Tips and Tricks
Everyone knows that the American economy is not in its best shape right now. A decreased number of job and internship openings have made it difficult for even the most qualified candidates to land a position that best fits their skill set. This is why it’s important now, more than ever, to know the tips and tricks to get your resume to the top of the pile.
FINDING THE JOB
Where do you start when looking for a job or internship? With so many search engines crowding the Web, it’s hard to tell what sites can actually benefit your search.
www.IndianaIntern.net
Managed by the Greater Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the University of Indianapolis, IndianaIntern.net is a local resource for students looking for an internship in Indiana. Students can create profiles that contain tag words and then receive e-mail alerts whenever an employer posts an opening in their specific area. IndianaIntern.net also produces an e-newsletter and hosts numerous networking events in the city, giving students many resources to find the perfect job opening.
www.IndianaCareerConnect.com
The sister site of IndianaIntern.net is IndianaCareerConnect.com. According to the site, IndianaCareerConnect.com is the state’s free service that benefits both job seekers and employers. Individuals can find a comprehensive source of Indiana job listings and find the best match for their sills and experience. The site also provides job seekers with research and information about individual job markets. In turn, employers can search the database of resumes to find the right person to fill their position.
www.Indeed.com
At first glance, Indeed.com may seem like all of the other job listing sites. However this site provides job seekers with a more comprehensive search experience. Indeed.com lists thousands of jobs across the country directly from each employer’s original site, allowing searchers to send their applications to the companies without going through a middleman. The site also gives job searchers salary information for each position, which helps recent graduates know what to expect when negotiating that first paycheck.
CREATING A RESUME
It’s hard to believe that a person can be judged based on a single piece of paper. However, with tens, hundreds and sometimes even thousands, of people applying for only one position, it’s important that your resume makes the best first impression. Here are five simple ways that you can improve your resume, according to CareerBuilder.com writer Mary Lorenz.
Spell check…the old-fashioned way
One small spelling or grammatical error will send your resume straight to the trash can. It’s important that your resume be immaculate. Not only should you use spell check on the computer, but you should also spell check by proofreading. Microsoft Word can’t find everything! Even better, give your resume to a friend to look over, or take it to the Writing Lab in Krannert Memorial Library.
Write your resume in reverse chronological order
Make your resume easy to read. According to CareerBuilder.com, employers prefer for work and education history to be listed from most current to least current, because that allows them to easily see when you worked where, and whether you have any gaps in your employment.
Simplify
Nobody wants to read a stack of long, complex resumes. It’s important to provide all the information, but it’s much more appealing to employers to read quick, concise descriptions rather than long, exaggerated paragraphs. According to Lorenz, word such as “responsibilities” and “duties” should be excluded from a resume’s work history section. “Resumes should focus on accomplishments, not tasks,” Lorenz said.
Bad clutter
Don’t overdesign your resume. Bold, italics and underlines are important to distinguish headlines, but don’t use all three at once. Basic fonts (such as Times New Romans and Arial), white or cream high-quality paper and small splashes of color make a resume clean, classy and easy to read.
Talk to yourself
Read your resume aloud to yourself before you ever send it in to an employer. If you read something that doesn’t make sense to you, it probably won’t make sense to anyone else.
INTERVIEW
Interviews are stressful for almost everyone. Having a plan before you arrive not only calms your nerves, but also makes a good first impression on your potential employer.
Dress for success
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is crucial to a successful interview. If you’re not sure what to wear, you can place an anonymous call to the receptionist to find out the office attire. If you still don’t know, a nice suit is always best.
Be prepared
Do research on the company before you show up for the interview. Know the names of the top executives, the name and job title of your interviewer and the company’s mission. Arrive at the interview 10-15 minutes early, and read over the company’s pamphlets and information in the lobby. Knowing your stuff shows the employer that you’re serious about the position.
Be you
Some of the most important interview tips are obvious. Have a good handshake, smile and be polite, stay upbeat and positive. Ultimately the interviewer just wants to get to know you, so let a little personality shine through. Never underestimate the power of making the interviewer laugh, just don’t go overboard.
Say Thank-you
Always send a thank-you note to all of the interviewers. They took the time to read your resume and spend 30-60 minutes of their day talking with you – they deserve it. Hand-written notes are normally best, but e-mails are becoming more acceptable in the age of technology.
