DiversityWorking ~ FAQ
Resume and Career Tips
- How do I prepare for an interview?
- How do I handle a phone interview?
- What are the things that I should avoid during an interview?
- How do I create a good resume?
- How do I "market" myself to employers?
- What are the things that I should avoid in writing my resume?
- Is it ok to lie in my resume, just to get a job?
Q: How do I prepare for an interview?
A:
The fact that you were called for an interview
shows that the employer is already considering
you for the job. You are now on your first step
towards employment!
Basic tips
- First of all, research about the company, and
the position you are applying for. In most cases,
employers use this as a gauge of your enthusiasm
in getting the job.
- Be professional. Come earlier than the scheduled
time.
- Be well groomed and properly dressed. The saying
"first impressions last" is true, especially
in job interviews. Look neat and tidy.
- It's easier said than done, but don't be nervous.
Sometimes, too much tension causes mental block.
Listen to each question carefully, and answer
intelligently.
- Be courteous and tactful. Look confident but
not arrogant.
Of course, you should be mentally prepared.
Anticipate questions that are normally asked in
a job interview like:
- Tell me something about yourself
- What are you looking for in a job?
- Why do you like to be a part of our company?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your strengths? weaknesses?
They might also give situational questions
like:
- How did you manage the most difficult situation
you have encountered in the office?
- Have you ever been in an argument with your
superiors or co-workers?
And, some questions might be simple I.Q. tests
like:
- Why is a manhole round?
- Why is it that a coin sinks in an ocean, and
a ship does not?
Since most of these questions are commonly asked,
it would be helpful to prepare scripts.
*For more interviewing tips, visit the Career Consulting Corner website
Q: How do I handle a phone interview?
A:
In the JobWeb site, an article entitled Hello? Hello? Youre Hired! written by Claudia Allen gives basic tips on how to handle interviews on the phone.
Many employers prefer to have phone interviews first. If you dont leave them with a positive impression over the phone, chances are, your application is doomed. So be prepared! If you know that you have pending applications, always expect calls from employers.
Things to remember
- Know the companies you are applying to. You never know which one of them will give you a ring.
- Use your resume as a guide
- If possible, attend phone interview workshops to give you a better idea on how phone interviews are conducted.
Ethics
- Youre not just talking to anybody. The success of your job application depends on the person you are talking to.
- Make sure that there are no unnecessary noises in the background (music, the sound of your mouth eating something) They could be irritating.
- Dont put the interviewer on hold. Dont let him wait.
Style
- Moderate your voice. Dont mumble and babble. (Thats why practicing your speech is important) Confidence can be reflected with the way you speak.
- Dont sound too serious. Youre not a robot. Put a smile in your voice (and yes, a smile can be heard)
Q: What are the things that I should avoid during an interview?
A:
The Career Center of the Robert Half Finance and Accounting Website gives six Interview Donts.
- Dont simply answer by Yes or No. Avoid vagueness and be more specific
- Dont answer if you did not fully understand the question. Kindly request the interviewer to repeat his inquiry.
- Dont expect your resume to do the talking for you. Be prepared to back up whatever is written there.
- Dont bad mouth your previous employer. It wont do you any good.
- Dont answer beyond what is being asked. You might touch issues that could incite arguments.
- Dont assume that youre going to get hired by asking about salary and benefits. (Unless youre being asked about your desired salary, of course)
Q: How do I create a good resume?
A:
Remember that employers will be sorting out
through a multitude of resumes that are submitted
to them daily. Your resume should stand out among
the competition. Make sure to include the essential
information like-
Work experience (if applicable) - indicate
previous job responsibilities, and imply how these
experiences could be beneficial in the job you
are applying for
Educational attainment - your degree /
specialization
Skills - focus on the qualifications of
the job that you are applying for
Trainings attended - these trainings make
you more "qualified"
Awards - highlight your accomplishments
Personal details - basic personal information
References - former superiors / associates
who can testify your good background
Most of all, make sure it is well written, meaning
it is free from grammatical errors and thoughts
must be carefully organized. With your myDiversity
account, you can always edit and modify your resumes.
*For more resources on how to write a constructive
resume, visit the Resume Writing Services website.
For a more professional resume output, you can also try DiversityWorking.Com's resume writing service, through our partnership with CareerPerfect.
Q: How do I "market" myself to employers?
A:
William S. Frank, in his article Showcase your Home Run accomplishments featured in the CareerLab website, reminds jobseekers not to sell themselves short in their resumes and job interviews. In the first part of his article, Frank advises to concentrate on accomplishments rather than duties. He defines accomplishments as statements (that) give specific examples of tasks you finished
For instance, youre a former technical support engineer. Whats the best way to endorse yourself?
Instead of narrating your duties- (e.g. assisted customers in troubleshooting their Internet connectivity issues over the phone)- say something like earned perfect quality monitoring scores, commended by 4 very satisfied customers in a caller survey"
Frank suggests that another way of emphasizing your accomplishments is by recalling the problems that you encountered, the actions you took, and the outcome.
Sample:
Problem- I had a very irate caller. It was his 10th call and he still couldnt connect to the Internet. He was very annoyed because the other agents he talked to gave him different instructions that wouldnt work. He was about to cancel his subscription.
Actions- I remained calm. I apologized for the inconvenience. I assured him that before we end the call, he will be able to connect to the Internet again. After several inquiries, I was able to isolate the issue, that it has something to do with his Windows. I assisted him in reinstalling Windows.
Result- Caller was able to connect to the Internet.
That was definitely an accomplishment. During interviews, dont hesitate to tell the valuable things you have done for your previous employer. Remember, your accomplishments substantiate your skills. As Frank puts it, Don't be afraid to take credit for what you've done. Most of us undersell ourselves. We tend to claim too little for ourselves--not too much
Read the full article at http://www.careerlab.com/art_homeruns.htm
Q: What are the things that I should avoid in writing my resume?
A:
ResumeDoctor.Com has surveyed employers about
the things they dislike whenever they read resumes.
Here’s their Top 10 “pet peeves”
about resumes
10.
Personal Info not relevant to the job
You
don’t have to include personal information
that has no relevance to the job you’re
applying for. What does “playing soccer”
got to do with being a programmer
9.
Unqualified candidates
Applying
for a job that does not match your qualifications
really annoys employers. It’s just a waste
of their time. If you have a different background
but have sufficient experience that makes you
qualified, then elaborate it clearly in your resume.
8.
Long Paragraphs
Most
employers scan resumes for only a matter of seconds.
Long paragraphs could be advisable in an essay
writing contest, but not in a resume where important
information should be accessible immediately.
7.
Long Resumes
A
good resume should not exceed 2 pages. If you
have many work experiences, include the most recent
and relevant.
6.
Functional Resumes
A
“functional resume” is just a plain
list of skills and previous job responsibilities
that leaves the employers guessing about your
competence. Employers would go for a “chronological
resume” where skills and work experiences
are thoroughly described (how many years in this
position, what were the skills required to perform
such tasks, etc.)
5.
Poor Formatting
A
well organized and formatted resume reflects professionalism.
4.
Incomplete Contact Information
Don’t
waste your chances of being called for an interview.
Make sure that you include your contact numbers
and e-mail address so the employer can call you.
(Tip- Avoid giving naughty e-mail addresses like
pervert@mail.com, for obvious reasons.”
3.
Dates not included
Make
sure that employment dates are present. Lack of
such information might give employers the impression
of dishonesty on your part. Most employers do
background checks nowadays.
2.
Too Duty Oriented
Focus
on accomplishments, instead of duties. Employers
know what a web-programmer does, so describe the
projects you worked on, and how it contributed
to the overall success of your company.
1.
Spelling Errors, Typos, and Poor Grammar
No
comment. Reason is obvious. After all schooling,
the value of flawless written communication should
already be inherent.
Note:
To learn more about the top resume “pet
peeves” and for a broader discussion of
each, visit http://www.resumedoctor.com/ResourceCenter.htm#petpeevesurvey
Q: Is it ok to lie in my resume, just to get a job?
A:
In the CareerPlanning website, an article entitled
“Lying on Your Resume” written by
Dawn Rosenberg McKay clearly answers this question:
Most definitely NO!
According
to the article, there are three kinds of reaction
when jobseekers encounter a job that they want,
but unfortunately, they don’t match its
qualifications.
First
- Get discouraged and move on
Second
- Fabricate stories to make him appear qualified
Third
- Continue the application, admitting in the
cover letter that he lacks qualifications but
he has related skills that he can nurture to meet
the requirements
McKay
says that the third one would be the best decision,
while the second one would jeopardize the jobseeker’s
career. “Making believe you’re someone
you’re not” is not a good idea.
Lying
in your resume could lead to a chain reaction.
Supposed that you get away with a deceitful resume
(with fictional work experiences) and land in
a job. That does not guarantee security. There
are two ways of getting caught: either you will
fall short of the company’s performance
standards or your employer will get wise about
your real background. You will not only lose your
job, you will also sacrifice your dignity. Being
fired for dishonesty will tarnish your record,
and that won’t sit well with your next job
application. Will you lie again?
Be
prudent. Never lie in your resume.
Read
the full article at http://careerplanning.about.com/library/weekly/aa010501b.htm
Career Channels
Featured Jobs
Browse Featured Jobs
- Registered, Licensed Dietitian - Total Nutrition Technology, Inc.
- DISASTER RESPONSE MANAGER - Heart to Heart International
- CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER - Midigator
- MANAGER, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS - HDA
- Skid Tester - ProMinent Fluid Controls
- Office Manager - Urban Nest Realty
- Director, Workforce Innovation - Towards Employment
- Principal Construction Manager - SoundTransit
- Manager Network Engineering - SoundTransit
New Jobs
Browse New Jobs
- It Jobs - Iconix Labs Inc
- Accounts Payable Specialist - Mds Manufacturing
- Front Office Administrator - Connie Phillips Insurance
- Traffic Technician - Achd
- Full Stack Engineer - Sheetrocks, Inc.
- Parks & Recreation Department Summer Employment - City Of Groton
- Coffee Service Supervisor - Coffee Cfs
- Banking Personnel - Mabrey Bank
- Property Groundskeeper - Lakeside Mobile Home Park
- Maintenance Technician - Pipestone Management
- Independent Contract Courier - Mercury Service
- Park Maintenance Worker - City Of Waconia
- Seeking Qualified & Experienced Personnel - Oceanwide
- Painter - Hughes Painting