen-clicking, foot-swinging, gum-chewing and so on.
• Questions
  Make note of any questions that occur to you during the interview, and ask them before you close. This is a final opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the organization and enthusiasm for the job—and to show how organized you are.

Interview Questions

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

• What do you know about our company?
• If you were hired, what ideas/talents could you contribute to the position or our company?
• Give me an example of how you handled a difficult situation on a previous job.
• Why are you looking for work?  Why did you leave?
• Describe and give an example of your strengths. 
• Describe and give an example of your non-strengths.
• Describe a typical day at your last job.
• What is your ideal job?
• What is your availability? Describe your attendance record.
• What would your last supervisor say about you?  Give an example of when you disagreed with your last supervisor.  How did you resolve this disagreement? 
• What would you change about your last position?
• Describe a team project you worked on.  Why was it successful/unsuccessful? What are the advantages and disadvantages of working on a team?
• What has been your biggest work failure to date?
• Describe your biggest accomplishment to date.
• What motivates you?  What does not motivate you?
• How do you like to be supervised?
• What is your understanding of the position? 
• What don’t you like about your current/past position?
• What won’t you do?
• What do you consider to be a fair wage?
• Do you have a reliable means of transportation?
• What questions do you have for us? 

Cover Letter

• Is a sales pitch, and an attention getter. Identify the single most important reason why you should get further consideration for the job.
• Should enable the reader to make a connection between him/herself and your background.
• Identifies mutual acquaintances or company employees if you know any.
• Expresses your knowledge of the company.
• Is a personal communication between you and the employer.
• Does not repeat, but can highlight information in the resume.
• Is short and to the point - no more than half a page.
• Mentions why you would like to work for the company.
• Must have perfect grammar and spelling.
• Identifies relocation issues (willing to relocate).
• Uses the same bond paper as your resume.

Dress for Success
In any business setting, impressions are critical. Should you be judged by what you wear? Perhaps not, but the reality is, of course, that you are judged. A person wearing jeans and flip-flops may be as competent and intelligent as the one wearing a formal suit, but we may not think so simply based on their appearance. What you wear actually sets the tone of how you are perceived at work on a daily basis. You want your personality, drive, commitment to profession, and understanding of the business world to make you stand out, not your appearance. Here are some hints on how to dress for success whether you are venturing out on job interviews, seeking a new position in your company, or plan to remain in your current job:

• Neatness counts
  No matter what you wear, your clothes should be neat, clean and fit well. Keep your shoes in good condition. Have cleaned and trimmed fingernails, well-brushed teeth and fresh breath. No body odor. Use minimal cologne or perfume. Dress as you want to be seen – serious, professional, upward-bound and ready to meet clients. If you show pride in yourself, it shows you care for your work.
• Less is more
  Keep your look simple and successful. Try to fit in with the organization and be aware of the company’s dress code or culture. Use simple or minimal jewelry, and remove facial and body piercings. Make sure your hair is clean, neat and professionally styled. Avoid styles that cover your face or one that you have to constantly brush back. For women, make-up should be subtle.
• Women’s attire
  It’s always best to keep your outfit on the conservative side. Skirts that hit just above the knee, slacks, a tailored dress with a jacket and pantsuits are the traditional business look. Select blouses or sweaters that provide visual interest but avoid those that are transparent, tight fitting or have low necklines, revealing waistlines or details that detract from you. Do not wear overly high heels or too many accessories. If pantyhose are office standard, carry an extra pair in case of runs.