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Resume and Interview Tips

By Jennifer Arguello, SHPE Region 1 Vice President10/15/2011

Resumes that RockTips

Start with a Big List, then Shorten It Go big!

Write it ALL down

Keeps you from forgetting anything

Then shrink it down

Make multiple versions of a resume from this big list

Know what not to include

Include most important accomplishments

Keep Trust worthy

Keep relevant to career goals

Stay relatively recent

Avoid overused phrases Remove canned phrases

Responsible for Experienced Team Player … others

Don’t be vague, say what you did

Bad Responsible for production

costs

Good Reduced production costs

by 15% over three months

Quantify your accomplishments Use numbers to

measure you accomplishments How many? By how much? etc

Remember to say how

Make sure to always be measuring your performance so you have this information

Find the key words your employer is looking for and use them

Resumes get scanned for words

Use relevant words for your industry

Read job descriptions and notice which words are used over and over.

Use Multiple Resumés for Different Potential Jobs

Customize for the job your applying for

Rearrange accomplishments for relevancy

Add and omit accomplishments as appropriate

resumetracker.codeplex.com

Proofread Proofread Proofread

Print out your resume

Get another set of eyes

Read it out loud

Take a break after writing and before proofreading

Read from the bottom to the top

Finishing Touches – Be a resume ninja

Keep it to one page

Easy to read fonts

Scannable fonts

Have it on a USB drive as PDF

No fancy paper

No scented paper

Modern Resumes

Interview Like a Rock Star

Shoot for the STAR

STAR interviewing – Situation, Task, Action, Result

Situation/Task – Describe the situation/task you faced.

Action – What actions did you take in the situation?

Result – What was the outcome?  What results did you achieve?

More Tips

When asked about a negative situation (like a time you disagreed with your boss): Think of one and explain! Don’t blame anyone else. Be proactive! Explain how your actions created a positive outcome.

Before going to interview, have a story about solving interpersonal problems, and a story about resolving a hard challenge.  These can be applied to a number of common types of behavioral questions.

Be ready to explain all your projects. Tell the interviewer what *you* did to contribute (use the STAR technique)

If you don’t know something, talk about how you would find out.

Interviewing the interviewer

Be familiar with the company's products

Asking a thoughtful question about their products is good if you have one.  

One question about benefits is okay, but too many looks bad.  

Don't ask how you are doing.  The interviewer typically won't tell you and it makes them feel awkward.

THANK YOU!Jennifer.arguello@shpe.org

@engijen