Interview and Resume Tips

Prepare for the Interview

When an employer is interested, you'll be invited to their office for an interview. It's only natural to be a little nervous. However, you will be more at ease if you are prepared. Here are some tips:

1. Dress appropriate and on the conservative side. Most employers will be more impressed in you if you don't dress in trendy styles, bright colors, and a lot of jewelry. Check out how the other employees at the business dress before going to your interview. This way, you will have a good understanding of the company dress code.

2. Arrive ten minutes earlier than your interview time. This way the employer will know you are punctual.

3. Listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and answer them directly without rambling, bluffing, or lying.

4. Avoid talking about salary or benefits. The employer needs to know about you and your skills before talking about salary and benefits.

5. Offer a firm handshake to the interviewer at the beginning of the interview and at the end of the interview.

6. Ask for the job at the end of the interview. If you want to work for the employer, say so and that you are eager to prove that you will do a good job.

7. Send an after interview letter. This is overlooked by many job seekers and could give you an advantage. There is a sample After Interview letter on this website.

Looking for more information with regards to crafting your resume?

OhioMeansJobs|Fulton County offers Individualized Resume Assistance. Call 419-337-9215 for an appointment.

Useful Resume Tips

Resume Don'ts

1. Appearances Count -- Don't try to save money by printing your resume on cheap copy paper instead of good quality stock. Check for typos, grammatical errors and coffee stains. Use the spell check feature on your word processor and ask a friend to review the resume to find mistakes you might have missed.

2. Does Size Matter? -- If your career warrantees a two-page resume, then go ahead and create a document that reflects the full range of your experience and accomplishments. Don't reduce the type size to such a degree that your resume becomes difficult to read.

3. Truth or Consequences -- Don't fudge over dates or titles on your resume to hide the fact that you have been unemployed, that you switched jobs too frequently or that you held low-level positions. If a prospective employer conducts a background check and discovers that you lied, you can kiss the job good-bye.

4. State Your Case -- If you are seeking a job in a field in which you have no prior experience, don't use the chronological format for your resume. By using a functional or skills-oriented format, you can present your relevant experience and skills up front.

5. Put Your Best Foot Forward -- Don't simply copy the job description jargon from your company's HR manual. To show that you are more qualified than the competition for the positions you are seeking, you need to do more than simply list your job responsibilities. Present specific accomplishments and achievements; percentages increased, accounts expanded, awards won, etc.

6. No Excuses -- Don't include the reasons you are no longer working at each job listed on your resume. The phrases "Company sold," "Boss was an idiot" and "left to make more money" have no place on your resume.

7. What Have You Done Lately? -- While it is certainly acceptable to have a two-page resume, don't list every single job you've ever held. Personnel managers are interested in your most recent and most relevant career experience.

8. Target Your Audience -- Don't mail out your resume to every ad in the Sunday newspaper. If you are not even remotely qualified for a position, don't apply. Read the ads, determine if you have the right credentials and save the wear and tear on your printer.

9. No Extra Papers, Please -- When you send out your resume, don't include copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation or awards.

10. Don't Get Personal -- Personal information does not belong on a resume in the United States. Don't include information on your marital status, age, race family or hobbies.