Getting and Keeping a Job

Career Networking Résumé Writing

Pre-Employment TestingInterviewing

How to Act: In the Interview & On the Job

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Go You!• The "Cheerleader,"

can be a good thing in corporate America.

• This kind of rigor is going to be needed in a global economy.

• Cheerleaders urge their teammates on. When the going gets tough, cheerleaders get others going.

Office EtiquetteHigh Heels To The Top

Kathleen Archambeau • There are 63 million working women in America,

but fewer than 2% of the nation's largest companies have female chief executives.

• Though women make up 50% of the workforce, women with families still perform 90% of the household chores and child-care duties.

• Among corporate women over 40, more than 40% have never married or had children.

What's wrong with this picture?

• The "Diva" proclaims, as Madonna does, "I always thought I should be treated like a star."

• The majority of people, women especially, miss the point when it comes to negotiating salaries.

• In one study at Carnegie Mellon, graduates with master's degrees were polled about their first jobs. They found that:-Men were 8 times more likely than women to have negotiated their salaries. -By not negotiating her 1st salary, a woman stands to lose more than $500,000 by age 60. Negotiate!

• Women who consistently negotiate make $1 million more than their more timid counterparts over a career lifetime.

Glass Ceilings

• More than 50% of female Stanford M.B.A. graduates leave corporate America within five years of earning their degrees.

• Not everyone's cut out for corporate America, with its glass ceilings and old boys' networks.

• When you hit a glass ceiling, move to another room!

Women in Business

• Today, women-owned businesses are increasing at a rate of 17% per year (1997-2004).

• They generate $2.5 trillion in sales, employ 19.1 million workers and spend an estimated $103 billion per year.

Getting the JobCan you pass the test?

In an effort to improve the chances of making a good match, many employers require prospective hires to take a battery of tests to assess job-related skills and suitability for the task.

Test Tips

• The questions on the assessments are non-threatening.

• It's always best to answer the way you honestly feel, because there are methods to check that you're giving direct answers.

• Relax, the tests won't peer into the darkest corners of your soul, and there's no way to prepare for the them other than to get a good night's sleep.

Sample Questions

Remember each question’s answer depends on what kind of job you are

trying to get (ex. sales vs. counseling)

Are you ready? Here goes…

Test Time

• Typically, the pre-employment tests can be completed in less than an hour, but some require 90 minutes or more.

• Most are Internet-based, but a few still use paper and pencil.

More Test Tips

• The assessments aren't like the military's aptitude tests, which are designed to quickly sort out large numbers of people for an appropriate assignment.

• A skill test to assess attention to detail or ability to check for errors may be given to clerical candidates, but most tests given to high-level candidates are designed to assess personality traits, not job-related knowledge.

What Employers Want• A candidate taking a test is presumed

to have the smarts to handle the job, but the employer often uses the tests in an effort to find the right "fit."

• Employers looking for a top executive need to know the candidate's leadership ability, confidence level and interpersonal skills.

• For example, a sales representative must be good at meeting people and building relationships.

Don’t worry, Be Happy • Don't be spooked by the tests. • Ancient Greeks said there were 4 basic personality types:

-sanguine (cheerful and optimistic), -choleric (hot tempered and aggressive), -phlegmatic (lazy and dull) and -melancholy (sad and pessimistic). There's little reason to think that today's shrinks and test writers have nailed the core of personality any more accurately than the ancient Greeks.

• Be YOURSELF!• In any case, the tests required by a prospective employer

are unlikely to make or break your job prospects.

Hitting a Job Interview Homerun• Blowing a job interview is as easy as

showing up late for the appointment, dressing inappropriately or telling a stupid joke.

• You are being sized up in every way from the minute you step into the office, so be quick-witted and don't let your guard down.

• Many people don't realize that when the interviewer says, 'I just want you to meet my boss,' it is, in fact, an interview.

What Employers Want

• "Employers want integrity, because after the latest corporate scandals, companies have a vested interest in the company they keep."

• Employers value expertise, but place a premium on job candidates who are energetic, ambitious, hard-working, respectful, positive, efficient and trustworthy. In short, competence in your field isn't enough to get the job.

Research

• Do your homework. Read as much as you can about the company before the interview. Start with the company's Web site. Read your prospective employer's mission statement and about its products or services. If it's a public company, take the time to read deep into the annual and quarterly reports.

• Basic research will show the interviewers that you're serious about working for the company, and it will also answer a basic question for you: Do you want to build a career with these guys?

? ? Ask Questions ? ?

• The kinds of questions you ask show how well prepared you are for the interview.

• Asking questions about their product range--or specific services you couldn't find out simply by reading the cover letter you received from the company or from the employment ad—means you did some independent research about the company on the Internet or at the library.

This shows the prospective employer that you're serious about the job!

When Asking Questions• Your questions should show an understanding of the

company and its mission and underscore your interest in the job.

• Keep questions short and to the point. • Don't take over the interview by turning a few pointed

questions into an inquisition.

A good interview is a 50-50 exchange of information:

The employer is evaluating you, and you're sizing up the company, but that doesn't mean an even split of the questions.

Tougher Questions

• Stock questions such as "Describe your strengths and weaknesses“ have been replaced with tougher questions intended to reveal more about your character and how you think.

• Prepare for questions such as "Describe your most challenging work environment and how you dealt with it," or "Describe a project that failed" or "What's your biggest regret?"

It’s all about Your Answers • Interviewers want to gain insight into how you

think and react to unexpected and perhaps uncomfortable situations.

• A good job interviewer will deliberately try to break your stride by tossing out an odd question to see how you handle the unexpected.

• You're judged on both words and demeanor. • Never let your guard down, because everything

you say and do counts.

A job interview is like a first date in that both sides seek to answer the same question:

Can this develop into something good?

What to Ask

Some Ideas of What to Ask

Work FlowWork Flow

It's a given that there's too much work and not enough people to turn the wheels.

How does your prospective boss assign work, reward performance and grant time off?

Management Style

Ask your prospective boss to describe his management style.

If the answer is nothing but buzzwords and blather, you can bet what he calls management is chaotic and invites inefficiency and inequality.

Values & Goals

Ask about values and goals to determine if your prospective boss is a rising star or someone sinking deeper into frustration and bitterness.

A boss on the downswing will drag you down, make your life miserable and may limit your advancement

Toss a few Curves• Ask a few open-ended questions

such as "What makes a good employee?"

or "What did you learn from your biggest mistake?"

• If your prospective boss offers a by-the-numbers response, bet on a rote, top-down manager--and keep your job search alive.

• Never discuss money in the initial interview.

TurnoverAsk your prospective boss about employee turnover.

Why did people leave? Was their departure

voluntary or forced? Where did they take new jobs?

If turnover is high, what does it says about the company, not to mention the boss?

Speak to OthersSpeak to Others

Ask to speak to other employees in the office, especially those at your job level.

Keep it informal and watch how they respond as much as you listen to what they say.

This will give you an insight into office morale.

Follow-Up Questions If the initial response to a

query is glib, follow up with a pointed question.

If you need more information, or if something isn't clear, ask for clarification.

Nail things down to avoid unpleasant surprises about your duties in the future.

Back to ‘What to Ask’

Why All the Questions?

• The questions may seem irrelevant to your job skills, but hiring a new employee is expensive and time consuming.

• The cost of employee turnover has been estimated at $2,300 to $13,000 per worker, depending on the company and position.

• Major companies take one to three months to fill important slots.

• Still, about 22% of American workers voluntarily leave their jobs in less than a year.

??????

$$$$$$$$$

Turnover Costs Companies

• Turnover quickly becomes expensive for a company with thousands of workers--and an immediate punch in the pocketbook for small enterprises.

• This focuses the attention of employers and demands great attention to small details when hiring.

• The result is the marathon hiring process now familiar to job hunters everywhere.

Rounds of Interviews

• Prepare to meet for about an hour. • But that's often just the 1st round, and you can

expect several rounds of interviews, especially for a high-level job.

• In some cases, you may meet 8-10 people in a series of interviews throughout the day.

Grab the opportunity with both hands!

In the Interview

• Giving your qualifications isn't a recap of ancient history—the interviewer wants to know how your education and experience apply to his company and the current opening.

• The interviewer's stock question "Tell me about yourself" isn't a request for childhood memories or a rundown of academic prizes won, but a call for a brief overview of what you bring to the table.

• Learn as much as you can about the company. -If it's publicly traded, read the most recent 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

and the latest annual report. -If the company is privately held, start with its Web

site and read as much as you can about the industry.

7 Deadly Interview Flubs Scott Reeves

• Your achievements and educational background set you apart from the pack.

• You've reworked your cover letter and résumé until both are as smooth as polished oak.

• Your diligence soon pays off: You land an interview for what could be t-h-e dream job.

• Congratulations, but remember: Your résumé got you in the door.

• Your interview skills will land the job offer

7 Deadliest Interview Flubs

Back to Interview Advice

No Bluffing

• Those who bluff their way through an interview often become disillusioned after several months on the job, and their performance drops.

• This damages your future prospects. You don't want to have a lot of short stints on your résumé, because the next employer may write you off as a job hopper and figure that you'll soon become dissatisfied and quickly move on.

Watch What You Say

• For each person you meet going up the ladder, it's interview No. 1 for that executive. Start with a brief summary of your credentials/experience and state your interest in the job.

• Keep it simple & direct: This is what I can do for you.• Don't lecture on current failings of the company and don't boast how

you alone, can fix them. • But keep it short: Say what you've done and always return to what

you can do for the company. • Shy? If you talk too little and simply nod your head, the interviewer is

likely to conclude that you have nothing to say or are simply not interested in the job.

Your Interview might Stink but Make Sure You Don’t!

• Proper hygiene: Bathe, comb your hair, brush your teeth (do a food-in-the- teeth check if you eat before the interview) and avoid garlic, onions, etc.

• Don’t smoke or be around smokers

• Don’t douse yourself with perfume or cologne

Don’t Let Them See You Sweat

De-Stress before the interview with controlled breathing or visualization exercises for example to stay calm, cool, and collected during the interview

More Don’ts• Knocking your current employer will knock you out

of the box. The interviewer will assume that you're a malcontent and conclude that if you're unhappy in your current job, you'll soon be unhappy in a new job--and no one wants to hire trouble.

• Don't talk money or benefits until you have an offer in hand. -If you do, the interviewer will assume that you have little interest in the job beyond a paycheck. -Employers want people who will turn handstands for them--not clock-punchers.

No Money, No Problems

• Never talk money until you have an offer in hand. Your pitch must be clear: This is what I can do for you.

• People are often lured by the wrong carrots.• Many go for the money and quickly find they're

miserable in a new job. • Do your research and determine what's

important to you in a new job.

Being Different can be OK

The interviewer wants to know what sets you apart from other qualified applicants, and you need to know if the company is a good fit for you.

Thank You• Follow up with thank-you letters to everyone you met during

the interview. Get business cards from each person you speak with so you get the names and titles right.

• In each letter, thank the person for taking the time to discuss job prospects. Sum up your educational background and work experience and state how this qualifies you for the job. Don't be bashful but don't be boastful, and again state what you can do for the company. Send slightly different versions of the letter to each person you met.

• The advantage of zapping the note via e-mail or sending it by snail mail varies from interview to interview. An e-mail is quick but may be lost in the avalanche that piles up each day. A hardcopy letter may therefore be more memorable and create a bigger impact. In either case, get the letter off as quickly as possible and certainly no more than 2 or 3 days after the interview.

Writing a Killer Resume by Newfield

• Think of your résumé as an advertisement for yourself.

• A résumé is intended to make you stand out from the hundreds of others applying for the job.

• It's designed to catch a prospective employer's eye and get you an interview.

Getting a Call Back

• The company is likely to have a stack of résumés for each opening, and the first cut often is made in a telephone interview.

• Make notes on each job you apply for and keep them handy so you can flip through them when that call you've been waiting for comes out of nowhere.

Think of it as a pop quiz: • The person calling wants a brief overview of your

qualifications, skills and educational background. • You must sell yourself quickly and emphatically or you

won't get an interview.

A resume that gets you in the door Scott Reeves

• A good résumé gets you a job interview and a bad résumé gets you … nothing.

A good résumé isn't just a summary of your work experience.

It grabs the attention of a prospective employer and sells you as a hot prospect.

Your pitch is: This is the type of work I can do for you.

Think of it as an advertisement for yourself and then ask some basic questions: What are you selling? How do you want to present yourself? What's the most effective way to make your pitch?

Résumé Structure

• Begin with a professional summary, 3-8 sentences highlighting your strengths, experience, and education.

• A chronological listing of your experience achieves nothing.

• Avoid the mundane by highlighting major accomplishments such as boosting sales, opening a new office or improving efficiency and cutting costs

Key Words

• Corporations flooded with applications electronically scan stacks of résumés looking for key words.

• Learn the key words vital to your field and use them to strengthen your pitch.

• Don't let this degenerate into the clichéd use of buzzwords.

Don’t Get Personal

• Don't confuse the professional with the personal.

• Never include marital status, religious or political affiliation on your résumé.

Employment Information

• When reviewing a résumé, the prospective employer doesn't care that you were "downsized" in your last job—he wants to know what you can do for him if hired.

• The details of why you left your prior job will be discussed at the interview, if relevant.

• If you've got 25 or 30 years of experience, it's not necessary to provide a blow-by-blow account of your employment history.

• Most employers look for upward movement and increased responsibility. So, outline the early experience and provide greater details on what you've been doing in the last 10 or 15 years.

Do you speak Geek?

If you have extensive knowledge of computer hardware, software or unusual tech skill, list the skill in a special section under education.

This could also include professional licenses, professional affiliations and advanced training in a specialized field.

A Good Résumé Is… Short AND Simple Honest Well-written 1 page if you're just starting out 2 or 3 pages if you have extensive experience Fancy brochure-style résumés or those with

multiple attachments aren't helpful. Don't include letters of recommendation,

photocopies of awards or copies of newspaper and magazine stories.

7 Quick Résumé Tips

Back to ‘A Good Résumé Is’

Never Lie• A résumé isn't a legal document BUT if you lie on

your résumé, you'll have to repeat the false information on the company's job application, which is a legal document, and that can get you're fired.

• Companies routinely check your educational background, prior employment and military service.

• Never claim false degrees/experience/titles.• The degree of scrutiny increases as you move up

the corporate hierarchy, but that's not an invitation for middle managers to fudge. Always keep it straight. Assume everybody checks everything!

Résumé Don’tsCutesy Kills. Write your résumé in a clear, concise style.

The Unpardonable Sin. Don't exaggerate your accomplishments or claim a college degree you don't have.

Just the facts, ma'am.

Flashy Graphics Get Tossed. – Your résumé should be logically organized and easy to read on one

or two pages on heavy stock paper. – No pink or purple, and don't use folded parchment with gold trim. – Graphics are best left on the menu at a new age restaurant. – Presentation counts, so Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

Punch up resume language without exaggerating

• The résumé is used in conjunction with your cover letter, but the résumé should stand alone in representing you.

• A résumé is a marketing tool; you are selling yourself.

Consider rewriting: "Maintained account receivable records and accounts payable," to something such as: – Managed more than 1,500 accounts receivable and payable on

XYZ system. – Shortened collection cycle and increased payments on delinquent

accounts 25%. – Reported to the Chief Operating Officer.

• It underscores your skills, energy, and dedication to work, and tells the prospective employer: Good candidate. Might be worth a good salary.

Empty Words with No Examples• The hiring manager won't be convinced if you can't provide solid

examples to back up your claims. Be extra-careful before putting these 25 nice-sounding but empty words in your résumé.

Aggressive Ambitious Competent CreativeDetermined Efficient Experienced Detail-orientedFlexible Goal-oriented Hard-working IndependentInnovative Knowledgeable Logical MotivatedMeticulous People person Professional ReliableResourceful Self-motivated Successful Team playerWell-organized

10 Ways to Botch Your Resume

Ten Ways to Botch Your ResumeKate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

• More often than not, the company's 1st impression of you is from your résumé, typically 1-2 pages of paper that includes your entire work and educational history. With such limited space to convey such important information, it pays to make sure you get it right the first time.

Mistake #1: Writing your resume to

sound like a series of job descriptions

• Tell the reader what you’ve done throughout your career. Instead of focusing on duties you were responsible for at your last jobs, list accomplishments along with quantifiable facts to back up your claims. Saying you were responsible for a 10% growth in overall sales is more impressive than simply stating you managed a sales team.

Mistake #2: Writing in the first person

• Your resume is not a personal correspondence, and should not include words such as "I," "my," and "me." Save the first person pronouns for your cover letter.

Mistake #3: Including unrelated and personal information

• Leave the details about your personal life, marital status, hobbies and other interests on the cutting room floor.

Mistake #4: Using passive language or

no action words – Use your Verbs!

• Your resume needs to make a bold, strong statement, and the best way to do this is by utilizing action words to describe your accomplishments.

• Words like "coordinated," "achieved," "managed," and "implemented" will spice up your resume and make it more interesting and relevant to the reader.

Mistake #5: Repetition.

• Make sure you have variety in your resume. Don't pick a couple of words and stick with them throughout the entire document.

• Use a thesaurus, career advice Web sites and other sources if you are having problems coming up with new ways to say the same thing.

Mistake #6: Poor formatting or formatting

that is too flashy. • While the most important part of your resume is

content, there is no question that the document's overall look and feel is also important.

• Use consistent formatting for headings and bullet points. Steer clear of flashy formatting or overly creative resumes with unconventional fonts or graphics, unless you are seeking a highly creative position. Keep your resume simple, bold and professional.

Mistake #7: Sending a resume without a cover letter

• One of the worst things you can do is send a great resume without an official introduction. Resumes and cover letters should be inseparable. Make sure you don't give up your chance to really sell yourself with a cover letter.

Mistake #8: Sending an unfocused or generic resume

• While your work experience doesn't change depending on the job or industry you are targeting, your resume certainly should. If seeking a sales-related position, your resume will include details different from those included in a resume for a management job. Make sure you write to what you are seeking and make it easy for the reader to see why you are a good fit.

Mistake #9: Including typos and other spelling or grammatical errors

• Before you send out your resume, make sure you have proofread it several times. Many hiring managers will automatically throw away a resume that has typos or other errors.

Mistake #10: Sending your resume to a nameless, faceless person

• Want your resume to get thrown in the recycling bin? Just send it to the company's "Hiring Manager," or "To Whom It May Concern." Take the time to find a real person at the company who is responsible for hiring in the department you are targeting. This is often the 1st and most helpful step to getting your foot in the door.

Tailor your Résumé

• Tailor your résumé to specific ads. – If the ad seeks an electrical engineer, use the term in

your résumé & highlight engineering experience. – If a job seeks experience with computer-aided design,

work the term into your résumé.

• State how your skills are relevant to the opening and why your background qualifies you to handle the job.

View Samples

• Check out sample résumés on the Internet but don’t copy them almost word for word.

• Make it your own!

Sample Résumés

Don’t Include, Unless…• Unless you're seeking your 1st job, don't include your college

GPA. It’s ancient history and prior job experience quickly eclipses academic performance.

• Don’t include academic awards, unless it’ll knock the socks off’em! – Ex. A well-known scholarship/prize equivalent to stamping "Genius!" on

your forehead--maybe.– Otherwise, forget about your glory days at school because no one

cares--except your mother--and she's not doing the hiring.

• In most cases, don't include hobbies/interests.They’re irrelevant unless for example you're applying for a job as a golf magazine editor and letting people know you’re an avid golfer would of course be helpful.

Gender Confusion• Finally, if you're named

Dana, Pat, Lee,…don't leave them guessing if you're male or female. – Use Mr., Ms. or Miss on your

mailing address.

OK, kiddo, knock 'em dead.

The Truth About Lies Scott Reeves

• A solid résumé will get you in the door. A lie will get you kicked down the stairs.

• People often lie on their résumé in the mistaken belief that puffery will improve their chances to take a giant step in their career or simply because they lack self-confidence. A few may have something to hide. Some say as many as 35% of job seekers have lied on their résumé.

Lies Get Caught

• A résumé isn't a legal document, but a job application is. So, if you don't repeat the lies on the job application, you're immediately unmasked as a fraud. But if you do, you could be shown the door after a background check.

• Lies usually shake out during the interviews.If you don't have the experience, you can't speak intelligently about the topic.

Stretching the Truth is Lying

• Many claiming a college degree they haven't earned, claim job titles they've never held, or inflate their salaries and accomplishments to turn a support role into a key position.

• Employers like to hire candidates with solid work histories showing steady advancement. Some applicants, therefore, stretch employment dates to cover any gaps, even if they got the axe in a company downsizing and are blameless. Don’t do this! It is lying.

No White Lies Even• Clean up all such fibs now and don't repeat similar

exaggerations, errors or omissions in the future. • Companies have a financial stake in placing job

candidates so they will let you know if they find an indiscretion on your résumé and you’ll be rejected due to lack of integrity.

• The consequences of lying are greater than not getting a job or even getting fired. As you advance in your field, it quickly becomes a small world, and top people know each other. If you lie on your résumé, it will mushroom into other areas, damage your reputation, and harm your future prospects.

False Claims• Companies filling high-level jobs routinely

make background checks, including claimed degrees, honors, work experience & references.

• The smart candidate, therefore, won't claim – to have studied with Albert Einstein at Equator State University– to have been Jack Welch's inspiration at General Electric – to have written killer code for Uncle Bill at Microsoft – or even to have worked with the colonel in cooking up the secret

recipe that made Yum! Brands' KFC chicken famous.

Don't laugh! People really think they can get away with lies.

Today’s Lightening Bolt Insight:Don’t lie on your Résumé!

• Don’t inflate your previous job titles. (Ex. Some executive assistants have the odd habit of claiming to be human resource directors. Funny how the salaries don't quite match, eh?) Smart recruiters and interviewers notice these things.

• It's nearly impossible to retract a lie after you've been hired and few try simply because the risks are too great - embarrassment, demotion--or termination.

• Close the gap in experience or. If you don't have a needed degree or experience, get it. You may not get the current job, but there's always something else in the future.

Networking Your Way To A Dream Jobby Scott Reeves

• Combine what you know with who you know.

• “Place yourself in venues that facilitate in-person networking,” says Katharine Hansen, author of A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market.

• The top 2 networking venues are professional associations and volunteer organizations.

Networking Can Get You a Job• Some have estimated that only about 30%

(others peg it at only 5-15%) of all job openings are posted on a Web site such as Monster Worldwide or advertised in professional journals or newspapers.

• The key is to establish and nurture key contacts. Just about anyone can become a contact: – Friends, friends of friends, relatives, co-workers,

neighbors, a former boss--and even profs from your old school.

– Don't forget interest groups in your field or even activities that attract engaging people such as book and hiking clubs.

Communication is Key• Information must flow both ways.

When you hear something of interest to others, pass it on. Sharing information keeps you in the loop.

• Networking takes time to develop. The more time you devote to it, the sharper your skills and the larger, more effective the network, and maybe access to the "hidden job market," in which the best jobs aren't advertised, but are known to a select group of people in the field.

• Hiring is a roll of the dice, but an employer can tilt the odds in his favor by interviewing ‘recommended’ people.

• Get to know people in your field and allow them to know you. Make your interests, experience and talents known.

Networking Works Both Ways

• When meeting a stranger, remember you're always being sized up--even in an informal setting. State your goals and ask for advice and any tips. Share what you know.

• Don't be bashful about asking for additional contacts. Photocopies are cheap so give the contact a copy of your resume, if appropriate.

• The biggest mistake is to simply go around asking people for a job instead of establishing relationships and asking for advice.

• Networking is a 2-way street. The person networking should offer to help the contact or supply needed information whenever possible.

• The basic techniques are the same for all job levels. The only thing that changes is where you make contacts.

• Regular follow-up is critical--even after you've landed a job. Contacts become invested in your job search and like progress updates.

NetworkingMake your search a 2-way street

Sample Résumés

NOTE: Ignore formatting in the following resumes as they were formatted to fit

on slides, not on paper.

Back to View Samples Slide

Chronological RésuméJudith J. Jones 115 South Hawthorne Avenue Chicago, Illinois 66204 tel: (312) 653-9217 email: jj@earthlink.com

Job Objective A position in the office management, accounting or administrative assistant area, requiring initiative and the ability to multitask.

Education and Training Acme Business College, Lincoln, IL Graduate of a one-year business program.John Adams High School, South Bend, IN Diploma, business education.U.S. Army Financial procedures, accounting functions.Other Continuing-education classes and workshops in business communication, spreadsheet and database applications

scheduling systems and customer relations.

Experience 2003-present -- Claims Processor, Blue Spear Insurance Co., Wilmette, IL. Process customer medical claims, develop

management reports based on created spreadsheets and develop management reports based on those forms, exceed productivity goals.

2002-2003 -- Returned to school to upgrade business and computer skills. Completed courses in advanced accounting, spreadsheet and database programs, office management, human relations and new office techniques.

1999-2002 -- E4, U.S. Army. Assigned to various stations as a specialist in finance operations. Promoted prior to honorable discharge.

1998-1999 -- Sandy's Boutique, Wilmette, IL. Responsible for counter sales, display design, cash register and other tasks.

1996-1998 -- Held part-time and summer jobs throughout high school.

Strengths and Skills Reliable, hardworking and good with people. General ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Proficient in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Excel and Outlook.

Excerpted from 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr.

Basic Skills RésuméLisa M. Rhodes 813 Lava Court - Denver, CO 81613 Home: (413) 643-2173 (leave message) Cell: (413) 442-1659

lrhodes@netcom.net

Objective Sales-oriented position in a retail sales or distribution business.

Skills and Abilities Communications -- Good written and verbal presentation skills. Use proper grammar and have a good speaking voice.Interpersonal Skills -- Able to get along well with co-workers and accept supervision. Received positive evaluations from previous

supervisors.Flexible -- Willing to try new things and am interested in improving efficiency on assigned tasks.Attention to Detail -- Concerned with quality. Produce work that is orderly and attractive. Ensure tasks are completed correctly and

on time.Hard-working -- Throughout high school, worked long hours in strenuous activities while attending school full-time. Often managed

as many as 65 hours a week in school and other structured activities while maintaining above-average grades.Customer Service -- Routinely handled as many as 500 customer contacts a day (10,000 per month) in a busy retail outlet.

Averaged lower than a .001 percent complaint rate and was given the "Employee of the Month" award in second month of employment. Received two merit increases.

Cash Sales -- Handled more than $2,000 a day ($40,000 a month) in cash sales. Balanced register and prepared daily sales summary and deposits.

Reliable -- Excellent attendance record; trusted to deliver daily cash deposits totaling more than $40,000 a month.

Education Franklin High School, 2001-2004. Classes included advanced English. Member of award-winning band. Excellent attendance record. Superior communication skills. Graduated in top 30 percent of class

Other Active gymnastics competitor for four years. Learned discipline, teamwork, how to follow instructions and hard work. Ambitious, outgoing, reliable and have solid work ethic.

Excerpted from 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr.

Accomplishments Résumé

Susan Britton Whitcomb Name/Contact Info

OBJECTIVE Senior Buyer (Shoes/Accessories) with a regional retailer that will benefit from an impressive 18-year history of contributions to gross margin improvement,comparable store sales and product development.

REPRESENTATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Drove gross margins from 41.7% to 45.6% to capture record $860,000 net profit. Exceeded comparable store sales increases with 13% departmental improvement (storewide average, 1.4%). Set up and launched shoe departments for six new stores; generated comparable business increase of 15.4%. Reversed history of shoe losses, delivering overall increase of $935,000 in profit (from negative 5-figure loss). Built department volume from $6.9 million to more than $10 million with a 3.9% increase in gross margins. Contributed an average of 48% net profit to store's total net income. Introduced and promoted several items that earned "key item" status, a first for the department. Served on EDI Implementation Committee and Fast-Track Warehousing Committee (reduced merchandise flow through warehouse from 5 days to 48 hours).

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY Senior Shoe Buyer: Recruited to turn around underperforming department for $450 million retailer with 42 store in the New England area. Exceeded all

performance benchmarks as detailed above. Clothing, Etc., New York, New York, 3/94-present Senior Buyer: Slated for fast-track promotion as Management Trainee, Assistant Buyer, Associate Buyer, Buyer and Senior Buyer. Instrumental in increasing

sales from $2.5 million to $8.5 million during buying tenure Regional Retailers, Amherst Massachusetts, 5/80-3/94 STRENGTHS Expertise in private label programs, multistore buying, new store launch and domestic/import buying. Accomplished in all aspects of sales promotions (ROP,direct mail, newspaper standard advertising catalog vehicles), inventory tracking, EDI reordering, vendor negotiations, and competitive pricing. Hands-onmanager with skills in supervising and coaching buying staff.

EDUCATION University of Texas: Concentration in Engineering with strong preparation in Business Finance and Marketing. Available for Relocation

Hybrid Résumé Susan Britton Whitcomb

Name/Contact InfoQUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY Management Professional with 20-year career distinguished by promotion to challenging muti-branch assignments. Strengths:

Staff Development &Training Customer Service & Client Retention Sales & Business Development Branch/District Operations Management Process & Controls, Cost Containment Information Systems FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE Promoted through positions with leading financial institution, National Bank: Assistant Vice President   2002 – Present Customer Service Manager   1994 – 2002Assistant Operations Manager   1987 – 1994Customer Service Representative   1983 – 1987Currently accountable for central California district containing 26 sites with total staff of 635 FTEs. Provide operational support to division, district, branch, and customer service managers in the

areasof production management, quality control, policy development, risk management, staffing and customer service. Highlights of responsibilities and career accomplishments include the following:General Management - Business Development, Customer Service, Cost Controls, Productivity Increased district ranking from #8 to #1 for service and production management. Minimized total operating losses to 40% under plan, with 85% of sites under plan for risk management. Initiated new policy for currency handling with resultant savings to company of $1.5 million. Minimized total operating losses to 40% under plan, with 85% of sites under plan for risk management. Initiated new policy for currency handling with resultant savings to company of $1.5 million. Played an integral role in organizing a new central California division comprising of 250 branches. Designed an improved system (subsequently implemented statewide in some 500 sites) for out-of-balance conditions and cash shortages. Directed the integration of two newly acquired branches into corporate system with minimal downtime; success acknowledged by Senior Vice President with written commendation. Earned excellent biannual corporate audit ratings for cash control, security and policy compliance.

Training/Development Certified instructor for National Bank's Retail University: wrote and taught corporate courses for executive training program (topics included production management, ethics, understanding branch

reports). Assisted in writing job descriptions for operations staff utilized system-wide (520 locations). Cross-trained operations staff well beyond scope of normal job profiles; efforts resulted in increased productivity, reduced loss liability, and improved customer service response time. Human Resources Management Administered corporate human resource policies.

Recruited and interviewed candidates for mid-management policies. Conducted monthly officer meetings, addressing policy changes, training and problem-solving needs. Special Honors District Service Specialist of the Year (statewide award; selected among 45 candidates). Customer Service Manager of the Year (for effective management of high-volume $145 million branch).

Recent Graduate Résumé Resume Magic by Susan Britton Whitcomb (JIST)

Use internship/volunteer experiences to demonstrate accomplishments & abilities. NAME/CONTACT INFO

SYNOPSIS Dual-degree graduate with D.C. Internship experiences, qualified for opportunities where communications expertise, technology skills and broadcast background will be of value.

EDUCATION University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor of Arts degree, Communications (Dean's List Honors; GPA in major 3.9)2004

Bachelor of Arts degree, Political Science2004INTERNSHIPS Talk Radio News Service and TalkDaily.com, Washington D.C. June-August 2003 Assisted in production of daily radio and Internet broadcasts. Researched Internet sources,

national newspapers and other news sources to assemble show content. Wrote daily news summaries for TalkDaily.com. Assisted with ongoing research on talk-show topics. Highlights:

Broadcast: Co-hosted live, 20-minute daily radio broadcast an assignment normally reserved for full-time staffers. Communications: Covered White House press conferences; posed questions to senior officials and the President. Interviewed guests for Talkers Magazine, including hosts of top Boston-

and D.C.-based talk-radio programs. Technology: updated Web site with daily highlights of talk personalities, such as Rush Limbaugh and Imus.

U.S. Representative Geraldine Smathers, 22nd District, Washington D.C. July-August 2002 Represented congresswoman at hearings and provided written analysis of proposed legislation. Served as office contact for major supporters. Wrote constituent correspondence and franked communications. Highlights:

Communications: Selected among five interns as media spokesperson for several campaign events. Served as precinct captain on election day. Technology: Project managed on-time installation of new communications system at campaign headquarters.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Delta Delta Gamma, UC-Santa Barbara Campus Social Chair: Organized 15-20 annual events for 100-member organization Philanthropy Chair: Envisioned and manages projects that benefited the campus and city. Fund-raising Chair: Introduced activities that generated record revenue.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND INTERESTS Computer Skills: Dreamweaver Web site design; MS Office (advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint); MSIE and Netscape Navigator browsers; e-mail applications (Outlook Express,

Eudora); Internet research. Favorite Subjects: Political communications, lobbying, legal advocacy and argumentation, oral debate, drama. Language: Basic conversational and business Spanish (completed four years of Spanish course work). Activities: Tennis, golf, canoeing.

Amplified Resume and References Online: http://www.careerfolios.com/swheaton

Making Your Résumé E-Friendly: 10 Steps

Michael Farr, Career and Job Search Author 1. Open your regular resume file, select the Save As command on your toolbar, (usually under the file menu). Select Text Only, Plain Text or ASCII as the type.2. Close the file and then reopen it to make sure you are working from the new text only version. Most graphic elements such as lines, images and bullet point symbols have now beeneliminated. But if they haven't, go ahead and delete them. You may use equal signs in place of lines or borders and replace bullet points with plus symbols(+), asterisks (*) or hyphens (-).3. Limit margins to no more than 65 characters wide.4. Use an easy-to-scan sans-serif type font, such as Courier, Arial or Helvetica.5. Eliminate bold, italics and underlining if any remain after saving as text-only.6. Introduce major sections with ALL UPPERCASE WORDS, not in bold, italics or underlined.7. Keep all text aligned to the left.8. Instead of using bullets, use a standard keyboard character, such as an asterisk.9. Instead of using the Tab key or paragraph indents, use the space key to indent.10. When done, click Save or OK. Then reopen the file to see how it looks. Make any additionalformat changes as needed.

Test the electronic resume: E-mail it to a friend who uses a different Internet Service Provider. Excerpted from 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr.

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