21 Interview and Resume Tips that Work

There comes a time in everyone’s life when joining the work force is top priority. For most this means that many days will be spent dropping off resumes and preparing for the face-to-face interviews that follow.

It is a competitive world out there which means that you always need to be at the top of your game and be prepared to stand out from the rest of the hungry pack. This is a task that is not that hard to accomplish. By combining your unique experiences and capabilities with the 21 resume and interview tips below, you will never have to worry about your application landing in the discard pile again.

1)       Seek Help – You never know what type of valuable information a career counselor or administrator could have about the resume you are writing or the companies you are sending the resume to.

2)       Determine Your Objective First – By knowing exactly what you expect from or are able to offer an employer before you begin will help to mold the direction of your resume.

3)       Start With Your Qualifications – Your objectives will not interest employers as much as your qualifications will. Make it a short section, but keep it filled with short, powerful sentences.

4)       Keep Your Education Towards The Top – You want the employer to know that your education was and is important, which you can prove by putting your college credentials on top.

5)       Make Prior Jobs Relevant – Though they may not have anything to do with the job you are seeking, describe key lessons or duties from prior jobs that can be put to use with the one you are seeking.

6)       Don’t Get Too Wordy – One to two pages is the perfect length for any resume.

7)       Think From Their Perspective – Write your resume to suit whoever is looking at it. Think about what a company would want from an employee while you are writing something for them.

8)       Keep It Eye Catching – Bulleted sentences and lots of unused space (white space) with attention grabbing text can keep a reader hooked on your resume right through the end.

9)       Talk in Percentages and Numbers – Symbols and numbers are more eye catching and impressive than lengthy sentences. The number of accounts you may have handled or percentages you saw soar in your prior works will be more helpful than just a description of job duties.

10)   Use Action Words – This means things you’ve done, did, or plan to do. No employer wants an employee that doesn’t take affirmative actions.

11)   Stay Positive – Debbie Downers are not what employers want from an applicant. Not only shout your resume be written in an upbeat manner but your interview should also be conducted in the same way. No one can be confident with you if you aren’t already confident with yourself.

12)   Be Prepared – Be ready at any time to go and meet a potential employer. Have your interview attire ready at the drop of a hat, and your mind filled with the goals you have for your future employment.

13)   Practice Makes Perfect – In order to be prepared, you must practice. Mock questions and interviews are the best way to prepare yourself.

14)   Make a Video Resume – Not only will you look technologically forward, but by filming yourself, you will be able to pick up on any things that you may need to change.

15)   Find An Inside Contact – If you are seeking a job through a contact, then this is easy. There is not better way to be prepared for an interview than to already know what you can expect from those that will be questioning you.

16)   Read An Annual Report – By looking over a company’s annual report before an interview you will learn tons of information and lingo. This will score huge brownie points with the ones in charge.

17)   Dress for Success – The working world enjoys seeing those conservative outfits you keep in the back of your closet. Proper grooming, minimalistic perfume/cologne, and an overall presentably fresh look will help you land a job.

18)   Manners Are Everything – Posture, personal space, facial gestures, and eye contact are all things that potential employers pick up on. Keep your manners in check and see the job land in your lap.

19)   Bring Along Samples – If you are able to showcase your work to an interviewer, do so. Plan on leaving it behind for them to take a look at later, too. The more prepared you are for them, the better.

20)   Sell Yourself – Not literally, but rather let them know what makes you so unique. No one can believe the greatness of you unless you are well prepared to tell them all about it. Don’t be cocky. Just let them know why you would be the perfect addition to their team.

21)   Follow Up – You are not the only unique individual being interviewed and you’re not the only one who has prepared a smashing resume. Keep your interest known by following up an interview with a thank you email, letter, or personalized card. This will at least keep your name in the front of a potential employer’s mind.

Just follow these simple tips and tricks, and your resumes and interviews will be powerful enough to land you just about any job!