CHAPTER 8-SECTION 1Preparing for an Interview
Know Yourself
Personal Work History (For Each Employer) Name, address, and telephone number Names of supervisors how to reach them Exact dates (months and years) Specific duties Specific skills that were required Promotions, awards, or recognitions received
Know Yourself
Education Schools you have attended and years
attended GPA Academic Honors/Awards Received Activities (clubs, groups, as well as offices
held) Athletic teams
Know Yourself
Self Assessment What accomplishments are you proudest of? What mistakes have you made? What have
you learned from them? How well do you interact with authority
figures? (bosses, teachers, etc…)
Parts of a Resume
Identification Name, address, and phone number at the top
of the page, usually centered. (Avoid Nicknames)
Parts of a Resume
Objective or Goal Ask yourself, what is the purpose of this
resume? Know the type of job you are applying for. Ex: Seek a hostess position at a fine dining
establishment Change it if it does not fit the specific job you
are applying for
Parts of a Resume
Education and Training Near the top for now to list your most
impressive credentials first As you gain work experience, this will move
lower Be sure to list any special job-related skills you
have (foreign language, computer applications, etc…)
Parts of a Resume
Work History Include name and location, as well as dates
you were employed there. List in reverse chronological order. List mini-descriptions to call attention to job
responsibilities. These descriptions should begin with action verbs!
Parts of a Resume
Personal Data List clubs, organizations, leadership positions,
hobbies, etc… This is also a great place to list volunteer
services This shows employers that you are well
rounded
Parts of a Resume
References At the end of the resume List their contact information Use two professional references (employers,
teachers, counselors, etc… Use one personal reference Ask them before using them on an official
resume
Tips
Be Brief Be positive Stick to the facts Keep your language clear Keep your eye on the goal
Tips
Research the employer You want to be informed about what type of
company it is. Look for newspaper articles, internet articles,
etc.. You want to be able to talk intelligently during
the interview
Tips
Practice Anticipate the questions Have someone practice with you Wear what you are going to wear in the
interview
CHAPTER 8 SECTION 2Answering Interview Questions
Anticipate the Questions
Different types of questions: General: Why do you want to work for us? Educational: What is your grade point
average? Job-Related: Why should I hire you? Personal: Tell me something about yourself.
Make Positive Points
Prepare a list of positive points to make about yourself during the interview (Your Offensive Game Plan)
Be alert for opportunities to make a positive point: Puff Ball Questions: Tell me about yourself? Pauses: “downtime” interviewer looks at
notes, takes a sip of water, etc… Bridges: Transitions from one answer to
another
Take Your Time
When you encounter a tough, unexpected question: Pause (Shows Poise) Buy yourself some time Restate the question in your own words, or
speak generally while pondering the specifics. You can also ask for a moment to think about
the question
Ethical Issues
Inappropriate Questions Questions that may give an employer a reason
to unfairly discriminate OK: Are you in good health? Or, Do you have
any physical problems that may limit your ability to perform this job?
Not OK: Is that an Irish name? Or, what religion are you?
Ethical Issues
You can: Answer briefly and move on Or, Ignore the question and address what they
may be really getting at.
Ask Questions
Be prepared to ask the interviewer some questions. This shows interest. Avoid talks of salary, benefits, sick days, etc… Ask about duties/responsibilities of the job.
Personal Inventory
Previous Work History Education (School Name and Dates)
Clubs, Organizations, Graduation Date, etc…
Accomplishments, Achievements, Awards
3-5 Strengths and 3-5 Weaknesses Skills Interests/Hobbies
Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself. What are your greatest
strengths? What is your biggest
weakness? Where do you see
yourself in 5 years?
Interview Questions
Tell me about a personal achievement that makes you proud.
Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned from it?
Who is the biggest influence in your life and why?
Why would you be an excellent choice for this job?