YOUR SUMMARY
While a resume by itself may not get you a job, it is the key that unlocks the door to the interview. It’s everything employers will know about you before they actually ask to meet you in person. So, as you can see, you have to make a good impression on paper to land an interview.
Will everyone make a good impression on paper? No way! Not everyone has the gift of writing or presenting. Does that mean they are not qualified? Absolutely not! Many qualified people simply aren’t able to organize their accomplishments effectively. This is where you gain the competitive advantage by sending a solid marketing tool and not an autobiography or simple work history to your prospective employer.
Human resources staff and managers will take less than a minute to review your resume. Selection is the process they use to weed out people they think don’t meet the requirements of the job. The first step is to separate the previous summary emails into two stacks: Selected and Rejected. The summary evaluation is carried out by comparing the skills, knowledge and abilities of the job applicant with the requirements of the position. The “Accepted” pile is further divided into strong candidates and potential candidates. Strong candidates will be called for an interview. Potential candidates may be called if no one from the first group makes a favorable impression. What category do you want to fall into?
Fact: Employers will want to see you on paper before asking to meet you in person. If you don’t look impressive on paper, we will not contact you for an interview.
THE INTERVIEW
The next step in the recruiting process is to call selected candidates for interviews. The interview process is the most widely used tool to determine who gets the job. That is why it must involve careful preparation. What should you do to gain a competitive advantage in an interview?
Your appearance
Dress for success. Remember that the image counts and people judge you by your appearance. If you dress professionally, you will be more confident. Increased confidence coupled with proper preparation will improve the way you respond to your interviewer.
Puntuality
Do not be late. If you don’t know where the company is, take a test before you go to the interview. Don’t come out of breath. Give yourself time to complete the necessary paperwork before you meet with the interviewers.
Bring all information from your previous employment in an organized format to complete applications expeditiously.
Preparation
Research the company you will be interviewing with. Most interviewers will ask what you know about the company or industry.
Get as much information as possible about the position you are applying for. You may be asked to explain why you are interested in doing the job.
Be prepared to give examples and explain the accomplishments listed in your resume. The person on the resume and the person sitting across from the interviewer must be the same people. Too often, people make the mistake of inflating their qualifications and failing to present themselves the same way to the interviewer. Do not falsify information. The interviewer can usually tell if she is exaggerating. Remember that honesty is still the best policy. Convey weaknesses in a positive way.
Show confidence instead of arrogance. There is a very fine line between the two. Be genuine and drop the melodies.
Listen to the question they ask you. Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to clarify a question you’re having trouble understanding.
Convey to the interviewer what makes you unique. Learn about the strengths and assets that set you apart from other candidates.
Remember that everything you say in the interview answers a general question: “Why should we hire you?”
Make sure you have questions for the interviewer. This shows your interest in the position and in the company. Surely there are things you want to know. Don’t miss this opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position.
Don’t discuss salary at the interview. The appropriate time to discuss salary is after the hiring manager expresses that you are the one selected for the job.
Fact: While your resume may get you in the door, passing the interview gives you the key to a job with a company.
Following
Don’t forget your manners. Get business cards from the people you interview. Send each one an individual thank you letter. While this doesn’t guarantee you a job, a follow-up or thank you letter provides an additional opportunity to sell your most valuable points before the hiring decision is made. It’s also an opportunity for you to reconnect with the interviewer by reiterating some of the points that sold well during the interview.
Reality: Writing a follow-up letter jogs the interviewer’s memory and can guarantee that they want to look at you a second time.
Job seekers should realize that simply developing and submitting a resume does not guarantee them a job. However, putting together the whole package of job search techniques will help you take the job search process to greater heights and beyond a simple summary.