TIPS

JOB SEARCH SUCCESS

One: Simple Ways to Improve Your Resume

Given that employers screen resumes for between 5 and 25 seconds, it's essential that your resume is concise, targeted, and easy to read.

• Use bullet points instead of paragraph style to make your resume more reader-friendly
• Include a Summary of Qualifications section. This 5-6 sentence section will triple your impact. It should include your related experience and ability to do this job.
• List job information in the order of what is most important: Title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment.
• Start each sentence with an action verb, such as: established, analyzed, implemented, designed, organized - they add power to your sentences.
• How long should your resume be? It depends. A two-three page resume may be the best bet for the vast majority of job-seekers who are above entry-level but below the executive level.

Two: Successful Interviewing Techniques

• First, dress professionally. No matter what the day-to-day work environment requires, the best choice for an interview is always business attire.
• Smile and be yourself.
• Be prepared to answer difficult, unusual, or ambiguous questions.
  Some examples:
  What's your greatest weakness?
  Describe the worst supervisor you've ever had.
  Why did you leave your last job?
  Tell me about a particular job challenge and how you managed it.
  If you had six months with no obligations or financial constraints, what would you do with the time?

Three: The Importance of Follow-Up

An important key to succeeding in finding a new job: follow-up, follow-up, follow-up. Following-up on job leads shows prospective employers your interest in the company and position - and keeps your name and qualifications front and center.

General Tips:

• Always make time to follow-up all job leads, no matter how busy you are.
• Follow-up in a timely fashion -- usually a week to 10 days for conventional job-searching, sooner for online applications.
• Create a job leads log so you have a record of your job-search and follow-up.
• Keep your follow-up brief, to the point, and professional.
• Focus your follow-up around your fit with the position and organization. You might also ask the hiring manager for a status and time frame for making a selection.
• Follow-up regularly, but don't overdo it.