Resume Tips For Young Job Seekers

If you've just graduated or are still in the university finishing your degree, you'll have the growing need for that so called "perfect" resume. Although, there's no "perfect" formula, there are always good strategies on how to start that outstanding resume.

So what kind of information would you put on your resume? What format would you follow for the details? If you're still not clear on coming up with your professional profile, here are some resume tips for the young job seekers:

1. Make a List - Get organized with the information you would want on your resume. Although, it's always good to tailor your resume to job vacancies, there are standard information which you should include on your resume including:

a. Name, Address, and Contact Details

b. Degrees/Educational Attainments

c. Date graduated/finished your degree

d. Skills

e. Work experience and history (if you have one already)

f. Projects or Thesis Work

g. Accomplishments and Awards

2. Study Resume Formats - The internet is full of resume resources available at your fingertips. Review resume samples, formats, or you could even download free templates online. These samples will serve you inspiration on what exactly you want for your resume.

3. Resume Services - Resume writing and appraisal services have grown popular. But do be careful in choosing the right services for you. There are resume services who will charge you more than usual. It would be good if you do a background check or read the reviews of different resume service providers before purchasing anyone of them.

4. Proofread Your Resume - Read it yourself 3 times. It won't take you long. If you're not satisfied, let someone read it for you. Be sure that it's free from grammatical and typographical errors. These are top turn-offs for recruiters and employers. If you're paying attention to finer details of your resume, most of the times, you're not fitting for the job.

5. Update Your Resume - As you go on with your career, you'll acquire more skills, experience, and achievements. Be sure to include them in your resume as they happen. Job opportunities open everyday and you should be prepared at all times with your profile.

6. Presentation - Yes! Presentation is important. You suit up for an interview to look presentable and professional. Your resume also needs that makeover to support you as a jobseeker. You may have the meat with your details but if you don't know how to serve your resume, you still end up empty handed. Use readable fonts, avoid excessive colors, avoid smudges, and a black text on white background always seems to impress recruiters and employers alike.

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Job Seekers - Choosing the Right Personal Email Address

The first thing an employer will notice is your email address. When an employer receives your resume via the web or an email, your email address will most likely be at the top of that document. Now, be very cautious when selecting an email to use. Try to reframe from using slang term email addresses or email addresses that may offend other people aside yourself. Emails like nobodylikeme@thisisanexample.com or icantcomplain@thisisanexample.com may distance an employer from you. With these sorts of email addresses, your resume may not ever be reviewed.

I recommend using emails that represent your name like, john.smith@thisisanexample.com or jsmith@thisisanexample.com. This will give the employer an idea that you represent professionalism. I have seen too many email addresses that display car names or favorite actors, these email addresses are in better taste and use with family and friends. Remember, try to use an email address that will represent your kin name. The first impression is the most important, and to lose an employers attention due to an unfriendly email address is starting your career search off on a bad foot.

Darren Haas

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Tips for a Successful Phone Interview

More and more companies use in-depth phone interviews to screen candidates that may even include multiple managers or interviewers. Do you know how to succeed and make the best impression?

Many companies use the phone interview as an initial screening tool and most often, a recruiter will contact you to schedule your interview in advance. If you should be contacted by a recruiter or manager to do an immediate phone interview and are not expecting the call, you should make a quick assessment of your situation.

If you have no distractions around you and you feel ready, go ahead. On the other hand, if the time is not good for one (you just had a discussion with your teen who is slamming doors, your dog just threw up in front of you, or there is a fire in your kitchen, ) ask if you could schedule the call for later in the day or the next day. You will not be at your best if there is chaos going on around you.

1.) At the time of the phone interview, assure that your surroundings are quite and minimize any potential disruptions. Speak loud enough and with a clear, confident voice. Smile when you're speaking, as it will reflect friendliness in your voice.

2.) If at all possible, use a landline phone. I've conducted countless interviews where the cell reception was very poor, and it was difficult to hear the candidates' responses.

3.) If possible, ask the names and positions held of the people on the call. Some people are very comfortable giving their name; others fear that they will be deluged with phone calls from candidates after the interview. When you ask them for their name, remember, they are interviewing you; you are not interviewing them. Your tone of voice when you ask is very important. A group phone interview is not unusual. Write their names down so that you can use their names when addressing them or answering questions.

4.) If a question requires a long or highly technical answer, ask the interviews the amount of time they allowed or detail they would like, so you can gauge how to expand on shorten your reply.

5.) Make sure to thank the interviewers for their time at the conclusion of the phone interview. If they do not indicate the next step, it is okay to ask what to expect next, or what kind of timetable they are on.

6.) If you are interested in the position, be sure to enthusiastically let them know. "This sounds like a great opportunity with your company, I'd be very interested in continuing with the process."

7.) Don't be discouraged if you do not get an immediate invitation for an in-person interview; often they may want to have a consensus meeting and discuss all the candidates at that step before proceeding.

If you do not hear from the organization at all after the phone call, (which unfortunately, happens too frequently), or if you receive a "Thanks, no thanks" reply, do not be discouraged. Just look at yourself as being that much more practiced and prepared for when the right job does come along!

Barbara Miranda

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Job Interviewing Tips

Conquering The Interview

You've made it to the interview and like any normal human being, your feelings of happiness will not supersede the anxiety that accompanies interviewing, even for those who have been through it before. The only way to really alleviate some of that stress is to make sure you are truly prepared for the interview. Young Jobs guidelines of interview preparation will provide you with the means to have a successful interview.

Research: Getting to know the Company

Being knowledgeable about the company you will be interview with is by far one of the most important steps in the interview process. Without a doubt, the interviewer will be impressed with someone who has taken the time to research the company before arriving at the interview. If you make an effort to get to know the organization, you will find yourself ahead of the other candidates. Employers don't just want someone that can get the job done; they also want someone that respects their company and has interest and enthusiasm for their work.

Nowadays most businesses and organizations have their own websites or can be researched through articles found on the internet. However, we do acknowledge that not all companies can be researched this way and not all job seekers have a great deal of access to the internet. If either of these are the case, try going to your local library and finding articles or books about the company and/or the field of work it falls under.

Research: Getting to know yourself

Because you have taken the time to research the company and learn what it has to offer, you can now deduce what they might want in their employees and incorporate your paralleled capabilities in to the interview. Rather than thinking of yourself as an anxious job seeker on an interview, think of yourself as a sales person, selling your skills and ability. Review your resume a few times before your interview. Consider each piece of experience you have listed and the skills that were required. Did you gain collaboration skills working at a restaurant or leadership skills as president of a club or organization? Whatever the case may be, chose appropriately for each position you are interviewing for and utilize those skills in your "selling points". This not only provides you with conversation pieces but you will also find that knowing more about yourself as a potential employee will give you more confidence.

Also keep in mind the skills or assets that you have acquired in everyday life. For instance, most companies are looking for determination in their employees, so if the moment arises to tell them that you finished 3rd in the city marathon after months of training, take it. Even though it is not necessarily related to the work, it will make a good impression on your potential employer. To avoid sounding arrogant, express your experiences as learning tools and your skills as a gift. The tricky part is trying not to create so much to talk about that you dominate the conversation. It's better to give a shorter answer that's direct and to the point, than to babble on for several minutes in a disorderly fashion. It is always best to follow the interviewers lead. This brings us to the importance to practicing...

Practice

Doing research and knowing your "sales pitch" will definitely help you interview with greater success, but there is truly no substitute for actually rehearsing for the interview. Ask a family member or friend to act as the interviewer, providing them with a list of questions to ask you. While you might feel funny doing this, just remember that it will be even harder to interview with a stranger, so practicing can only help ease the process. Before you sit in the hot seat, make sure you have an idea of how you would like to answer the questions you have selected. Even having a notion as to how you will respond will build more confidence and impress the interviewer.

If a question arises that is not familiar to you, do not make something up or change the subject. Rather, tell them that's a good question but you do not have an answer for the time being, but are eager to gain the knowledge. Your potential employer will respect your honesty and readiness to learn new things.

Aside from verbal communication, it is also important to acknowledge your body language. Making eye contact is crucial. If you fail to look the interviewer in the eyes while they are speaking they will think you are disinterested; if you fail to look them in the eyes while you are speaking, they will think you are nervous of fabricating your answers. Try not to fiddle around with your hands too much, or you will appear nervous. A more affective way to use your hands is with slight gestures to evoke enthusiasm for what you are talking about. While it is common knowledge to sit up straight and observe good posture, you don't want to seem uneasy. Try to sit back in your chair with your head held high so the interviewer will know you are self-assured as well as attentive to what he or she is talking about. Try practicing your body language in a mirror or with a video camera.

Appearance

Let's face it, we all know that the visual impression is the first impression you make when meeting someone face to face for the first time. That's why it is essential to dress the part. When interview for a job, it is important to dress the way that you would if you had the job. If you don't know what the attire is, ask when you are setting up the interview or dress slightly more formal than you think you might need to. Wear clothes that are freshly washed and ironed. Along with the clothing, make sure you are up on your grooming: Comb your hair, clean your fingernails, and be sure to brush your teeth before you go to your interview. Try to avoid overdoing perfume or cologne, too much make-up, and excessive jewelry.

Arrive Early

Getting to your interview early does not only make you look good in the eyes of the employer, but it will also make the interview process that much easier. Trust us, there is nothing more stressful, than arriving late to an interview. Not only are you worried about what the interviewer might think, you are more likely to forget most of what you've practiced because you are so overwhelmed with being tardy. When you arrive 10-15 minutes early you have time to look over any last minute notes, use the restroom, and most importantly, take deep breathes. Nothing throws up the red flag quicker to a potential employer than an applicant showing up late to an interview.

Proper Introduction

As intimidating as this may sound, you are under observation from the very first moment you meet the interviewer. In order to make a proper introduction, make direct eye contact, extend a firm but nonabrasive handshake, smile with enthusiasm, and let them know your name and what a pleasure it is to meet them. These might seem like obvious and mundane gestures, but all potential employers will be examining your interpersonal skills by how you introduce yourself.

Returning the Questions

Towards the end of your interview, you will most likely be given the option to ask any questions you might have for the company. This is a great way to let them know that you are just as interested in getting to know them as they are in getting to know you. Asking the interviewer questions, is a great opportunity to make sure you have complete clarity in regards to the position and its expectations. If you feel uncertain about where you will fit in the company, what an average day will look like or anything else to do specifically with the job, feel free to use this time to inquire further. You can also ask about the environment of the company or the report between co-workers. However, it is never wise to ask about pay, benefits, sick days, etc. during the first interview. Once you have been offered the position, you are free to ask those questions before deciding to accept the job.

Now would also be a good time to tie in any final reasons as to why you are a perfect match for the job. It doesn't hurt to make reference to things that were said during the interview. Emphasize your enthusiasm for the position and anticipation for moving forward within the interview process. Avoid sounding desperate or too eager while maintaining your interest.

Be clear on what happens after the interview. Find out when they will be contacting you again or how you should follow-up if they would prefer it that way. Just as you entered with a proper introduction, make sure you exit just the same, with direct eye-contact, firm handshake, and a smile.

Follow Up

Even though you have made it though your first interview, you have one more crucial step in completing the interview process, the follow-up. This is best accomplished by sending a thank you letter to those you were interviewed by. Make sure it goes out within 1-2 business days. Reiterate points that were made during the interview and why you are the right fit for the position. Try to customize your thank you letter rather than sending a generic thank you that won't make much impact on the company. Remember to acknowledge your appreciation for their time and consideration. From there, if you do not have instructions to wait for them to contact you, follow up with a phone call around one week later to check the status on filling the position.

The last piece of advice Young Jobs would like to offer job seekers in conquering the interview is to BE YOURSELF!

We would say good luck, but if you follow our guidelines, we know you won't need luck to succeed!

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