Getting and Keeping a Job

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Getting and Keeping a Job
Résumé Writing
Career Networking
Pre-Employment Testing
Interviewing
How to Act In the Interview On the Job
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Roles to Success Role 1
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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.

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Office EtiquetteHigh Heels To The TopKathleen
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?

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• 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.

Be a Diva
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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sample Questions

• Remember each questions answer depends on what
  kind of job you are trying to get (ex. sales vs.
  counseling)
• Are you ready? Here goes

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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.

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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.

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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.

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? Dont 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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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? ? 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 admeans 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!

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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.

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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?"

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Its 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.

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What to Ask

• A job interview is like a first date in that
  both sides seek to answer the same question Can
  this develop into something good?

Some Ideas of What to Ask
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Work 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?

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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.

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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

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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.

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Turnover

• Ask 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?

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Speak 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.
  

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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
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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.

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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.

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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!

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In the Interview

• Giving your qualifications isn't a recap of
  ancient historythe 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.

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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
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Back to Interview Advice
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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.

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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/experienc
  e 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.

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Your Interview might Stink but Make Sure You
Dont!

• 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.
• Dont smoke or be around smokers
• Dont douse yourself with perfume or cologne

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Dont 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

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More Donts

• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?
  

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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

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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.

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Dont Get Personal

• Don't confuse the professional with the personal.
  
• Never include marital status, religious or
  political affiliation on your résumé.

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Employment Information

• When reviewing a résumé, the prospective employer
  doesn't care that you were "downsized" in your
  last jobhe 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.

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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.

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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
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Back to A Good Résumé Is
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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!

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Résumé Donts

• Cutesy 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!

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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.

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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 Creative
• Determined Efficient Experienced
  Detail-oriented
• Flexible Goal-oriented Hard-working Independent
• Innovative Knowledgeable Logical Motivated
• Meticulous People person Professional Reliable
• Resourceful Self-motivated Successful Team
  player
• Well-organized

10 Ways to Botch Your Resume
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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.

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Mistake 1 Writing your resume to sound like a
series of job descriptions

• Tell the reader what youve 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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View Samples

• Check out sample résumés on the Internet but
  dont copy them almost word for word.
• Make it your own!

Sample Résumés
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Dont Include, Unless

• Unless you're seeking your 1st job, don't include
  your college GPA. Its ancient history and prior
  job experience quickly eclipses academic
  performance.
• Dont include academic awards, unless itll knock
  the socks offem!
• 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.Th
  eyre irrelevant unless for example you're
  applying for a job as a golf magazine editor and
  letting people know youre an avid golfer would
  of course be helpful.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. Dont do
  this! It is lying.

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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 youll 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.

110
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.

111
Todays Lightening Bolt InsightDont lie on
your Résumé!

• Dont 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.

112
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.

113
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.

114
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.

115
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.

116
NetworkingMake your search a 2-way street
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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
124
Chronological Résumé

• Judith J. Jones 115 South Hawthorne Avenue
  Chicago, Illinois 66204 tel [phone]
  email jj_at_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.

125
Basic Skills Résumé

• Lisa M. Rhodes 813 Lava Court - Denver, CO 81613
  Home [phone] (leave message) Cell (413)
  442-1659 lrhodes_at_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.

126
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,

127
Hybrid Résumé Susan Britton Whitcomb

• Name/Contact Info
• QUALIFICATIONS 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 2002
• Assistant Operations Manager   1987 1994
• Customer Service Representative   1983 1987
• Currently 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 areas
• of 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.

128
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)2004Bachelor of Arts
  degree, Political Science2004
• INTERNSHIPS
• 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.

129
Making Your Résumé E-Friendly 10 StepsMichael
Farr, Career and Job Search Author

• 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 been
• eliminated. 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 additional
• format 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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