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50 Worst of the Worst (and Most
Common) Job Interview Mistakes

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Karen Burns, On Wednesday March 10, 2010, 11:56 am EST

You may have heard the horror stories--job hunters who take phone calls or text during
an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start chomping, or brush their hair, or worse.
You wouldn't do any of those things, would you? Of course not.
[See the best careers for 2010.]
But there are tons of other job interview no-no's you may not have thought of. Or that
you've forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course
can't hurt. So for your edification and enjoyment, here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and
most common job interview mistakes:
[See how to answer 10 tricky interview questions.]
1. Arriving late.
2. Arriving too early.
3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.
5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.
6. Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes.
7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.
8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.
9. Wearing sunglasses.
10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.

11. Failing to research the employer in advance.
12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.
13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.
14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.
15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.
17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.
18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.
19. Asking too many questions.
20. Asking no questions at all.
21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.
22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
23. Talking more than half the time.
24. Interrupting your interviewer.
25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.
26. Yawning.
27. Slouching.
28. Bringing along a friend, or your mother.
29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.
31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um."
32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.
33. Asking to use the bathroom.

34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.
35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.
36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).
37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.
38. Becoming angry or defensive.
39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.
40. Complaining about anything!
41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
42. Letting your nervousness show.
43. Overexplaining why you lost your last job.
44. Being too familiar and jokey.
45. Sounding desperate.
46. Checking the time.
47. Oversharing.
48. Sounding rehearsed.
49. Leaving your cell phone on.
50. Failing to ask for the job.
50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes - On ...
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http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/03/10...
ON CAREERS
50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes

By KAREN BURNS
Posted: March 10, 2010
You may have heard the horror storiesjob hunters who take phone
calls or text during an interview, or bring out a sandwich and start
chomping, or brush their hair, or worse. You wouldnt do any of those
things, would you? Of course not.
Karen Burns
But there are tons of other job interview no-nos you may not have thought of. Or that youve
forgotten. The job hunting trail is long and arduous, and a little refresher course cant hurt. So for
your edification and enjoyment, here are 50 (yes, 50!) of the worst and most common job interview
mistakes:
[See how to answer 10 tricky interview questions.]
1.
Arriving late.
2.
Arriving too early.
3.
Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.
4.
Bad-mouthing your last boss.
5.
Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.
6.
Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes.
7.
Forgetting the name of the person youre interviewing with.
8.
Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.
9.
Wearing sunglasses.
10.
Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
11.
Failing to research the employer in advance.
12.
Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.
13.
Inquiring about benefits too soon.
14.
Talking about salary requirements too soon.
15.
Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.
16.
Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.
17.
Forgetting to bring a copy of your rsum and/or portfolio.
18.
Failing to remember what you wrote on your own rsum.
19.
Asking too many questions.
20.
Asking no questions at all.
21.
Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.
22.
Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
23.
Talking more than half the time.
24.
Interrupting your interviewer.
25.
Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.
26.
Yawning.
27.
Slouching.
28.
Bringing along a friend, or your mother.
29.
Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.
30.
Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.
31.
Saying you know, like, I guess, and um.
32.
Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.
33.
Asking to use the bathroom.
34.
Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.
35.
Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.
36.
Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).
4/12/2010 12:19 AM
50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes - On ...
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37.
Taking a seat before your interviewer does.
38.
Becoming angry or defensive.
39.
Complaining that you were kept waiting.
40.
Complaining about anything!
41.
Speaking rudely to the receptionist.
42.
Letting your nervousness show.
43.
Overexplaining why you lost your last job.
44.
Being too familiar and jokey.
45.
Sounding desperate.
46.
Checking the time.
47.
Oversharing.
48.
Sounding rehearsed.
49.
Leaving your cell phone on.
50.
Failing to ask for the job.
[Video: Job Interview Tips.]

Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working
Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at
www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.
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4/12/2010 12:19 AM
How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions - On Careers (usnews.com)
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ON CAREERS
How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions

By KAREN BURNS
Posted: March 3, 2010
Does it seem as though some job interview questions are designed to

trip you up?
It should, because they are. Here are 10 of the trickiest tricky questions
you might be asked at a job interview, with ideas on how to handle
Karen Burns
them:

1. Tell me about yourself.
DO: Talk about the ways that what you know and what you can do are perfectly suited to this
job.
DONT: Tell the interviewer your life story.
2. Tell me something bad youve heard about our company.
DO: You wouldnt apply for a job at a company you disapproved of, would you? So you should
be able to honestly answer that you havent heard anything negative about this place.
DONT: Repeat gossip you might have heard.
[See how to ace the phone interview.]
3. Why should I hire you?
DO: Impress your interviewer with how much you know about the companys requirements and
then describe how you are the best person to meet those requirements.
DONT: Get tripped up by a lack of prior research.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
DO: Talk about how your specific abilities, training, and experience will enable you to smoothly
integrate with this company.
DONT: Say that you have no idea.
5. How would you react if I told you your interview so far was terrible?
DO: Recognize that this is a test to see if you get flustered. Say, mildly, that you would ask for
reasons why.
DONT: Freak out. Remember, the interviewer said if.
[See how to keep your thank-you note out of the trash.]
6. Whats the last book you read?
DO: Mention a book that reflects well on you. Choose something by a reputable author that
your interviewer has probably heard of.
DONT: Name a book you havent actually read.
7. Can you work under pressure?
DO: Say that of course you can, and then relate a brief story about a time you did.
DONT: Just say, "Yes I can." Provide a specific example.
8. Whos your hero?
DO: Name a person who has inspired you and then describe specifically how this inspiration
relates to your work.
DONT: Get caught off-guard by what should really be a softball question. Come prepared with
4/12/2010 12:18 AM
How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions - On Careers (usnews.com)
2 of 2
a good answer.
9. Have you ever considered starting your own business?
DO: Talk about how you are happiest and do your best work in a company that is amazingly
similar to the one youre applying at.
DONT: Go on and on about how youd love to be your own boss one day.
10. If you won the lottery, would you still work?
DO: Be honest and say youd be thrilled to win the lottery; then add that even if you did youd
still seek out satisfying work, because work is what makes people happy.
DONT: Say that youd never work again (too honest) or that youd just work for free (too
BS-y).
[Video: How to Ace the Interview.]
Bottom line: It pays to think through in advance how you would handle some of the more common
trick questions. In general, remember never to badmouth or blame others, especially past employers.
Be careful not to betray your nervousness with jittery body language. Dont lie or babble, or show
frustration, impatience, disappointment, or anger.
The most important thing to remember is that hiring managers who ask these questions are far more
interested in how you answer than what you answer. They just want to see how well you think on
your feet. So even if a question completely flummoxes you, keep your cool, smile, and look em in
the eye.
Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working
Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at
www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.

4/12/2010 12:18 AM
Job Seekers: Don't Make These Interview Mistakes - On Careers (usnews...
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MUTUAL FUNDS
Job Seekers: Don't Make These Interview Mistakes

By LINDSAY OLSON
Posted: December 9, 2010
Everyone makes mistakes once in a while. No matter how long youve been in the workforce or how much youve honed
your interview skills, youll still make the occasional mistake. And when youre looking for a job, some of those mistakes
can be fatal.
Here are five common mistakes candidates make during the interview process and lessons you can learn from
Lindsay Olson
each:
1. Writing the wrong company name on your correspondence. Job seekers spend countless hours interviewing before finding the
right position, so it's natural to use some of the same content from a previous follow-up letter. Thats fineit saves you time. But
double-check that youve addressed the letter to the company youre interviewing with. It's also wise to double-check the spelling of the
interviewer's name.
Lesson: A lack of attention to detail could cost you the job. As a job candidate, you must convince the prospective employer that you
truly want to work for their company, not any company.
[See 10 Smart Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search.]
2. Showing up to the interview too early or too late. For your first interview, its more important than ever to show up on time. Not
the day before or the day after youre supposed to be there. The general rule of thumb is to show up early, but not too early. Any more
than 10 minutes before your scheduled time is too early. Its smart to give yourself extra time to get there, but if you arrive more than
10 minutes before, pass that time by walking around the block or collecting yourself in a coffee shop.
Lesson: The interview is the first impression. Showing up late or too early is an indicator of how youll act in the future. It also shows you
dont respect the other person's time.
3. Brown-nosing. Most people love a sincere compliment, but be careful about what you say and how you say it. Compliments can easily
be taken out of context or seem disingenuous.
Lesson: Don't be overly friendly with the interviewers. An interview is an opportunity to show the company how you fit the position. Yes,
you want to get on the interviewers good side, but do that through showing how youre qualified, not by throwing around compliments.
[See 10 Tips for Submitting Your Resume.]
4. Not dressing the part. Unless you have specific insight into what the company expects a candidate to wear to the interview, you
should lean toward conservative. A casual dress environment might mean you don't need to wear a traditional suit, but it certainly doesn't
mean you should go in your weekend or nightclub wear. Other details include clean fingernails, washed hair, and shined shoes. If you
wear perfume or cologne, wear less than normal or skip it altogether.
Lesson: A decision on whether or not to move forward with a candidate is often made during the first few minutes of an interview. Don't
give the interviewer a reason to be distracted by your appearance. Show them how well youll represent yourself within the company and
represent the image of the company to the public.
[For more career advice, visit U.S. News Careers, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.]
5. Not making yourself available for an interview during business hours. Standard hours are between 8 a.m. to 5:30 pm. Working
job seekers tend to get nervous about being out of the office or taking calls during the day. You have to find a way around it. Some
companies are willing to have an interview later in the afternoon or right after your shift ends, but asking a company (or a recruiter) to
have a phone interview with you in the late evening is disrespectful of their personal time.
Lesson: Be prepared to be creative about your job search if youre working full time. You might need to take a vacation or personal day
for an interview if youre serious about making a change.
Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs, a niche job board for public
relations, communications and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.
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CDC RESOURCE GUIDES
Resumes
Guide & Prep Package
Career Development Centre

Schulich School of Business
Richard E. Waugh Suite, N202
York University, 4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3
Tel: 416 736 5080
Fax: 416 650 4915
Email: recruit@schulich.yorku.ca
Web: www.schulich.yorku.ca/careerportal
Career Development Centre Resource Guides
WHAT IS A RESUME?
A resume is a focused summary of qualifications, skills and background (employment and educational) that you
have to offer a potential employer. It is an accomplishment-oriented document. A resume forms the first
impressions an employer will have of you and represents you in your absence. The primary purpose of a resume is
to obtain an interview.
WHAT DOES A RESUME DO FOR YOU?
Focuses attention on your unique abilities and accomplishments

Creates a desire to meet you personally and to find out more about you
The resume is a selling tool that outlines how you can contribute to the employers work place.
WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?

Your resume is not the only resume on the managers desk. It is 1 of 50 of 1 of 100s. The better the position and
the better the company you are applying to, the more individuals your resume will be competing against.
Remember the manager is looking for a specific type of person. They are not going to interview all of the
candidates. Only 4-5 candidates will be interviewed.
The manager knows the type of person they are looking for. If you dont write what they are looking for, your
resume will be tossed out. If you write what the manager wants to hear you will be one of the 4-5 interviewed
AUDIENCES
Most job seekers write their resume for the hiring manager. However, do consider that your resume has up to 3
potential audiences. Ensure you have understanding of likely will who review your resume and what criteria they
are browsing for.
1) SCREENERS/HR: Looking for match to the list of qualifications of the position
2) EXECUTIVE DECISION MAKERS/HIRING MANAGERS: Looking for Impact on bottom-line initiatives
3) THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS: Looking for selling points to position you as top candidate
WRITE WHAT THE READER WANTS

When most people write their resume (90 %+) they are not thinking about what the manager is looking for, they
are thinking about themselves. They write their autobiography. The manager is not interested in your life story.
The manager is looking for someone who can best do the job and solve their problem.
The manager wants to see what they are looking for. The resume has to be honest, but it also has to focus on the
part of your background that is relevant to what the manager seeks.
MAKE YOUR RESUME EASY TO READ
Writing your resume in a bullet point format will enable the manager to easily scan your resume.
1) Bullet point job descriptions are 3 times faster to read than the long paragraph format
2) In 20 seconds they can read a bullet point format resume
One or Two full pages are essential. As a rule of thumb, if you dont have more than two years of full-time
work experience, you should not have more than one page
-1-
CAREER OBJECTIVE VS PROFILE

Many graduates start a resume with a Career Objective. This is best for those who have a targeted
position/industry in mind. For individuals with a well-established work history or are unsure of their specific
direction, a career profile may be suitable. Your Objective/Profile and your experience listed should be reflective of
your FIT for the Position (e.g. technical capability and organizational fit).
WHAT IS YOUR PROFILE?

A Profile should provide the reader with a quick preview of what he or she will find in your resume. It should be a
few sentences and written as one paragraph. It should include a highlight of your personal brand, top skills, and a
summary of your professional, academic and industry experience. In an objective section, your career goal can be
added as the last sentence.
This section, in combination with your work experience, is the most important part of your resume, consistently
telling the employer the best things about yourself here. Be precise and relevant to the position you are applying
for (Ex. 5 years of engineering experience).
EXAMPLE OF PROFILE ELEMENTS

Your skills and experience:
7 years of financial services industry experience
How you will contribute to the company:

..providing excellent customer service to diverse
client base
WHAT IS YOUR CAREER OBJECTIVE?
It is a short description of the type of work you are looking for; it provides focus for your resume and
communicates your interests
HOW DO I WRITE A CAREER OBJECTIVE?
Start by assessing what sort of work you really want by analyzing your interests, values, skills, abilities, goals,
and work experience
This will help you develop criteria for pursuing or rejecting various career paths
It will also make it a lot easier to convince a potential employer to hire you if you know that you are well
suited to a particular position or field
Then, identify where you can do the type of work that interests you what companies, organizations or
people have a need for what you have to offer
BE SPECIFIC! Be clear and concise while remaining focused
-2-
EXAMPLE OF OBJECTIVE
Type of opportunity you

are seeking:
Type of company or
environment you want to
work in:
How you will contribute to

the company:
To use my client service

and strategic analysis skills
from 7 years in the
financial services
industry
in a product
development and
management role
for a multinational mutual

fund/ insurance company
developing innovative
financial services solutions
that meet the needs of a
diverse client base.
Type of opportunity you

are seeking:
Type of company or
environment you want to
work in:
How you will contribute to

the company:
WORKSHEET
-3-
ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
When defining your work on your resume, show accomplishments instead of merely listing your job duties or the
type of function that you do or did. Show an accomplishment utilizing these three criteria:
1.
2.
3.
Use an action verb in the past tense (or present tense if you are currently working)
Give a brief description of what you did
Show, where possible, the result in terms of %, # or $. Percentages*, numbers* (quantities) and
Dollars* stand out on a resume, more so than just words. When quantifying is not possible, its
important to identify scope for the reader (Ex. Responsible for the entire divisions activities).
* Percentages should be stated without decimals i.e. 50%, 35%

* Numbers should be expressed as a word if less than ten; otherwise use numeric digits
Comas should be used for increments of a thousand i.e. 1,000
Quantities of a million or more should be stated as x.x million i.e. 2.5 million
* Dollar values of a million or more should be expressed in Ms for millions, Bs for billions. It is also
recommended that thousands are signified by a K i.e. 10 K (10,000)
Put name of currency first, then symbol (if applicable), number and units (if applicable) i.e. US $1.5M
Here are some examples of accomplishment statements. Use these examples to create your own.
Action Verb
Developed
+ What you did

policy manual
Initiated
policy of inventory control
Analyzed
Managed
method of tracking inventory and

recommended a JIT system
orders given by customers
Provided
excellent service to customers
Managed and grew
sales territory of 175 key accounts
Collected and contributed
competitive research
Provided
logistical support to marketing

organizations
key marketing plans and strategies
Developed
Planned, developed and
implemented
Co-ordinated
help desk
Implemented
Time and Billing application and

provided training
projects
= Measurable result
which ensured consistency in
customer relations and reduced
complaints by 33%
which reduced stock thefts by
$10,000 (or $10K) per month
that reduced costs by 15%
which helped to ensure repeat
business
which helped increase and
maintain repeat business
and achieved sales that were
nd
104% of forecast; ranked 2 in
province in 1998
and suggested methods to
facilitate product development
and pricing strategies
in the form of pricing requests and
inventory control
resulting in a 50% increase in
customer base
to support over 400 Marketing,
Accounting, and Reporting users
with budgets in excess of
$500,000 (or $500K)
to 40 staff
-4-
SAMPLE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS (continues)

Action Verb
Researched, selected and
implemented.
+ What you did

New client reporting system
= Measurable result
which resulted in a 75% increase
in operational efficiency
Identified relevant stakeholders

and implemented
Headed
optimal financial recovery plans
for more than 12 distinct bankrupt

firms
ranging from investor brochures,
to corporate web site, to annual
reports
Researched and compiled
corporate business plan
for new internet based start-up
Organized
special promotional events
which were used in conjunction

with marketing material to raise
overall company awareness
Designed Excel spreadsheets
for use by senior management
to analyze performance of
investment representatives within
firm
Monitored and supervised
Peer Call coaching
for other investment

representatives
Ensured
all investment representatives

provided professional service
in accordance with our company

standards
Negotiated
acquisitions of over 15 businesses

across the country,
increasing company premium

income under administration from
$50M to $120M
Wrote
full-length prospectus template
to obtain additional financing
Closed
sales transactions
and consistently exceeded quota

by 10% to 15%
Provided customers
with price and product information
that resulted in a 95% closing

ratio
Consistently balanced
daily cash and banking
with 100% accuracy
Completed
internal reports regularly
without sales targets

being jeopardized
Explained
product information
to encourage investment
Persuaded
potential customers
to attend sales presentations
design and implementation of all

corporate marketing material
-5-

WORKSHEET ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
Action:
What did you do?
Skills:
How did you do it?
Results:
What Happened?
Action:
What did you do?
Skills:
How did you do it?
Results:
What Happened?
Action:
What did you do?
Skills:
How did you do it?
Results:
What Happened?
-6-

SAMPLE ACTION VERBS FOR WRITING ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
achieved
assessed
expanded
improved
reduced (losses)
resolved
restored
spearheaded
transformed
lectured
mediated
overhauled
CLERICAL OR DETAIL SKILLS

approved
arranged
catalogued
classified
compiled
dispatched
executed
generated
implemented
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
purchased
recorded
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
addressed
arbitrated
arranged
authored
collaborated
convinced
corresponded
developed
directed
drafted
edited
formulated
influenced
interpreted
moderated
negotiated
persuaded
promoted
publicized
reconciled
recruited
spoke
translated
wrote
CREATIVE SKILLS
acted
conceptualized
created
customized
collected
developed
directed
established
fashioned
founded
inspected
initiated
instituted
integrated
introduced
invented
originated
performed
planned
revitalized
shaped
systematized
FINANCIAL SKILLS
allocated
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
calculated
computed
developed
diagnosed
forecasted
managed
marketed
planned
retrieved
screened
specified
tabulated
validated
-7-

SAMPLE ACTION VERBS FOR WRITING ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS (continues)
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
administered
analyzed
assigned
attained
chaired
consolidated
contracted
co-ordinated
delegated
developed
directed
evaluated
executed
improved
increased
organized
oversaw
planned
prioritized
recommended
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
RESEARCH SKILLS
clarified
collected
critiqued
diagnosed
evaluated
examined
extracted
identified
inspected
interpreted
interviewed
investigated
stimulated
reviewed
summarized
surveyed
systematized
administered
TECHNICAL SKILLS
assembled
built
calculated
computed
designed
devised
engineered
fabricated
maintained
operated
remodelled
repaired
solved
upgraded
designed
TEACHING SKILLS
adapted
advised
clarified
illustrated
communicated
co-ordinated
demystified
developed
enabled
encouraged
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
informed
instructed
persuaded
set goals
assisted
trained
coached
-8-

FORMATTING AND GRAMMAR CHECKLIST FOR RESUMES IN CANADA
FORMATTING
Boldface type, italic type, or capitalization used selectively to highlight important parts of your resume
(e.g. your name, major, position titles)
Remember what you highlight is what you want an employer to read
One or two (maximum) full pages
Use a clear font and size (10 or 11 points) min
Be accurate on employment history dates
Keep formatting consistent. Limit to two font types (Sans-Serif fonts work better)
Omit provide personal information (age, marital status, photo)
Omit reference contact information on your resume
All Dates should align right or left
Heading font size should be 12-14 and bold
GRAMMAR
Concise action phrases rather than complete sentences
Avoid use of personal pronouns (e.g.: I, we)
Proof-read your resume for spelling and grammar. Have someone else proof read your resume. Dont rely
on spell check.
Keep your verb tense consistent
Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments
-9-

MBA SAMPLE
YOUR NAME
Finance | Consulting
PROFILE
(List one or tw o areas of functional/ industry interest)
(list 2-3 points w hich best sum up your skills and ex pertise for your target audience)
Self-starter with 5 years work experience in the financial services industry

Exceptional skills in providing customer service and creating business process efficiencies
Proficient in devising and implementing solutions with focus on quantitative benefits
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration (Candidate)
Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON
Specializations: Finance and Marketing
Deans Honour List (also Scholarships, Aw ards, etc.)
GMAT-710/91st percentile (include only if 700/ 90% or better)
Elected Vice-President of Graduate Business Council (or other involvements)
Completing 8-month group strategy field study/consulting project for prominent Canadian financial services firm
May10
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Political Science, University of Toronto, ON
May03
EXPERIENCE (do NOT use periods at the end of bullet points)

Business Consultant
York Consulting Group, (p/t), Toronto, ON
Managing team of 6 MBA students analyzing marketing, production and financial plans of a CAD $50M
International computer components supplier
Sept08 - Present
Commercial Account Officer,
Jun03 - Aug08
Bank of Montreal, Toronto, ON
Analyzed financial statements to make informed decisions regarding clients creditworthiness; succeeded in reducing nonpayment rate by 50%
Increased corporate product sales by 50% in first 6 months, surpassing objectives and resulting in Exceptional Employee
honours 2 years in a row
Major clients: Bell, Rogers
Intern
May02 - Aug02
Procter & Gamble Canada, Toronto, ON
Selected as one of only 25 interns nationally

Analyzed 3 product lines marketing strategies, researched latest trends, and compiled report
recommending and detailing new campaigns that were targeted to result in a 2% increased market share
ADDITIONAL (Languages, volunteer ex perience, professional associations/ affiliations, interests )

Director of Communications, (volunteer), Schulich Marketing Association, Toronto, ON
Coach, (volunteer) Wilson Soccer Camp for Kids, Toronto, ON
Member, Board of Directors, (volunteer), Right to Play, Toronto, ON
Fluent in French and Mandarin; proficient in MS Office Suite and Photoshop
Avid interest in skydiving and rock-climbing
Youremail@schulich.yorku.ca / (416)-555-5555 (cell)
Schulich MBA Candidate, Class of 20XX
- 10 -

BBA SAMPLE
YOUR NAME
Finance | International Business
PROFILE
(List one or tw o specializations here)
(list 2-3 points w hich best sum up your skills and ex pertise for your target audience)
Self-starter with strong communication and teamwork skills; 3 years work experience in x and y industry
Exceptional skills in providing customer service and creating business process efficiencies
Proficient in devising and implementing solutions with focus on quantitative benefits
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Business Administration (Candidate)
Jun10
Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON

Deans Honour List (also Scholarships, Aw ards, etc.)
Ambassador for Schulich, hosting corporate guests and representing school at off-campus events
Elected Vice-President of Undergraduate Business Council (or other involvem ents)
Diploma (Honours)
(optional section)
School, City, ON
(any Aw ards, Titles, etc.)
Jun06
EXPERIENCE (do NOT use periods at the end of bullet points)

Sales Associate
Sep08 - Present
XYZ Company, (p/t), Toronto, ON
Managing evening staff of 6, scheduling shifts, managing nightly deposits and ensuring brand is delivered through
excellent customer service
Commercial Account Officer Intern,
Jun07 - Aug07
Bank of Montreal, Toronto, ON
Analyzed financial statements to make informed decisions regarding clients creditworthiness; succeeded in helping to
reduce non-payment rate by 50% by initiating two new internal process improvements
Helped increase corporate product sales by 50% in first 6 months, surpassing objectives and resulting in Exceptional
Employee honours 2 years in a row; Major clients: Bell, Rogers
Marketing Intern
May06 - Aug06
Procter & Gamble Canada, Toronto, ON
Selected as one of only 25 interns nationally

Analyzed 3 product lines marketing strategies, researched latest trends, and compiled report recommending and
detailing new campaigns that were targeted to result in an x% increased market share
ADDITIONAL (Languages, volunteer ex perience, professional associations/ affiliations, interests )

Director of Communications, (volunteer), York Marketing Association, Toronto, ON
Coach, (volunteer) Wilson Soccer Camp for Kids, Toronto, ON
Member, Board of Directors, (volunteer), Right to Play, Toronto, ON
Fluent in French and Mandarin; proficient in MS Office Suite and Photoshop
Avid interest in soccer and rock-climbing
Youremail@schulich.yorku.ca / (416)-555-5555 (cell)
Schulich BBA Candidate, Class of 20XX
- 11 -
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Career Tools > Career Expert Articles > The Savvy Networker
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The Savvy Networker
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10 Phrases That Can Sink Your Resume

Location (BGD)
Dhaka
Job Category
by Liz Ryan
Send
Print
If you're job-hunting today, you know that employers are looking for sharp, self-motivated people.
Paradoxically, just about the worst way to convey your talent and motivation is to say in your resume or
ADVERTISEMENT
cover letter, "I'm self-motivated." Anyone can say that! The phrase falls flat. You can't afford to let
done-to-death boilerplate language sink your resume like a boat anchor.
Resume cliches like "self-motivated individual" and "results-oriented professional" are out of date in
2010. You can do a better job of letting hiring managers know how you solve problems on-the-fly or
leap over tall buildings in a single bound.
=========================================
Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:
The interview is not about you
The truth about resume lies
Find a new job near you
Get personalized Twitter job alerts from Yahoo! HotJobs
=========================================
Tools from our Partners

Here are ten of the deadliest resume phrases in use ("massive overuse" would be more accurate) and
replacements for each one. You'll rewrite the replacement phrases to reflect your own
Free Career Test
accomplishments--and that's the key! We can't expect a timeworn piece of resume boilerplate to stand
by LiveCareer
in for our own pithy, personal examples.
Know yourself, know your right career.
Kill this: Results-oriented professional
Resume Writing
Replace with your own version of this: I love to solve thorny supply-chain problems
Get a resume that gets results.
Kill this: Excellent team player
Calculate Your Salary
Replace with your own version of this: At Acme Dynamite, I partnered with Engineering to cut our
Find out what salary you should get.
product cost in half
Job Title
Kill this: Bottom-line orientation
City & State, or ZIP
by Resume Edge
(Required)
Replace with your own version of this: My accounting-process overhaul saved the company $10M in
Salary data provided by PayScale
its first year

Kill this: Superior communication skills
Replace with your own version of this: I led a two-day offsite that yielded our 2010 product lineup
and a $40K cost savings
Kill this: Possess organizational skills
Replace with your own version of this: Reduced customer-complaint resolution time from three
weeks to one by revamping the process
Kill this: Savvy business professional
Replace with your own version of this: I'm a PR manager who's gotten his employers covered by
Yahoo! and Time magazine
Kill this: Strong work ethic
Replace with your own version of this: I taught myself HTML over a weekend in order to grab a
marketing opportunity
Kill this: Meets or exceeds expectations
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Free Resume Sample Download professional
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www.CookMedical.com/TX2
italy job Post Your Resume 100% Free. And
Get Hired.
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Replace with your own version of this: Invited to join our executive staff at a strategy summit during
my first year at the company
Kill this: Strong presentation skills
Replace with your own version of this: Was recruited to join Acme Dynamite after my boss heard
me speak at a conference
Kill this: Seeking a challenging opportunity
Replace with your own version of this: I'm looking for a midsize manufacturer primed to grow its
business in the Pacific Rim
Get the boilerplate lead out of your resume today, and replace it with concrete, visual stories that bring
your power to life. Watch employers respond! You can't afford to send out another lifeless, soundslike-everyone-else resume. Employers want the real you on the page. Try it!
-Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, a former Fortune 500 VP, and an internationally recognized expert
on careers and the new-millennium workplace. Connect with her at www.asklizryan.com.
4/20/2010 3:39 AM
3 of 3
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About Yahoo! HotJobs | Affiliate Program | Advertise With Us
4/20/2010 3:39 AM
Utilizing the STAR Method in Your Resume & Interviews
Your resume is a quick summary of who you are and what youve
done in your career. It identifies and articulates your strengths and
key accomplishments which in turn will help you communicate
your value confidently to a new company. It isnt enough to say
you are a leader, an effective communicator, a team-player and so
on; you need to show it.
STAR TECHNIQUE:
In a traditional resume, you would probably itemize your job description, detailing what was expected of you in each role. However, this approach tells an employer nothing about you as an individual.
2.) TASK:
Identify the key objective and issue that you
have addressed.
An accomplishment-based resume, on the other hand, gives an

employer more accurate information by describing how you made
a difference in that role, as opposed to anyone else that might have
held that position. Moreover, it tells an employer that you are
somebody who gets things done and therefore, would potentially
bring value to the job or internship.
One of the most effective ways for you to communicate your accomplishments is by using a brief narrative structure that includes
a targeted beginning, a short explanatory middle, and a strong
ending that illustrates clearly what you can do for an employer.
1.) SITUATION:
Define the general context.
Who/What/When
Mention the problem you had to overcome.
3.) ACTION:
Describe the action you took or initiated,
emphasizing the skills you used to complete
the task.
4.) RESULTS:
Summerize the outcome in business terms.
Remember: It is very important to include

your results. This is a common mistake.
Your statement will be more effective if you
can summerize the outcome.
USING THE STAR METHOD DURING AN INTERVIEW: Sample Question: Have you ever led a team before?
SITUATION: Yes; a relevant example being at my last company, where I was initially a software developer, in a team of 6
developing a new finance module for our core accounting product.
TASK: The project was critical as launch dates had been set with a lot of sales and marketing investments riding on the product being ready. However the project was behind schedule, when our team leader unfortunately became ill and had to leave.
ACTION: I had been sports team captain at school, where I loved the challenge and responsibility of leadership. So I volunteered to stand in and used my technical analysis skills to spot a few small mistakes made in the initial coding that were
causing the sporadic errors and slowing us down. I then negotiated with our product director, a small bonus incentive for the
team and budget for two pizza evenings, so we could pull a couple of late night shifts to correct the coding and catch up with
the critical project landmarks.
RESULTS: Though this took us 1.5% over budget the software was delivered on time with a better than target fault tolerance.
The project was seen as a great success as the additional project cost was minimal compared to the costs of delaying the launch
and the negative affect on our product branding. The team were delighted with the extra bonus and I have now been officially
promoted to team leader as a result.
350 HOUGH HALL , PO BOX 117152, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32611
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.CBA.UFL.EDU/GBCS.
PHONE: (352) 273-3264
EMAIL: GBCS-INFO@WARRINGTON.UFL.EDU
HTTPS://HOUGH-UFL-CSM.SYMPLICITY.COM/STUDENTS
USING THE STAR METHOD ON YOUR RESUME:
Task: Increased client base and advised clients on mergers.

SAME JOB TASK USING THE STAR METHOD: Advised clients on mergers and acquisitions of business segments ranging
from $500,000 to $1.2M resulting in 95% customer satisfaction and 9 new client referrals.
Task: Developed a marketing plan that redesigned a corporate concept and added 5 new stores nationwide.
SAME JOB TASK USING THE STAR METHOD: Developed a corporate strategy, reformulated the business concept of a one
dimensional specialist to a provider of full customer service, growing from three to eight stores in 18 months.
Develop 3-4 STAR examples for each position youve held. These statements can also add value to your elevator pitch, cover
letter and interviews. Depending on your targeted position during your career search, you may want to revise these statements
to make them more relevant.
SITUATION: (General context, where, when, who was involved, problem, etc.)
TASK: (One specific issue that was addressed)
ACTION: (What steps did you take to solve the problem?)
RESULTS: (Your end result was...)
STAR METHOD SAMPLE WORKSHEET
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4/20/2010 3:39 AM
2 of 3
Career Tools > Career Expert Articles > The Savvy Networker
Search Jobs
The Savvy Networker
Keywords (e.g. nurse, unix, or part-time)
10 Phrases That Can Sink Your Resume

Location (BGD)
Dhaka
Job Category
by Liz Ryan
Send
Print
If you're job-hunting today, you know that employers are looking for sharp, self-motivated people.
Paradoxically, just about the worst way to convey your talent and motivation is to say in your resume or
ADVERTISEMENT
cover letter, "I'm self-motivated." Anyone can say that! The phrase falls flat. You can't afford to let
done-to-death boilerplate language sink your resume like a boat anchor.
Resume cliches like "self-motivated individual" and "results-oriented professional" are out of date in
2010. You can do a better job of letting hiring managers know how you solve problems on-the-fly or
leap over tall buildings in a single bound.
=========================================
Also on Yahoo! HotJobs:
The interview is not about you
The truth about resume lies
Find a new job near you
Get personalized Twitter job alerts from Yahoo! HotJobs
=========================================
Tools from our Partners

Here are ten of the deadliest resume phrases in use ("massive overuse" would be more accurate) and
replacements for each one. You'll rewrite the replacement phrases to reflect your own
Free Career Test
accomplishments--and that's the key! We can't expect a timeworn piece of resume boilerplate to stand
by LiveCareer
in for our own pithy, personal examples.
Know yourself, know your right career.
Kill this: Results-oriented professional
Resume Writing
Replace with your own version of this: I love to solve thorny supply-chain problems
Get a resume that gets results.
Kill this: Excellent team player
Calculate Your Salary
Replace with your own version of this: At Acme Dynamite, I partnered with Engineering to cut our
Find out what salary you should get.
product cost in half
Job Title
Kill this: Bottom-line orientation
City & State, or ZIP
by Resume Edge
(Required)
Replace with your own version of this: My accounting-process overhaul saved the company $10M in
Salary data provided by PayScale
its first year

Kill this: Superior communication skills
Replace with your own version of this: I led a two-day offsite that yielded our 2010 product lineup
and a $40K cost savings
Kill this: Possess organizational skills
Replace with your own version of this: Reduced customer-complaint resolution time from three
weeks to one by revamping the process
Kill this: Savvy business professional
Replace with your own version of this: I'm a PR manager who's gotten his employers covered by
Yahoo! and Time magazine
Kill this: Strong work ethic
Replace with your own version of this: I taught myself HTML over a weekend in order to grab a
marketing opportunity
Kill this: Meets or exceeds expectations
SPONSORED LINKS
Capillary Electrophoresis Software UN-SCAN-IT

gel Software Analyzes Capillary Electrophoresis
Gels.
SilkScientific.com
Quality Dating Service 15,000 Russian Women
Profiles. Send Emails, Chat with Girls Online.
AnastasiaDate.com
Free Resume Sample Download professional
resume samples and get a job today!
www.jobyahoo.info/resume-samples
Laser Machining of Quartz Precision laser
processing of quartz. Production machines, job
shop.
www.opteksystems.com
Aortic Dissection Causes Learn about aneurysm
causes, signs, & innovative treatment options
www.CookMedical.com/TX2
italy job Post Your Resume 100% Free. And
Get Hired.
Italyjobs77.com
Replace with your own version of this: Invited to join our executive staff at a strategy summit during
my first year at the company
Kill this: Strong presentation skills
Replace with your own version of this: Was recruited to join Acme Dynamite after my boss heard
me speak at a conference
Kill this: Seeking a challenging opportunity
Replace with your own version of this: I'm looking for a midsize manufacturer primed to grow its
business in the Pacific Rim
Get the boilerplate lead out of your resume today, and replace it with concrete, visual stories that bring
your power to life. Watch employers respond! You can't afford to send out another lifeless, soundslike-everyone-else resume. Employers want the real you on the page. Try it!
-Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, a former Fortune 500 VP, and an internationally recognized expert
on careers and the new-millennium workplace. Connect with her at www.asklizryan.com.
4/20/2010 3:39 AM
3 of 3
Send
Share
Print
Interviewing
Salary
Networking
Other Resources
Career Articles
Browse Jobs
Hiring Solutions
Post Jobs, Search Resumes
Also on Yahoo!
Other Helpful Tools

Resume
Resumes
Job Alerts via Twitter
Interviewing
Salary
Career Development
Life at Work
Homes for Sale

Local Business Guide
Business News
Small Business
Finance
Y! Maps
All Y! Services
Find a job, post your resume, research careers at featured companies, compare salaries and get career advice on Yahoo! HotJobs. Start
your job search now on Yahoo! HotJobs - thousands of jobs listed daily.
Yahoo! HotJobs Canada

Site map
Add Toolbar
Send us feedback
Top keyword searches: part time jobs receptionist jobs nurse jobs medical assistant jobs sales jobs parttime jobs warehouse jobs customer service jobs driver jobs truck
driver jobs
Top cities: Jobs in Atlanta Jobs in New York Jobs in Houston Jobs in San Antonio Jobs in Dallas Jobs in Austin Jobs in Los Angeles Jobs in Denver Jobs in Chicago
Jobs in Tampa
Copyright 2010 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright/IP Policy | Terms of Service | Guidelines | Privacy Policy | About Our Ads
About Yahoo! HotJobs | Affiliate Program | Advertise With Us
4/20/2010 3:39 AM
JOB SEARCH
Steps in the Job Search Process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Build a network of Contacts

Identify appropriate jobs
Find your employer
Prepare the application document
Continue job search activities
1. Build a Network of Contacts:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Broaden your circle of friends

Get in touch with influential relatives
Get to know your professors
Meet business executives
Make contacts through internships
Work with community organizations
2. Identify appropriate jobs:

a.
Analyze yourself in terms of

Education
Personal qualities
Work experience
Special qualification (if any)
b.
Analyze outside factors

The geographic area, family obligations etc. and other factors that is relevant
to your long term suitability..
3. Find your employer:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Placement centers
Network of personal contacts
Classified advertisements
Online database
Employment agencies
Web pages
Prospecting (you go out with your resume and submit unsolicited CV)
4. Prepare the Application Package:

a.
b.
c.
d.
The traditional Resume/CV

Application letter
Other job search letters (Acceptance letter, joining letters, rejection letters etc.)
Have all your certificates ready for presenting
5. Continue Job Search Activities.

Page 1 of 4
Handout on Job Search
RSUM & JOB APPLICATION LETTER

Definition of Resume:
A persuasive summary of a persons qualifications.
While constructing/writing the Resume follow the following guideline
Select the background facts

Arrange facts into groups
Construct the Headings
Include contact information
Include a statement of career objective (optional)
Present the information
Organize information for strengths
Write impersonally and consistently
Make the form of the Resume attractive
1. Assess your qualifications by focusing on

Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Technical Skills
Leadership Skills
Computer Skills
Remember whatever you write in your application Package that must be backed by evidence
(eg. Certificates)
Remember: Never say U have that skill...rather ur experiences should be written as such to
prove that u have developed/demonstrated those skills.
2. Research Company and position:
Online sources
Other employees of the organization
Annual Reports/Directories
Newspapers, Magazines. Trade Journals
3. Emphasize information that:

Is relevant to the job that you want
Is recent (last three years)
Shows your superiority over other candidates
4. Stress your Key points by:
Putting them in Headings
Listing them vertically
Providing details
5. Use concise, Dynamic language
6. Use sentence fragments
7. Use action verbs (achieved, developed, planned etc.)
8. Use ing verb form when relevant
Page 2 of 4
9. Present information usually in the reverse chronological order. (The most recent
information comes first and so on)
Difference between a Resume and a Job Application/cover letter:
A resume is adapted to a specific position

A letter is adapted to the needs of the particular organization
The rsum summarizes all your qualification
The resume uses short parallel phrases and well written sentence fragments
whereas
The job application letter uses complete sentences in well-written paragraphs.
The Job application letter shows

2. How your qualification can be beneficial for the employer
3. How you differ from other applicants,
4. It proves that you know something about the organization you are
applying to.
In a job application letter you must show and prove how your BBA/MBA will help the
employer.
How to show you are different in your Job Application Letter and Resume?:
By being original. Use different and unique formats customized to suit your unique
preferences. This is a situation where you have to blow your own trumpet. No shyness or
undue humility yet you must not sound arrogant. Sound confident but not arrogant. Have a
clear idea about the organization before writing the Job Application Letter and the Resume.
How employers use resume?:

1. Employers use resume to decide whom to call for an interview
2. The search committee skims resumes (initial screening)
3. Employers assume that your Job Application Letter and the resume represent your
best work so far
4. Interviewers usually re-read your resume before the interview to refresh their
memories.
Resumes must contain:
Name, Address, Contact numbers
Education details
Experience
Resumes may contain:
Career Objective
Special Skills
Honors
Extracurricular activities
Volunteer work
Page 3 of 4
Presentation / paper delivered

Publications
Certificates and Licenses
References
Any other relevant Category that adds value to yourself
How Long a Resume?:

Fill at least one page.
Longer is OK if you have a diverse background or have worked for several years.
In a Resume always put the important information in the first page.
Page 4 of 4
CHAPTER3
WRIIING REST]MESAND APPLICAIION LETTERS
OYERVIEW
In this chapteryou'll gaintips for writing an efrectiveresumeor applicationletter.
What do recruiterslook for in a resume?Evidenceof success.Take work exprience for example.To quote
Henry Halaiko, managerof recruitingoperationsfor Mobil Corporation,"Most peoplesimply list theirjob rcsponsibilities.
We would ratherseesomeevidenceof the person'slevel of achievementin thejob. Peoplewho rnentiontheir accomplishmentsconveythe impressionthat theythink in termsof results.They arc peoplewho want to do thingsbetter."
If a studenthasn'thad much work experience,extsacurricularactivities might provide evidenceof accomplishment. Again, insteadof simply listing the activities,explain what you've accomplishedin thoseorganizations.
The examplesandexplanationsthat follow will guideyou throughthe stepsnecessaryto follow whendeveloping
your own lesume.
A resumeis a form of advenising,designedto help you get an interview. As in all forms of advertising,your
objective is to call the reader'sattention!o your best featurcsand to downplayyour disadvantages,
without distorting or
misrepresentingtle facts.
The key characteristicsof a good r.esumearr:
.
.
.
.
Neatness.
Simplicity.
Accuracy.
Honesty.
WRITINGARESUME
Since the typical recruiter devotesapproximatly30 secondsto eachresumebefore tossing it into either the
"maybe" or the "reject ' pile, if your resumedoesn'tlook sharp,chancesare nobodywill rcad it carefullyenoughto judge
your qualifications.Therefore,it is im;nrtant to kepthe foltowing in mind whencreatingyour resume:
.
.
.
'
Use high-grade,letter-sizewhite bond paperanda cleantypeface.

Break up the text by usingheadingsthat call attentionto variousaspectsof your backgmund.
Be surethatyour grammar,spelling,andpunctuationareconect.
Use short, crisp phrasesstarting with action verbs instead of whole sentencesto quickly get your
qualificationsacross.
. Try to write a one-pagercsume.
TAILORING THE CONTENTS
Most employershavecertainpreconceivednotionsaboutwhat belongsin a resume.The bareessentialsare your
nameand address,your academiccredentials,and your employmenthistory. Otherwise,make sureyour resumeemphasizs your strongest,most impressivequalifications.The following list outlines the major sectionsto be included in a
rcsumeandthe informationthat shouldappearin each.
A.
Opening.
I. Whoyouare.
2. How to reachyou.
B. Career objectiveor sammar! of qualifrcations,
I. Useslwrt, simplephrases.
2. Keepobjectivesas speciftcaspossible.
3. Be sureto highlightyour strongestpoints.
2l
22
Guideto ConmunicationSkilts
C. Educotion.
I. Begin with the schooryoumostrecenttyanended.
2' Listfor each schootthe rcnu and location, the term of your
enrollme*,your major and minor
field of study,significan skiltsand abilitiesyou devebjed in your coursework, and
the
degree(s)or certiftcate(s)you have earned.
D. Work experience.
I. Nanu and location of employer.
2. wlwt the organizationdoes(tf not crearfrom itsnanu).
3 . Yourfunctional title.
4. How long you workedthere.
5. yourdutiesand responsibitities.
6. Yoursignifcant achievements
or contributioru.
E. Activiticsand achievements.
Nonpaidactivitiesmayprovideevidenceof work-related skills.
F. Penonal Data.
I. Listhobbies,travel experiences,
or personalcharactenstrcs.
G. Other relevantfacts.
I ' Includemiscellaneous
facts suchas your commttndofforeign
e languages,
a----o computerexpertise,etc.
2. Dateof availabiliry.
-t. References.
I
ii
rl
CHOOSING THE BEST ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN

Emphasizethe informationthathasa bearingon your careerobjective
andminimizeor excludeany that is irrelevant' Do so by adoptingan organizational
ptan-chronological, functional,or targeted-that focusesaftention
on your
strongest
points(SeeFigures3.1,3.2,and3.3).
Cluptcr 3: Witkg
23
Reswws and Applicuionltttcrs
Fiqum3.1
SatnplChronological
Reume
u
Figure3.2
SampleFt
Resume
Cort|,
Ifob.rto
DrlY.
56a? crottuood.
vA 2204r
Church,
lellr
(70!)
987-00t6
Hor.:
(7ot)
5{9-6621
olflc.:
asllcDlvl
AccountlnE
upharlr
t!nrg.r,
vlth
llnancr
tntrrnatlonal
EXEIEIENCE
Ttre chronological organization higltlights the

applicant'simPrassive
careerprcgress.
The applicant emPhasizes

his achievementsbY using
an indentedlist
H.rch 1986
to pr.t.nt
Accounttnt/linrnchl
st.!!
X IXPORIS
rtrtER-AxERTC
Analylt
ALEXAllDRrt,
vA
!orgcncral
r.Portt
accountlng
Pr.par.
ralcc
rnnual
vlth
gtftvar.
hportrr
vnoiuali
llnanclal'
all
Audit
ot ll5 rilllon.
lnd
h.rdquart.rt
corPany
b.tv..n
tranractlon.
countrl.t.
Ar.rlcan
In 12 latin
ruppllrrr
r Gratrd
to adJurt
rodrl
a corputrrizrd
in currancy
tluctuatlonr
lor
accountr
rrtat
axchrnga
joint
r Rcprrtintrd
ln nogotlatlngcorpany
luPPllcrt
ulth
rrJor
tEraGl.ntt
vsntura
in }{oxlco and ColoDbla
1982
Octob.r
to l{arch 1985
Accountlnt
stalf
XONSAT{I.IC AGRICULTT'RAL
CHEI{ICAI,S
HEXICO
Becauseshe
graduate,the
describesher
first-
CITY
The useof ar
specificfach
this resume's
and cr.dit
biIIing,
budg.ting,
ProHandlcd
branch
lor thc Hexico city
funitionr
carrJ.ng
C
helicalr
Agrlcultural
of xon3anto't
lnd .ntertaim.nt
travGl
Auditrd
divlelon.
tatin
3o-relber
for Xonrento't
rxpcndlturcs
ln launching
Artl3t.d
!orc..
.a1..
f.urrlcan
(
I
B
x
)
.Y3tc!
coEput.r
an on-linc
EDUCA?ION
FAIRFAX,
GEORGE XASOH T'NIVERSITY
on
vlth
eaphasir
1986-1989 tl.8.A.
burlnasr
internatlonal
VA
T'XIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AT':TONOI'IADE HEXICO

xExrco
crTY,
t{txrco
Accounting
1978-1982 B.B.A.,
DAIA
Spanlsh,
in Engliah,
Fluent
in
extensively
and travelcd
REFERENCES
Avallabla
PERSONAL
The applicant'sspecial
quali fi cationsarepresented
as persond data.
Have
and Gernan.
A.Deri'ca'
Latin
Iived
on rquest.
The applican
work history
but not empt
Guide to Communication Skills
Figure3.2
SampleFunctional
Resume
Glenda
to
PUBLIC SPEAKING:
r Participated
of co).lege
as nenber
1oo debates
in over
tean
debating
job-search
r Led seninars
to underskills
to teach
of canpus outreach
as part
priviteged
teenagers
Pro9raE
Performed
Iowa
in
sumner
theater
productions
in
Clear
Lake,
MANAGING:
r Created
and recreation
sumner parks
and administered
prograro
for
ci.tY of Osaqe, Iorra
r Developed
college
for
and I'ayouts
schedul'e,
budget,
and
work to photographers
assigned
handbook,'
copyvriters
r Devel.oped publicity
FoIlies,
for FaII
canpaign
The
for
raised
show that
57'000
talent
three-hour
Council
Panhellenic
of Iowa's
University
EDUCATION:
Septenber
of Iowa, Iowa city,
The University
(3.81 GPA on 4.0 scal.e)
B.A. Journalisn
relations
in public
ttro courses
Speech ninorr'
EXPERIENCE:
1 9 9 11 ,,
J u n ee 1 9 9 00 --AApprri il l
Sunner 1989, Director,
Sunmer 1988, Actress,
PERSONAL DATA:
health,'
Excellent
The applicant'ssketchy
work history is described
but not emphasized.
public
CorPorate
officer
WRITING/ EDITING:
r nrote
college
articles
for
arts
and entertainnent
neuspaper
r Edited
guidebook
rnailed
of
Universitv
freshnen
all
lnconing
r Published
attitudes
in
on student
guest
editorial
Reoister
Des ltloines
r wrote
skit
in FaII
for sorority
prize-vinning
script
talent
show
Follies
The useof action verbs and

specific facts enhances
this resume'seffectiveness.
Johns
ObJective:
relations
Station
Box 6671, College
52240
Ioua
Iowa City,
(s15) 5{s-98s5
Becausesheis a recent
graduate,the applicant
describesher experience
firsr
st.
1985-June
1991
of Ior.ta Handbook
Editor,
Universitv
Osage,
Iowa
Program,
Sumner Recreation
Lake,
Iowa
Clear
Players,
cobblestone
wil).ing
to
relocate
REFERENCES AND SUPPoRTING DoCWENTS:

of Iowa, Iowa
The University
office,
fron
AvaiLable
city,
IA 52242
Pl'acenent
L-.
25
Writing Reswnesard Application l*tters
Figure3.3
SampleTargeted
Resume
ERICA VORKAHP' S QUALIFICATIONS
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
IN IHE CITY OF BARRINGTON
Street
993 Church
IL 60010
Barrington,
( 3r2 ) 884-2 ls3
CAPABILITIES
The capabilitiesand
achievementsall relateto
the specificjob target,giving a very selectivePicture
of the candidate'sabilities.
public
events
large-scale
Plan and coordinate
and
festi"vals,
for concerts,
support
Develop conrnunity
enterta
innent
e
v
e
n
t
s
r
o
a
i
o
r
p
u
b
l
i
c
i
t
y
f
o
r
Manage
groups
connunity
of diverse
activities
Coordinlte
events
for publj'c
controls
financial
and naintain
Establish
perforners,
carpenters,
with
contracts
Negot,iate
and suPPIiers
electricians,
ACHIEVEMENTS
Arts
1988's week-long
Arranged
Library,
Public
the Birrington
actors,
dancers,
25 nusiciais,
for
by
Festival
and Entertainment
performances
which
involved
and artists
rnagicians,
an all-day
Carnival,
the 1989 PTA Halloween
Supervised
and food
contests,
bands.
live
erith gane booths,
feitival
raised
that
57,600 for the PTA
service
for 8oo nembers of
the 1989 Midwescern convention
Organized
over a three-day
r./hich extended
th6 L"ugl,e of women voters.
meals, speakers'
for hotels,
arrangenencs
period
ind required
tours
and special
for the 1990 Children's
served as chairperson
raised
for 4oO that
shotr, a luncheon
Fashion
and abused children
orphans
Home Society
55,000 for
EDUCATION
(Evanston,
University
Northwestern
Phi
to June 1970, B.A' Psychology;
September
Illinois),
Beta Kappa
1965
WORK HISTORY
This work history has little

bearing on the candidate's
job target,but she felt that
recnriterswould want to see
evidencethat shehasheld a
paying position.
1972,
Bank of Chicago, June L9?o to october
National
First
and conducted
scheduled
Recruiter;
Counselor/canpus
Personnel
on 18 rnidwestern
students
M.B.A.
graduating
with
interviews
for
hired
program
for recruits
carnpuses; tounuged orientaiion
staff
trainee
rianagenent
bank's
Novenber 1967 to June 1970,
University,
Northwestern
Paul Harrls
Professor
helped
Research Assistant;
Part-tine
to 9o
trained
rats
using
experinents
behavioral
conduct
nazes
through
Guide to CommunicationStfl/s
26
WRITING THE PERFECT RESIJME

Regardlessof what organizationalplan you follow, the key to writing the "perfect'' resumeis to put younelf in
the reader's position. Think about what the prospectiveemployerneedsand then tailor your rcsumeaccordingly.The following list outlines someconrmonresumeproblems noted by peoplewho read thousandsof resumeseach year. Use this
list to guard againstmakingthesemistakesin your own resume.
. Too long.Theresumeis not concise,relevant,and to the point.
. Tooshort or sketchy.Theresumedoesnot give enoughinformation for a proper evaluationof the applicant.
. Hard to read.A lack of "white space"and of suchdevicesas indentions and underliningmakesthe reader's
job moredifficult.
. Wordy.Descriptionsare verbose,with numerouswords usedfor what could be saidmore simply.
. Too slick.Theresumeappearsto have been written by someoneother than the applicant,which raisesthe
questionof whetherthe qualifications are exaggerated.
. Amateurisft.The applicantappearsto have little understandingof the businessworld or of ttreparticular
industry,asrevealedby including the wrong information or presentingit awkwardly.
. Poorly reproduced.The print is faint and difficult to read.
. Misspelledand ungramm.tticalthroughout.The applicantlacks verbal skills importanton thejob and
showspoorjudgmentin tailing to have anotherpersonproofreadthe resume.
. Incking a careerobjective.The resumefails to identify the applicant'sjob preferencesandcareergoals.
. Boastful The overconfidenttone makesthe readerwonderwhether the applicant'sself-evaluationis realistic.
'.
Dishonest.The applicantclaims to have expertisethat he or shedoes not possess.
. Gimmicky.Thewords, structure,decoration,or materialusedin the resumedepartso far from the usual
as to makethe resumeineffective.
WRITING AN APPLICATION LETTER
If you're like mostjob seekers,you will sendyour resumeto many employers,becausethe chancesof gening an
interview from eachinquiry arerelatively slight. To make the processmore efficient, you will probablyusethe sameresune
repeatedlybut tailor your applicationfor each potential employerby including a cover letter that projectsyour theme and
tells what you can do for that specificorganization.The following areguidelinesfor creatingsuccessfulcover letters.
A successfulcover letter should be a form of advertising,be organized like a persuasivemessage,reflect your
personalstyle, show that you know somethingabout the organization.
The contentof a coverletter shouldinclude:
A.
B.
C.
An openingparagraph.
I . Developthefirst paragraph to reflect whetherthe application letter is solicitedor unsolicited.
a. Theopeningof an unsolicitedapplication letter must capture attentionand raise the readers
interest.(SeeFigure 3.4.)
b. Starta solicited application letter by mentioninghow youfound out about the opening.
(SeeFigure 3 5.)
2. Theopeningparagraph ako statesyour reasonfor writing. As such, it should identifythe desirediob
or job areayou are applyingfor.
The middle section of an application lctter.
I. Summarizeyour relevant qualifrcations.
2. Emplusizeyour ctccomplislunents.
3. Suggestdesirablepersonal qualities.
4. Jtutrfy salary requirements.
5. Referto your resraflc.
The closingParcgraPh
Close by askingfor an interview and making tlw inemiew easy to urqrye.
Chapter 3: Writing Reswnesand Application Lctters
Figure3.4
SampleUnsolicited
ApplicationLetter
216 Westview Circle

'1s?i].
DaIlas , TX
June 16, l99l
Mr. WilLran DuPage, Managing partner
planning Associates
Grant t Grant Financial
1775 Lakeland Drive
DaIIas, TX 7521.8
Dear Mr.
The applicantrelatesher
educationalqualifications
to the requirementsof the
position as sheunderstands
them.
Knowledgeof the company
and a specializedcapability
are sureto interestthe reader.
This paragraphemphasizes
positivejob-relatedqualities
withoutemphasizing"I."
Mentioninga prominentname
calls attentionto the enclosed
resume.
DuPage:
t^ihenRoberta Hawley of your personnel department

spoke urth
rie
today,
she indicated
that
you may be looking
for a staff
accountant,
On the basis of our talk,
I belreve
ny background
lould
benefit.
crant
& crant.
Four years of coll.ege have
trained
me in acccunting
and full-charge
bool:keeping through
trial
balance.
!1y 42 units
of coIlege
accounting and courses in eLectr-cnic
data processing
have equipped me to work wiCh conputer-based
clrents
yours,
like
Training
in busj.ness wrlting,
human
relatrons,
and psychology should help me achieve solid
rapport
with Chen.
And advanced studies
i.n tax accounting
ritl
enaL,Ie
n n et o a n a l y z e t h e i r
financial
needs fron a planning
perspective.
Because your conpany specializes
in tax-shelter
planning,
n,r,
uork experj,ence coul,d aLso be beneficial.
After
t;o ye3rs as a
part-time
bookkeeper
for a securities
brol:erage firn.
I was
pronoted to fuII-tine
financial
analyst rntern
in the corporate
rnvestment
division.
When maklng recorimendations
to the fir:r,s
corporate
clients,
I analyzed and selected specif.tc tax-she]*.er
prograns.
After
three
nonths,
ny accorTtplishhents ;ere
ackno^ledged by a substantial
salary increase.
Grant PauI, vj.ce president
of CitlBank,
and other references
lrsted
on the enclosed resume wilL confirn
nv potenttal
for
staff
accountant
position.
At a tl.me convenient
for you, I would appreciate
the opportunity
to discuss my qual rf ications for beginning a career
I w).II phone you early next Wednesday to see
!'our conpany.
;liether
we can arrange
a rieeting at your convenience.
D '".rt Y*tt+I
Drane Fahey
Enclosure
27
28
Guide to Conununication Skitts
Figurc3.5
SampleSolicited
Application Letter
pine
2893 Jack
Road
Chapel Hill,
NC 275I{
February
2, 1991.
Hs. Angela Clair
Director
of Adrninistration
Cunnings
and Welbane,
fnc.
770 Canpus point
Drive
Chapel Hill,
l{c 22514
Dear
Hs.
Clair:
Your
advertisenent.in
the January
31 issue
of the ChapeI
post attracted.ny
attention'uecause
triLl
r.berive
that
r
have the nproven
skillsr
you are looking
i";-i;-;;
;;i"_
istrative
assistant.
rn iaaition
to rt.iing
p."rio.,"---"
experience
in a variety
of office
settingsj
i ir-iiiiri.u.
uith
the conputer
systen
that
you
in-y6ui
"i.
"ifi...--I recent).y
corapleted
a three-course
sequence
at Hanilton
College
on operation
of the Beta conpurer
systen.
I Learned
hoH to apply
this
technology
to ,p".d
up letter_Lrritinq
and
report-ur_iring
rasks.
A woikshop-on
"
w
i
i
i
i
n
;
;
"
;
;
;
i
i
i
"
;
processori
wi.th the Bta
gave ne-experien""
,iirr-"irr"r-"'
valuable
applications.
The opening statesthe

reasonfor writing and
links the writer's experiencet0 statedqualifications.
By discussinghow his
specificskills apply !o rhe
job sought,the applicant
showsthat he understands
thejob's responsibilities.
As a result
of this
training,
I an abl.e to conpose nany
types
of finished
docunents]
including
sates
tettersl--,
financial
reports,
and presentation-si:.aes.
These speciaLj.zed
skills
have proven
valuabl,e
in ny work for
the past
eight
nonths
as assistant
to the chief
nutriti.onist
at the University
of North
Carolina
canpus cafeteria.
As ny
resune
indicates,
tny duties
include
draiting
i"tt.r",
typlng
correspondince,
and ta"Jiinq-phone
calrs.
Ipial :r?t ihc "ugl a r r y . p r o u d
r,E
of the order-confirnation
syste'
r
designed,
uhich
has. sharply
reduced
ine proU:.en of late
shipnents
and depleted
iirvintories.
Because iproven
skills"
are best
explained
in person,
I
vould
appreciate
an interview
please
y-u.
witn
phone ne any
afternoon
betueen
3 and 5 p.n.
at
t'gl,gl zzo_s139 to let
ne
know the day and tine
nost
convenient
for
you.
In closing, the writer asks

for an interview and facilitates
action.
Si n c e r e l y ,
K.-e"-^
Kenneth
Enclosure
).
"1.*,.
h
.l
'v
-1
!,.
{r:
/i i 2I '
.l
v
J
?v
)..
""*rJ.
.h:;'{.ixjt...
''-\\
CHAPTER4
INTERVIEWING AT{D BEING INI]ERVIEWED
O\IERVIEW
In this chapteryou will be introduced to someof the fundamentalsof interviewing,
brothfrom the perspectiveof
the intervieweeand the interviewer.
INTERVIEWING WTTH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
Mostrecruitersknow how importantit is to find a job that fis. Thusit paysto approach
job interviewswith a
soundappreciation
of theirdualpurpose.Theorganization's
mainobjectiveis to finoureu.sip.non for thejob; theapplicant'smainobjectiveis to find thejob bestsuitedto hisor hergoalsandcapabilities.
A.
How to preparefor a job intemicw.

Although it'sperfectly norntat tofeel a little atrxiousbeforean intemiew,don,t worry
too much;
preparation will help you perform well.
I. Do somebasic research.
a. I-ook at annual reports, in-housemagazines,product brochures,and business
journals to
familiariTe yourself with the organization.
b. Learn the organization'sfull nameand location and itsage,products,earnings,growth,
and industry position.
c. Reviewthejob\ title,function, requiredqrnlificatiotls, careerpath, salary range,
and travel
and relocation opportunities.
2 ' Think aheadabout questions.Youwill be answering questionsaboutyour
background(seeFigure 4.1),
and you will be asking questionsof your own to deteimine whethertne
iob and"theorganization
are rightfor you (SeeFigure 42).
3. Bolsteryour confidence.
a. Realizeyou are more aware of your seemingdrawbaclcsthan othersare.
b. Learn tofocus on your strengtltsso tlwt you ccmemplnsize thcm to an interviewer.
4 ' Polishyour inteniew style.Stagingmock interviewswith afriend is a good way
to honeyour style.
After eachpractice session,haveyourfriend critiqu, you, p"rformance, usingthe
listof interview
faults shownin Figure 43.
5. PIan to look good. To look like a winner:
a. Dressconsen)atively.
b. Be well groomed.
c. Standand sit up straight.
d. Smile.
6' Be readywhenyou arrive. For the interview,plan to talce(pertnps in a neat,
compactbriefcase):
a. a small notebook.
b. apen.
c. a list of questionsyou want to ask,
f-Ptf -,(td$
d. two copies of your resurneprotected in afolder.
e. an outline of what you luve learnedabout the organizption.
f. any past correspottdenceabout theposition.
g. a calendar. .
;:;JffT
l$$;',.r'e
29
30
Guide to CommunicationSk"ls
Figure4.1
Twenty-Five
Common Interview
Questions
What coursesin schooldid you like most?I-east?

What jobs have you held?Why did you leave?
How?
What p"r."nt"gt of yorir collegeexpensesdid fglearn?
work?
of
field
particular
yo*
Why did you.i*r.
.. ^ ?. -- --.1-.o
location?If so' why?
Oo you piefer to work in any specificgeogaphic
Age 35?
How much money do you hopeto earnat age 30?
in collegewereworth the tirne
while
activities
extracurricular
your
Do you think that
youdevoted to them?WhY or whY not?
progressin a good organization?
8. What do you think determinesa persol's
your chosenfietd?
g. what personarcharacteristicsdo you feel are necessaryfor successin
to.Whydoyouthinkyouwouldlikethisparticulartypeofjob?
yourselfl
11. Oo you irefer working with othen or by
do
boss
of
tYPe
Prefer?
You
12. What
13. Tell me a story.
14.Haveyouservedinthemilitary?Whatrankdidyouachieve?
Did you ever changeyour major?If so' why?
15. When did you chooseyour collegemajor?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
l 6 .D o y o u fe e l y o u d i dth;bestschol asti cw orkyouarecapabl eof?

with other students?with instnrctors?
17. Have you ever had any difficulty gening along
With co-workersor suPervisors?
18. Which of your collegeyearswas the toughest?
g .Wo u l d y o u p re fe rtow orki nal argeorasmal l organi zati on?W hy?
20,Whatdoyouthinkabouthowthisindustryoperatestoday?
21. Do you like to travel?
22. How do you feel aboutovertime work?
of your chosenfields?
23. What are the disadvantages
employers?Why or why not?
24. Do you think gradesshouldbe consideredby
willingness to work?
and
25. What traveyoi donethat showsinitiative
Figure4.2
FifteenQuestions
to Ask the Interviewer
What are the job's major responsibilities?

this position?
what qualities do you want in the personwho fills
training?
no you want to know more aboutmy related
penion you hire?
what is the first problem that needsthe attention of the
Wealrresses?
what are the organization'smajor srengths?
what aretheir suenghsand wealnesses?
e: Who areyour organization'smajor.o,ofttitoo, and
in the indusry?
7 . what makes your organizationdifferent from others
markets?
major
8 . What iue your organization's
products? Acquisitions?
9. Does the organization have any plans for new
report to?
would
I
person
the
about
me
you
tell
, 10. Wtt"t.numagementphilosophy?
1 1 . Hoo,ooufa you defineyour organization's
, 12. Wtt", aailtionat training doesyour organizationprovide?
educationwith help from the
.13. Do employeeshave - ipporn nity O-continue their
'organization?
14. Woufa relocation be required now or in the fuurrc?
Lf Why is this job now vacant?
r9
1.
7,.
3.
4.
5.
Clupter 4: Interttiewingand Being Intemiewed
Figure4.3
Marks Against
Applicants (ln General
Order of lmpoftance)
3f
'!
;.1
l. Has a poor personalappearance.
2v Is overbearing,overaggrcssive,conceited;hasa "superioritycomplex"; semsto know it all".
3. Is unableto expressself clearly; has poor voice,diction, grarnmar..
4. Lacks knowledgeor experience.
5. Is not preparedfor interview.
6. Has no real interestin job.
V:'' Lacks planningfor career;has no purposeor goals.
8. Lacks enthusiasm;is passiveand indifferent.
9. Lacks confidenceand poise; is nervousand ill at ease.
10. Showsinsufficientevidenceof achievement.
11. Has failed to panicipatein extracurricularactivities.
17. Overemphasizes
money; is interestedonly in the bestdollar offer.
13. Has poor scholasticrecord;just got by.
14. Is unwilling to startat the bonom; expectstoo muchtoo soon.
l'3. Makesexcuses.
16. Is evasive;hedgeson unfavorablefactorsin record.
17. Lackstact.
18. I-acks maturity.
19. Lackscourtesy;is ill mannered.
2g.. Condemnspastemployers.
21. Lackssocialskills.
22. Showsmarkeddislike for schoolwork.
23. Lacksvitality.
M. Fails to look interviewer in the eye.
25. Has limp, weak handshake.
HOW TO BE INTERVIEWED
Beforeextendinga job offer, most organizationsinterview an applicantthreetimes: a preliminary screening,an
initial evaluation,and a final evaluation.As a generalrule, presenta memorable"headline"or key aspectof your background during a screeninginterview so that you will be remembered;cover all of your strengthsduring a selectionor initial interview; and emphasizeyour personalityduring a final interview.
A.
The warm up.

Thefirst minute of the interview is crucial. Body language is importantat thispoint.
B. The question-and-answerstage,
Effectivelistening, with your eyesand ears, can help you turn thisstageto your advantage.Avoid yes or no
answersand pause if askeda dfficult question.
C. The close.
In the lastfew minutes,you needto evaluatehow well you luve doneand correct any misconceptionsthe
interttiewermight lnve.Watchfor verbal and nonverbal cuestlwt the intervieweris trying to concludethe
session.Corclude the interview with courtesyand enthusiasm,and,don't be afraid to negotiatefor a better
salary and benefi* package,but be realistic and diplomatic in your approach.
D. Intemiew notes.
Careful record leeping will help you l<ceporganized and.will help you beconu more adept at interviewing.
To refreshyour memory of each conversation between inerviq,s,you should lccepa record of your
impressiottsand the tuutus and titles of thoseyou spolczwith.
'l-'lr
**_ I
32
Guide to Corntnunication Skills
FOLLOWING UP AFTERTHE INTERVIEW

by phone or in writing, shows that you
Touching base with the prospectiveemployer after the interview, either
interviewer's attention once again and
the
your
to
name
brings
lt
atso
rcally want the job and arc determined to get it.
messagesare thank you, inquiry
follow-up
of
types
six
The
decision.
the
rcminds him or her that you are waiting to foo*
job
resignation'
of
letter
and
offer,
a
declining
letter
requestfor a time extension,letter of acceptance,
A . Thank-you message.
(SeeFiSure 4.4.)
Tlnnk the interviewerby photrcor in writing within two daysof the interview.
page'
one
or
Keep the messageto lesstlunfive minutes
place of the interview;
In ie opening,-rtprrtt thanl<s,idcntify thc iob, and refer to the time and
organizationand intemiew;
the
about
enthusiasm
slaw
details:
Use the middtesectionfor supporting
you may lwve
impressions
nesative
any
utrdo
to
try
yov
chances;
itp
add anynewfacts thainay
left during the interview.
j. (Jsean action ending: ofer to submit more data; expressconfidencetlwt your qualifications
an
will meetthe organization'srequirements;lookfonvard to afavorable decision; request
opportunity to jrou, that you can aid thc organilation's growth and success.
Inquiry.
B.
date,
I . phone or write an inquiryf you are not informed of the decisionby thepromised
offer'
to
a
your
reply
iob
especiallyif anotherorganizationis awaiting
2. Follow theptanfor direct requests:main idea, necessarydetails,specificrequest.
C. Requestfor a time extension.
pending and
I . Send thisrypeof letter tf you receivea job ofer while other interviewsare
your
decision'
making
you want more time before
2. Open with an expressionof warmth'
your continuing interest
3. Ii the middle section,explain why you need more time and express
organization.
in the
an'd
4. Concludeby allowingfor a quick decision if your requestfor more time is denied
granted.
by askingthc interviewerto confirm the time extensionif it is
I.
2.
3.
4.
D. Lefrer acceptingaiob offer.
Begin Uy,tottig cliirly that you accept the offer with pleasureand by identifying theiob
you are accePting.
2. Fitt out the letter withvital details.
3. Conclu.dewith a statementthat you lookforward to reportingfor work.
E. I*tter reiecting aiob ofrer.
I . Open a letter of reiectionwarmly'
2. Fill out the tetier with an explanationof why you are refitsingthe ofrer and an expression
of appreciationfor being considered'
3. End on a sincere,Positivenote'
F. Letter of resignation.
I . Senda letter of resignationto your current employeras soonas possible'
2. Begin with an appreciativebuffer'
actual
3. Fill out the middie sectionwith your reasonsfor lookingfor anotheriob and the
leaving.
statementthat Youare
4. Close cordiallY.
l.
CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS ON TIM JOB

you will need to know how to conduct an
Once you have successfully intewiewed and landed a job in business,
they are participating in an interview. Thus, from the
interview. Any time two people meet to discussa particular -r"r,
in wide variety of businessintenriews'
day you apply for your nntiou until the day you r"tite, you will be involved a
;- *.!/;.:;i-F_t$4lt:t
- .
.,"1.:,;-.r.*
.a---.*-
.,-*-\
;tt**?.:
Clnpter 4: Interviewing and Being Inten'iewed
Figure4.4
Sample Thank-YouNote
The main idea is the expression of thanks for the interviewer's time and information.
The writer specifically refers
to points discussed in the
interview. Enthusiasm and
eagerness to improve skills
are qualities that will impress
the interviewer.
The letter closes with a specific and cordial request.
33
I
34
Skills
Guideto Communication
the purpose of the interview and

and stnrgturc of the session,depending9n
The interviewer establishesthe style
intt*iews and can be categorizedin two
you *igtt rn"ounter in!repu
parties.r**i.*s
should follow
the relationshipbeween the..-A,,
and follow-up for each type of interview
b"b;. Tilpreparationi.ooao.q
main groups as ouirined in
the suggestionsoutlined below'
A . Categorizing intemiews'
of inforyution: Iob intemiews'Information

I . lnteryiewsdominntedby the exclwnge
i nterniews'
i nterni ews, Per s uasive i ntervi ews' Exit
of fr"tings.:. Evatuation intemiews'counseling
,rrt-nal,
th,
2. Interviewsgearedtoward
ws, D i scipIi nary inter:|ti atts'
i nte rt,i ews, c onfli ct-resoIution i nte r:l'i e
B . Preparing
for an interYicw'
'
thc interttisw'
I . Oerfai on the purpose and goalsof
goak'
onyour
based
2. Seta structuri andfornat
o"d gather backgroundinfortnation'
intert'iiwe,,
your
of
needs
3. Determinethe
plot their order'
clearly and conciselyas possibleand
4. Formul.atequestioru asthis goal'
accomplishing
planfor
a
develop
and
5. Project the outcomeof the interttiew,
6. Selecta time and site'
of the intemiew and the agettdato be covered'
7. Inform the intentieweeof the rutture
C. Conducting the intemiew'
1. Be on tine for the interviewappointment' - andfortrut'
2. Remindthe intert'ieweeof the purpose
tape recorderwith the interviewee'
a
of
use
th'e
or
3. clear the taking of notes
4. (J s e y o u re a rs a n ' d y o u re y e s topi ckuponverbal andnonverbal
cues.
wilting to explore relevantsubjects'
i. Follow tn"-rnia igrndo, but ie
tlnt eachof you lws agreed to '
gooi and tosl<s
6. At the end of the interriew, review
to the intervieweefor her or his time'
tlunr'
with
note,
7. crose the interuiewon an apprecrirre
i nterest, an"dcooPeration'
D'
the intemiemeewith a record of the rneeting'
thank-youmetnoor letter tlwt provides
i .*i;;;:;
to during your meeting.
2. provide the isistance thnt you agreed
with your intertiewee'
through discussions
tuuch
rn
3. Monitor your progressby *ceprn|
ii

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50 Worst of the Worst (and Most

Common) Job Interview Mistakes

Buzz up! 387

Karen Burns, On Wednesday March 10, 2010, 11:56 am EST

10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.

33. Asking to use the bathroom.

50 Worst of the Worst (and Most Common) Job Interview Mistakes

[See the best careers for 2010.]

Arriving too early.

Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.

Bad-mouthing your last boss.

Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.

Wearing the wrong (for this workplace!) clothes.

Forgetting the name of the person youre interviewing with.

Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.

Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.

Failing to research the employer in advance.

Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.

Inquiring about benefits too soon.

Talking about salary requirements too soon.

Forgetting to bring a copy of your rsum and/or portfolio.

Failing to remember what you wrote on your own rsum.

Asking too many questions.

Asking no questions at all.

Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.

Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.

Talking more than half the time.

Interrupting your interviewer.

Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.

Bringing along a friend, or your mother.

Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.

Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.

Saying you know, like, I guess, and um.

Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.

Asking to use the bathroom.

Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.

Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.

Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).

Taking a seat before your interviewer does.

Becoming angry or defensive.

Complaining that you were kept waiting.

Complaining about anything!

Speaking rudely to the receptionist.

Letting your nervousness show.

Overexplaining why you lost your last job.

Being too familiar and jokey.

Checking the time.

Leaving your cell phone on.

Failing to ask for the job.

[Video: Job Interview Tips.]

Copyright 2010 U.S.News & World Report LP All rights reserved.

How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions - On Careers (usnews.com)

How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions

Does it seem as though some job interview questions are designed to

[See the best careers for 2010.]

How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions - On Careers (usnews.com)

Copyright 2010 U.S.News & World Report LP All rights reserved.

Job Seekers: Don't Make These Interview Mistakes - On Careers (usnews...

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Job Seekers: Don't Make These Interview Mistakes

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

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