Job Seeker Quick Tips

Résumé and Interview Tips

Here are a few tips to get you started. For more information about any of these topics visit one of our center locations.

1. Create a personal commercial.

A personal “commercial” or elevator speech establishes who you are, your relevant traits or experience and what you are looking to do next. 

2. Résumé.

Make sure your resume is free of errors, easy to read and as tailored as possible for your employer. You do not need to include references. Print a few copies on high-quality paper (if available) and bring them in a clean folder along with a list of questions for specific employers. Add some blank paper to your folder for notes and make sure you have two pens that work.         

3. Dress to impress.

Dress as professionally as possible given your schedule. If you can come from home directly to the interview in a clean, pressed outfit – do it. If not, that’s ok too. Come as you are. Make sure your shoes are clean. Your clothes should fit well. Minimize jewelry and fragrances.

 

Be prepared for an interview on the spot

Five interview questions you should always have an answer for.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This question provides a great opportunity to sell yourself, so it is wise to focus on your career highlights to date, your key accomplishments and what you are looking for in your next role. Always keep your answers relevant to the role you are interviewing for. In our preparation for the interview, it is always good practice to read your resume with the key responsibilities and requirements of the role in mind. Then, emphasize the key points where your skills and experience overlap.

2. What has been one of our biggest achievements?

Interviewers ask this question because they want to hear what you can achieve when you’re at the top of your game – and whether you’ve had many achievements at all. And moreover, even if your interviewer doesn’t ask this particular question, preparing an answer is still helpful, because you may work it in to your responses to other questions. Being able to talk fluently about your achievements is a key way to show that you’re someone who produces outstanding results, rather than someone who simply does the bare minimum.

3. Tell me about a time when _________.

Fill in the blank with situations relevant to the position. For instance: Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative… you had to deal with a difficult customer… you had to respond to a crisis… you had to give difficult feedback to an employee… You get the idea.

4. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

The best answers to this question point to past experiences and skills that position you to excel at the work.

5. What would you describe as your greatest weakness?

This is a question that many candidates find very difficult to answer – after all it is natural to arrive at an interview with the aim of describing all of your best qualities. The best way to answer this question is to describe a genuine weakness and then explain how you have overcome it.

 

Your future is our business.