Resume Tips and Job Seeking Tips

Your Contact Info

Begin your resume by centering your name at the top of the first page. Use your complete name, beneath your name, position your mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address. This information is critically important because it enables employers and recruiters to contact you for additional details, and potentially, to schedule an interview.

One Page or Two

Trying to get your resume onto a single page isn’t easy, two pages are OK if your career history and accomplishments warrant it. Anything beyond two pages may overwhelm or even bore the reader. When detailing out your accomplishments and responsibilities, ensure that your two most recent positions have the most listed, and are on the front page. No one really cares about what you did in your first job out of high school 20 years ago.

Preparing for an Interview

Far too many people focus only on the first step of the job-hunt: earning an interview. Too many people fail to prepare adequately for the interview itself. Make sure to look up the latest news about the company, and try to find out who is going to interview you. Know what is going on in the industry you are interviewing in and what the competition is doing. In real estate it’s location, location, location. In interviewing it’s Preparation, Preparation, Preparation.

Add Numbers to Your Accomplishments

Employers and Recruiters look for people with measurable accomplishments. So make sure your resume includes the numbers. For example; Supervised over 20 sales managers and 200 sales associates, Reduced payroll expenditures by 10%, Increased sales 36% over last year and 15% over budget. These numbers give a potential employer a framework of reference on what you can do for them if you’re hired!

Closing an Interview

What's the last thing that needs to happen in an interview? Close the sale! Ask the interviewer what the next step is? Look for buying words or phrases from the interviewer, like: want to get you in to meet so and so, or when could you be available and even do you have any pre-paid vacations coming up that we need to know about. These types of phrases are buying and hiring phrases. Look for them and you will know how you did in the interview.