resume content & job interview best practices

R C t t dResume Content and Job Interview Best PracticesJob Interview Best Practices

Presented by Craig Hodges, Client Services Managerto Top 10 finalist teams of Canada’s Next Top Ad ExecMarch 29, 2010

AgendaAgenda> Current market trends> Current market trends

> Employment opportunities

> Where to work

> Resume writing> Resume writing

> Job interview best practices

> Our career advice

Copyright (C) 2010 Creative Niche Inc. All rights reserved.

Current market trendsCurrent market trends> Digital / Interactive / Web> Digital / Interactive / Web

> Mobile

> Rich Internet Applications (i.e. TweetDeck)

> Social Networking> Social Networking


Employment opportunitiesEmployment opportunitiesObvious… Less obvious… Not-so-obvious….Obvious… Less obvious… Not so obvious….

Account Coordinator

Account Manager,Interactive Digital StrategistCoordinator Interactive

Brand Manager MarCom Manager Marketing Services Manager

Social Media Coordinator Content Manager Conversation Analyst


Where to workWhere to workThings to consider:g

> Experiences to be gained

> Salary + Benefits

> Work / Life Balance

> Mentorship

> Career Advancement> Career Advancement

> Work Environment


Where to workWhere to work> Advertising / Marketing Agencies> Advertising / Marketing Agencies

(Above the Line or Below the Line)

> Interactive / Design Firms + Studios

> Client-side / Corporate

> Staffing through Recruitment Agencies> Staffing through Recruitment Agencies


Resume writingResume writingResearchResearch> Read career and business related publications (print

and online) for market trendsand online) for market trends

> Carefully read the job descriptions of your desired

positions to understand the skills required and how

well your experience aligns with the job y p g j

requirements


Resume writingResume writingResearchResearch> Be prepared to customize your resume to parrot the

requirements of the job you want


Resume writingResume writingBasic Framework1. Name and contact information 2 Objective2. Objective3. Skills4 Experiences and PARS4. Experiences and PARS5. Successes6 Ed i6. Education7. Interests


Resume writingResume writingName and Contact InformationName and Contact Information> Name, Address, Email

> LinkedIn Profile> LinkedIn Profile

> Twitter Handle

> Website / Blog

> Not the right venue for Facebook or MySpaceg y p


Resume writingResume writingObjectiveObjective> This is your ask - top of the page

> Quick statement including your title and what> Quick statement including your title and what

environment best suits your skill and ambition

> It should be work-centered, not self-centered

Example:Example: Seeking an Account Coordinator opportunity in a digital agency


Resume writingResume writingSkills Assessment: what do you do?Skills Assessment: what do you do?

> Do an inventory of your skills and abilities and one

for accomplishments and achievements

- Excellent verbal and written communication- Create production and client briefs- Create client contact reports- Negotiate with suppliersNegotiate with suppliers

> Keep your skills generic and general


Resume writingResume writingExperienceExperience> State your work experience:

- the employer

- your title

- the period in which you worked for them

- the skills you acquired that support your experience toy q pp y p

be qualified to be eligible for that role


Resume writingResume writingExperienceExperience> If the skills you’ve acquired don’t support the

l ’ h i t bt i ddrole you’re hoping to obtain, add:- the employer

- your title

- the period in which you worked for them to account forp y

your overall work experience


Resume writingResume writingCreate PARsCreate PARs> Problem - Action - Result. It is a great exercise for

thinking about your accomplishmentsthinking about your accomplishments.

> Create sample case studies of your contributions.

P - What challenge did you face?A - What action did you take to overcome the challenge?R - What was the result of your effort?R What was the result of your effort?


Resume writingResume writingSuccessesSuccesses> An achievement that reflects your work style –

contributing to CNTAE or placing in the Top 25 is acontributing to CNTAE or placing in the Top 25 is a

perfect example

B i t d li t ll li h t> Brainstorm and list all your accomplishments

> Turn them into high-impact statements. Lead with the

result or benefit to the employer


Resume writingResume writingSuccessesSuccesses> Be concise and specific about accomplishments

> They should provide proof of your potential value> They should provide proof of your potential value

> Create an image that matches you and the company to

hi h l iwhich you are applying

Example:Wi f th k ti i ti l titi f th H t dWinner of the marketing communications plan competition for the Heart and Stroke Foundation Anti-smoking Campaign: Designed campaign entered market September 2010


Resume writingResume writingEducationEducation> Your highest level of academic achievement

> Showcase academic achievements extracurricular> Showcase academic achievements, extracurricular

activities, special projects and related courses

E lExample:

University of Western Ontario, London, ONDegree inACS Social Org and Human RelationsDegree in ACS, Social Org and Human Relations- Interned in LPH re: Work Related Depression Seminars- Achieved $150K in revenue via College Pro franchise


Resume writingResume writingReview your contentReview your content> Does you resume answer these questions?

1. Address who you are? i.e. Your Contact Information, Objective, Skills, Experience SuccessesExperience, Successes

2. Communicate the position you are applying for?


Resume WritingResume WritingReview your contentReview your content> Does you resume answer these questions? con’t

3. Highlight what you can do (relevant qualifications)?

4 Highlight what you have accomplished?4. Highlight what you have accomplished?

5. With whom you have worked?i.e. all brands, clients, companies, agencies


Resume WritingResume WritingEditEdit

> Review, proofread and spell-check your final document

> Ensure grammatical phrasing is consistent

> Check that the design and layout is appropriate and don’tCheck that the design and layout is appropriate and don t

go heavy on graphics or use of black

> Save various copies and track where you have applied> Save various copies and track where you have applied


Job interview best practicesJob interview best practices> Do your research – get online to review the> Do your research get online to review the

company, their competition and people are saying

about them

> Understand the brand and scope of their business

and industry – be able to speak intelligently about

this subject as well as able to ask questions aboutthis subject as well as able to ask questions about

their business


Job interview best practicesJob interview best practices> Plan to arrive 10 minutes before your interview> Plan to arrive 10 minutes before your interview.

Give yourself enough time to arrive on time despite

any delays you may encounter on public transit or in

traffic.

> Have your interviewer’s contact information on hand

so that if you are running late you can let them knowso that if you are running late, you can let them know

as soon as possible.


Job interview best practicesJob interview best practices> Dress for success – well groomed clean and> Dress for success well groomed, clean and

pressed suit (or tie with dress shirt and dress

pants), sharp and shiny always impresses

> Remember to turn off your mobile phone

> Give a firm handshake

> Look the interviewer in one eye and try to> Look the interviewer in one eye and try to

maintain contact


Job interview best practicesJob interview best practices> Be yourself – not who you think they want to see> Be yourself not who you think they want to see

> Demonstrate a sense of humour – people want

to work with others who will be a joy to work

with

> Remember: they are meeting you and want you

to succeedto succeed


Job interview best practicesJob interview best practices> Don’t stress yourself out and remember to> Don t stress yourself out, and remember to

breathe!


Our Career AdviceOur Career Advice> Stay informed and anticipate industry changesStay informed and anticipate industry changes

> Update your digital skills and knowledge

> Participate in growing skills outside of your job role> Participate in growing skills outside of your job role

engaging other managers with your work

> Grow a personal network

> Build a great personal brand online and support it with

solid content


Join the conversationJoin the conversationJoin us for contests, job postings, Niche news , j p g ,and information on upcoming events:

| @Twitter | @AccountNicheFacebook | www.facebook.com/AccountNiche


Creative Niche Inc. is committed to the growth and development of our creative industry We participate indevelopment of our creative industry. We participate in

various education and professional development events.

Interested in having us speak at your event?Interested in having us speak at your event?

Kimi AbdullahMarketing & Communications Managerg g

416.360.3893 x 229 | [email protected]


resume content & job interview best practices

Career

resume writing

resume answer

content gt

practices

work gt

2010 creative

rights reserved

job interview