10 Tips to Ace the Job Interview
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10 Tips to Ace the Job InterviewHeather Johnson joins us today with a great primer on how to ace the interview. I especially like Heather’s emphasis on building confidence by planning, researching, and practicing before the meeting.

Enjoy! — Kim Isaacs

10 Tips to Ace the Job Interview

by Heather Johnson

Most people dread going on job interviews. The stress of meeting new people, dealing with tough questions, and possibly losing a good job opportunity is enough to unnerve even the most self-assured people. The good news is that with a little preparation, you can “wow” the interviewer and become a frontrunner for the position. Follow these 10 tips to ace the interview:

1. Research the Company – Employers are impressed by candidates who take the initiative to learn about their operations. Your research findings will also help you ask relevant questions during the interview.

2. Learn About the Interviewer – If you know who is interviewing you, find out a little more about the person. Check out the company’s website for employee bios or visit social networking sites like LinkedIn. Be careful not to overdo this, though — you don’t want to appear like a stalker.

3. Practice – Ask a friend, family member, or colleague who is experienced with job interviews to roleplay with you. Here’s a list of 50 common interview questions that you can use as a starting point. Just going through some possible interview questions will help ease your nerves.

4. Dress Appropriately, Yet Comfortably – Wear your best business attire for an interview, but don’t squeeze into something that’s uncomfortable. You’ll feel awkward and your physical discomfort might affect your performance.

5. Tell Yourself You Don’t Need This Job – Even if this seems like your “dream job,” convince yourself that you don’t need the job. This way, it won’t be the end of the world if the interview doesn’t go well.

6. Be Punctual – Plan ahead and allow some extra time for traffic, as you will not make a good first impression if you are late.

7. Make Eye Contact – Make direct eye contact with the interviewer. This shows that you are genuinely interested in what the interviewer is saying.

8. Remain Calm – When people are nervous, they tend to rush through conversations. Take your time while answering questions, and think before you speak.

9. Ask Questions – The interview will help you determine if you even want the job, so be sure to ask questions. You may discover that this isn’t the job for you.

10. Thank Your Interviewer – Not only should the interview end with a “thank you” and a handshake, follow up with a thank you card as soon as you return from the interview.Perhaps the most important rule is #8–you will perform better if you appear calm and collected, even if you are shaking on the inside.

About the Author: Heather Johnson is a regular commentator on the subject of how to become a pharmacist. She welcomes your feedback and potential job inquiries at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com (replace “at” with @ and “dot” with “.”).

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Speed Interviewing Events with Carole Martin, The Interview Coach
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Carole Martin The Interview CoachI caught up with my friend and colleague Carole Martin (“The interview Coach”), and I wanted to let you know about a great service that she’s offering: Live Speed Interviewing Events.

If your interview skills are rusty, you can sign up for her tele-classes and learn from one of the most talented experts in the field.In each session, Carole interviews job seekers who take the “hot seat” and are asked common interview questions (including the dreaded, “What are your weaknesses?” question, which I think should be banned at this point). Carole then critiques the responses and everyone learns how to formulate stronger answers to tough interview questions.

I was shocked when Carole told me what she’s charging for the Speed Interviewing sessions (see current rates on her website here), and I told her that participants are getting a great value for these information-packed classes. I don’t know how long she will keep her rates so low, so now is a good time to sign up if you would like to enhance your interviewing skills. Carole also makes recordings of past events available at a discounted rate.You’re in for a real treat if you sign up — the combination of Carole’s expertise, teaching style, and passion for interview coaching is sure to “boost your interview IQ” so you can ace your next interview!

To your success,

Kim Isaacs

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Resume Writing Tip: Draw Readers in with a Winning Headline
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Draw Readers in with a Hard-Hitting Resume HeadlineNewspapers, blogs, sales letters, and other marketing documents use headlines to draw readers in and make them want to continue reading.

Using the same concept as headlines for sales copy (Michel Fortin’s blog post on the subject is a must-read), adding one to your resume can give you an edge over other candidates.

If you’re boring employers to tears with a ho-hum “Objective” section that focuses on you and your needs, try using a headline instead and see if that makes a difference in your resume’s response rate. I bet it does!

The goal of a headline is to capture the reader’s attention, so it should contain your value proposition. Don’t even try to create one unless you can succinctly express why the employer should hire you. Once that is clear in your mind, you can create a headline that gets noticed and makes the hiring manager want to read the rest of your resume.

Have you replaced your “Objective” section with a headline? If so, I would love to hear how it’s been working for you. Feel free to post a comment below or send me an email .

To your success,

Kim Isaacs

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Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Resume
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Top 10 Ways to Improve Your ResumeMany people took me up on my offer to critique their resumes for free — here’s the thread: Free Resume Critique

When reviewing the resumes, I noticed that the documents shared common problems and issues — regardless of the career field. The free critique offer is now closed, but you can improve your resume by following these tips:

Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Resume

1. Proofread. This should be a no-brainer, but almost all resumes had typos and formatting inconsistencies. Make sure your resume is perfect, and hire a professional if you’re not confident in your proofreading skills.

2. Remove “Fluff.” One of my pet peeves is the use of flowery resume language. If you’re a results-proven, detail-oriented leader with excellent verbal and written communication skills, I’m talking to you. This type of language makes hiring managers’ eyes glaze over and doesn’t do much to “sell” your credentials. Instead of saying that you have these skills, prove it with examples of past successes throughout the resume.

3. Add a Headline. A Headline calls out your objective as well as one or two of your top qualifications, and is a modern twist on a traditional “Objective” section.

4. Add a Summary. If you don’t have a Qualifications Summary, write one — immediately! The summary can present the top reasons why employers should contact you — your value proposition. If you lead your resume with a compelling summary, employers will be more likely to read the rest of your resume.

5. Include Important Skills. You can create a separate “Key Skills” section or incorporate your skills in the Summary section. Either way, an easy-to-skim, bulleted list of your job-related skills will appeal to hiring managers.

6. Add Accomplishments. And while you’re at it, quantify them (if possible) so employers can understand the impact of your work.

7. Avoid Using Personal Pronouns. Employers know that your resume is about you, so write in an “implied” first-person voice.

8. Focus on the Last Ten Years or So. If your work history is extensive, keep in mind that most resume reviewers are concerned about your recent employment. You can keep the early positions, but cut down on the amount of space used and consider summing it up in an “Early Career” section.

9. Add an Online Folio. If you don’t already have one, create an online career folio or blog that can bring your branded message to life. Once you have established an online presence, you will increase your chances of getting found when an employer or recruiter Googles you.

10. Ditch the “References Available” Line. Employers expect you to have references if you’re in a job search, and this line is just wasting space at the end of the resume.

Best wishes,

Kim Isaacs

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Free Resume Critique: Final Days
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Free resume critique from Kim Isaacs, ResumePower.comIf you’ve been thinking about submitting your resume for a free critique on this thread, please note that I am closing the offer on April 1. Resumes submitted after April 1 will not be critiqued. I will re-open this offer when my schedule gets less hectic.

Thanks for the incredible response — I enjoyed critiquing all of the resumes that were posted!

Best wishes,

Kim Isaacs

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How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Career Change – Monster Podcast
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Career Change Cover Letter PodcastCheck out my latest Monster podcast on one of my favorite subjects: How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Career Change.No cover letter templates, please! You’ve got to write from the heart. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Best wishes,Kim Isaacs

P.S.: I’ve been offering free resume critiques for more than a month now, and I’m about to close the offer because my schedule is getting super crazy. So if you haven’t yet submitted your resume for a free critique, hop on over to this thread and follow the instructions for posting your resume. Hope to see you there! – Kim

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day from ResumePower.com
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luckyleprechaunHow are leprechauns able to achieve such great success? With a great resume, of course. Here’s our take on a resume for Lawrence “Lucky” Leprechaun. While the resume sample was written in fun, there are some good resume writing lessons: Include a career goal, emphasize accomplishments, include volunteer activities, and downplay deficiencies (no mention of mischief here).

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Kim Isaacs

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Online Profiles – Fox Business News Interview
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I completed another interview segment with Anna Gilligan at Fox Business News. The topic is the importance of paying attention to and building an online identity that can help you advance your career. More and more employers and recruiters are using the internet to learn about potential hires, so it’s important that they find positive information about you. Don’t get left the dust because employers couldn’t find you on the internet, or worse, they find information that makes them not want to hire you.

Best wishes,
Kim Isaacs

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Free Resume Critique
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Free resume critique from ResumePower.comResumes are my passion — I enjoy writing about resume strategies and educating people about how to create a winning resume. But I’ve found that it’s one thing to read an article or a snippet of advice that may or may not apply to you, and quite another to get customized feedback on how to improve your document. I also think that people are faced with very different challenges, and need advice that is tailored for their special situations.

Are you sending your resume out and then listening to the crickets chirp as you get no response?

Do you feel like you might be missing opportunities because your resume doesn’t “sell” your credentials?

Are you watching other job seekers get interviews and offers, while you sit by the phone and wait for it to ring?

It’s probably not you — it’s probably your resume! Don’t let that little old document stand in the way of your success. It’s worth taking the time to polish that baby up and see how your job search can change. The best advice I can give is that you should hire a certified professional resume writer to create a resume that works for you. If you’re not going to do that (but you should if you can), I’m offering to review your resume for free on on this blog post:

Free Resume Critique from Kim Isaacs, ResumePower.com

I will close this offer in the near future, so if you haven’t already done so, feel free to post your resume for a free review. If you decide to submit your resume, please follow the instructions for posting your information anonymously.

All the best,

Kim Isaacs

P.S.: Is the picture of a cricket gross? I was in the mood to bug you today, ha ha ha.

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Race, Sex and Religion on Your Resume: How Personal Is Too Personal?
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Race, Sex and Religion on Your Resume: How Personal Is Too Personal?Race, Sex and Religion on Your Resume: How Personal Is Too Personal?

by Kim Isaacs

You’re probably aware that hiring managers cannot ask discriminatory questions during interviews. But this legal protection isn’t too useful in preventing discrimination before the interview. If your resume contains personal information unrelated to your job target — your race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. — you might fall victim to discrimination, even if you’re qualified for the position.Your resume is a marketing tool designed to get your foot in the door, so every bit of information on it should be selling your value to potential employers. Follow these guidelines to ensure your resume only contains personal information relevant to your job target.

Personal Information That May Be Omitted

  • Affiliations, Volunteer Work, Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies: You may leave out organization names that disclose your cultural background, religious affiliation, sexual orientation and other possible targets of discrimination. List only experiences that help sell you as a candidate for your targeted job.
  • Languages: Listing your native language may reveal your nationality. Include only languages that add to your qualifications for the job. In certain cases, knowing a second language is a plus and should be included on your resume.
  • Personal Information: With the exception of federal or state jobs, which may require this information, and entertainment jobs, for which personal attributes would be considered bona fide qualifications, your date of birth, marital status, nationality, etc., should be omitted.

Personal Information That Should Be on Your Resume

  • Your Name: You can’t pick a new name in hopes of getting more interviews unless you have legally changed it.
  • Your Employers: If you worked for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, for example, you shouldn’t hide your employer’s name and misrepresent your work history.
  • Schools Attended: Even if your postsecondary school has a religious affiliation, you should include the school name in your Education section.
  • Work Experience or Training in Foreign Countries: Include all work and educational experiences, as long as they are relatively recent.

Deciding What to Include

  • Think About It: Will revealing the information in question highlight skills that would qualify you for the position? For example, if you’re pursuing a management position and held leadership roles with religious organizations, consider including these experiences.
  • Target Your Audience: If you’re applying for a position with the American Civil Liberties Union, for instance, your resume may highlight your cultural background, involvement in related organizations and diversity-related accomplishments. If you don’t know the organization’s culture or the hiring manager’s possible biases, omit personal information that will not add to your qualifications.
  • Bear in Mind the Prospective Employer’s Geographic Location: In some communities, involvement in civic or religious groups is highly desirable and including your related experience on your resume would enhance your credentials.
  • Evaluate Your Personal Preferences: The this-is-me-take-it-or-leave-it attitude may leave you hungry when looking for a job in a world where discrimination still exists. You don’t want to lose a chance at your dream job because of a hiring manager’s possible biases. You may or may not report to the person once hired, anyway.

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Copyright 2008- Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy, reproduce or distribute this article without the prior written permission of Monster Worldwide. This article first appeared on Monster, the leading online global network for careers. To see other career-related articles visit http://content.monster.com

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This article was written by Kim Isaacs, director of ResumePower.com and author of The Career Change Resume book. Visit the ResumePower.com site to learn more about resume services to jump-start your career.

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