Most prospective employers will hardly take the time to focus on reading your resume through. Most will just scan quickly through and toss it aside only to pick up the next one or click on the next one online.

The question here is what is it that they are usually looking for that will catch their attention and cause them to pay closer attention to your resume? It has to be something that really occupies the minds of managers all the time, and what may that be? Ask any manager that question and they will all give you the same answer. Managers are occupied most of the time with problem solving. They are constantly making decisions that are aimed at solving problems that fly at them constantly.

So it makes a lot of sense for your cover letter and resume to focus on problem solving. You can easily do this by highlighting problems that you have faced in previous positions and how you solved them. This is the single thing that is bound to catch the attention of anybody looking to hire you for a position.

When you really think about it, companies usually hire to solve problems already being faced. This is even truer in our world of downsizing and shrinking workforces.

This is by far the best strategy of getting into that happy situation where your resume and cover letter have exactly what your prospective employer is looking for. It is bound to make you quickly stand out way above the rest.

If you are serious about securing a position, then you must be prepared to re-write your resume for every position that you go after so as to focus clearly and directly on each of the employers you are targeting. Gone are the days when all you had to do was make endless copies of the same old tired resume and distribute them all over the place.

Today's resume is a personal marketing tool that is vital to your landing a job interview and ultimately the position that you crave with the company or business that you have set your eyes on.

With the rather intense competition in the job marketplace, your resume has to be re-written every time to focus on the current agenda of you employer. This will require you to stop thinking like an employee and instead start thinking from the employers' point of view. What this will do is enable you to see clearly what your prospective employer's requirements are which will greatly help you to "push all the right buttons" to attract lots of attention and interest in you from your prospective employer. This will cause you to stand out above the crowd and thus dramatically improve your chances of landing the position, even if competition for it is high.

Besides it is not too difficult these days to rewrite a resume. Especially if you know where to find online resume resources that will make the whole exercise a breeze. Computer word processing software also enables you to prepare and retain several different versions of your resume that you can always quickly retrieve, make changes and deliver—many times via email.

The information age has brought about major changes in resumes that many of those who seek jobs have not been able to keep up with.

For instance did you know that today three page resumes are acceptable? More so for experienced candidates ad especially those in the sic figure salary range. Even for lesser mortals, two pages and one and a half pages are normal these days. Few realize that the old-fashioned one page resume is now more or less gone forever. In the old days the one page resume rule was written on stone and anything different was looked at as being totally unorthodox.

The resume has also changed from the stiff, dry boring format of stating facts briefly to the situation today where employers expect the job seeker to quantify their accomplishments. In a case you have helped increase productivity is it is expected of you to state the increase and benefit that this resulted for the company in dollars. Just remember that sweeping statements just won't do anymore.

Another crucial thing that is often looked for in a resume are signs that the applicant is a team player and can work well with others. This is very important these days. Your resume therefore has to include words like "collaborated with" or "coauthored the report on."

Time worn cliché phrases in resumes like "Achieved the following" and "Responsible for… are out. In their place has come active use of appropriate verbs to describe what you actually did and how.

These are but a few of the major changes that have been brought on the resume by the fast paced information age in which we live in.

The thing about first professional impressions is that it is not always visual. Preceding your face to face encounter with the human resource representative or anyone in charge of screening applicants is your cover letter. It is quite ironic that few people pay close attention to this piece of paper which pretty much determines whether they will be considered for interview or if their resumes will merit perusal of the busy person who is screening various cover letters like yours.

Cover letters are for mind-setting. You do not really need a psychology degree to make a lasting impression. A well-written cover letter will precede you, give you an inherent good impression and erase all your inhibitions. If you are able to pull off the writing of your cover letter with flair, you can definitely expect pools of job offers to come your way. This is for real, and you got to give it a try. The only way you can talk your way into getting the job is by means of selling yourself well in your cover letter.

Excellent cover letters which produce job offers to applicants highlights best qualities of the applicant. If you want your cover letter to lead you to getting hired, you need to fire it up with your good qualities. Be careful not to overdo this, however. You will have to be able to catch up with whatever image you are painting in your cover letter. If you place there that you are punctual and speedy, you must be able to deliver that promise. Make sure that you are selling yourself but not going beyond true facts about yourself.

In a way, the cover letter is a way of introducing yourself to the company or the person who will be reviewing your application. This is very vital. It is like shaking hands with a stranger for the first time. The even crucial fact is that you must leave that stranger impressed and confident of your capabilities. Your cover letter must be polished, no grammatical errors whatsoever and having the best quality of paper you can afford. Make it as pristine as possible, concise and with neat spaces that communicated utmost professionalism. Remember, until you see your interviewer face to face, the only thing they will remember are the things in your cover letter.

Your cover letter is also the usher for your resume. Yes, you may have worked hard to make your resume as meaty and impressive as possible, but if your cover letter is badly written, your resume might go ignored. The cover letter is the very first thing that the person will read in your application details. It is the usher that paves the way to your more specific resume details. If you are not able to pull this off effectively, you will find yourself at the losing end.

Generally, the best jobs are most sought after. Many applicants will most likely be vying for that job. In a way, you will be competing against all the other applicants for this position. It is, at least in the beginning of the application process, a battle of the cover letters. Yours must stand out and show out your very best facets. In this aspect, you can never afford to be mediocre with your approach. You must always give your cover letter your best shot, because it does not just cover your resume, but it defines if you are going to be hired or not.

When applying for a new job, preparing your Resume or Curriculum Vitae to a high standard is a key step in positioning yourself for further consideration. There is a wealth of information, (including posts on this forum) about developing the kind of Resume or CV that will cause recruiters to pause for a moment and explore further.

Your Resume - A “Temporary Visa”

If we were to consider career development in terms of being a journey, your Resume or CV is a “temporary visa” to a new destination. However, what you need is a passport that allows you to take up residency in this destination for as long as you want.

Applying for a “Passport”

Permanent residence in a new job is a sustained effort. When the recruiter/employer is hooked by your Resume or CV, you need to be prepared to follow this up effectively in the next stage of the process. Often this is a face-to-face interview, although increasingly recruiters are using alternative or supplementary strategies such as group interviews and psychometric testing, for example.

The same principles underpinning a strong Resume apply to further stages in the selection process. If there is one key principle it is to understand, as far as is possible, the needs of the employer and to have evidence “at your fingertips” to demonstrate your ability to meet these needs. This means both research and reflection. Research the organisation in whatever way you can, such as brochures, annual reports, internet, staff within the organisation and clients if possible. Be creative in identifying ethical sources of information.

Reflect on what you have learned. What are the unwritten rules that appear to drive the organisation (i.e. the culture). What kind of employees are publicly recognised and acknowledged? Is the company behaviour consistent with client perception? Can you identify areas of growth and development? What capacity do you have to contribute as an employee?

I have interviewed countless people who, when asked at interview for further evidence or deeper evidence of a specific competence, simply repeat what is in the Resume. Not surprisingly, recruiters come to the conclusion that they have a candidate who is “good on paper” or 2 dimensional. Being able to articulate 2 or 3 additional examples of your competence is a strong asset. There is no reason why this kind of mental preparation cannot happen while you are writing your Resume or CV.

As with writing a job application use language with which you are familiar, and which is comfortable for you (and the listener). Don’t fall victim to the temptation to use complicated language or language you are unsure of because you think it will impress others. This kind of (very common) approach to interviews comes across as somewhat pretentious. It also places the candidate at risk if the recruiter asks a clarifying or expansive question, which readily identifies the candidate’s depth of knowledge. As with all communication, put yourself in someone else’s shoes and think about the styles of communication that would persuade you of someone else’s capacity.

Remember, your character is in the spotlight as well as your skills. Be authentic and be positive. Show that you have developed some understanding of the context in which the organisation operates. It is possible to do all this and demonstrate modesty.

“Permanent Residence”

When offered a position by the employer, be mindful that all that each of you has written and said forms a kind of “contract” that goes beyond the paperwork. Just as the employer should commit to supporting you in your new role, you must commit to honouring the promises you have made in the application process. Your new employer will reasonably expect your loyalty to the vision and mission of the organisation, competence in the role and your willingness to work within policy and to develop further.

Does your resume begin with a section like "objective," "professional summary" or "summary of qualifications." If so, I've got bad news. Your resume stinks.

A big chunk of the resumes I see each week contain these paragraphs - normally the very first thing the reader sees. You will also see them recommended in just about every “how to write a resume” book on the market today.

These paragraphs are useless and counterproductive. Take the typical “objective” line (I pulled this off an actual resume I recently received): “OBJECTIVE: A position as an administrator/coordinator.” This says that the resume is about what you want - a job - and not what you can do for the company. That is a dumb way to start the conversation about your next job.

Why would you waste this precious space at the top of your resume, where your reader will be making the crucial decision about whether to read further or to toss your resume in the trash? If you have a line like this on your resume delete it now.

The fist lines of your resume better grab the hiring manager by the throat and not let go. You need to start with a bold declaration about what sets you apart - this is a great place to state your "brand" or your "unique selling proposition"

Make sure that the information you put at the top of your resume is written with the hiring manager in mind. Summarize your business results, and pick things that you believe are business problems facing your prospective hiring manager now. Get your 2 or 3 “highlight” results near the top of your resume and you'll start getting calls for job interviews.

Scan your resume. If the last number on your resume is your phone number or a date of employment. Are many of your numbers preceded by dollar signs? If not, you need a rewrite.

I'm a lawyer and was an English major in college. I have written 12 books. I get words. Not only that, I can't add 2+2 twice and get the same answer. The last math class I took was first semester algebra in college (my worst grade in college). That is why it pains me to say this: numbers rule.

You need to figure out how to explain your accomplishments in terms of results delivered and, whenever possible, to do so using numbers and measurements. Hiring managers are asked every day to deliver business results, and usually those results are measured. If you want to get hired, speak in terms your audience is already using every day.

Using numbers and results to tell your story does three things. First, it gets you noticed. It is surprising the number of resumes I see that don't mention one result or number - a resume that does will stand out.

Second, it needs no translation. Using results and numbers will sell your skills and abilities in terms the hiring manager uses daily.

Third it shows that you “know the lingo.” It immediately communicates that you are comfortable in a business setting. It makes you easy to hire.

Look at every business accomplishment listed on your resume and try to attach a number to it. Answer these questions:
How much money was saved?
How much time was cut?
How much more efficient was the process?
How many employees did it take to complete the task before and after the change?
What was the budget (and did it come in over or under)?

You don't have to have a number on every line of your resume, but there should be one anywhere it can reasonably fit. Try to tell your story with numbers and your resume will speak clearly to your hiring manager. It is an almost hypnotic technique to get the hiring manager to pick up the phone and ask you for more.

A resume must be reader friendly, pertain to the job you are applying for, and can be up to two pages long. The key is to have information that will convince a manager, person hiring, you are perfect.

Look no further is seen through your objective, and supported throughout the resume.

It is not necessary to use the word objective. In place of objective: looking to, seeking, or goal.

Tailor-cut every resume to the position.

Name
Address
City/State, Zip Code
Telephone Number
Email Address

Objective: Your first line explains how you can help a company,

and the rest of your resume re-inforces it.

Experience: Display jobs you have held. Start with the most

recent, include dates.

For those that do not have job experience, jot down

the qualifications you feel is best suited to prove

line one.

Education: College degrees, course, and credits fill this space.

Mention internships if relevant.

Computer: State the fact you are knowledgeable in Excel, etc.

The mission is to uncover everything you have done to show worthiness for the job. In fairness, always state your actual experiences and/or qualifications. Sometimes, one is hired before the complete background check is done. If a false statement is uncovered that equals immediate termination.

In conclusion, before reaching for a certain job, make sure you have the required tools for it. You do that by searching through your education and/or experiences to see if you are the "one." It is a good idea to send resumes out to a number of employers at once.

When it comes to writing a great resume, there are no hard and fast rules or specific formats that you should adhere to; however, your resume should be targeted to each specific job that you are applying to. In addition, it must be concise, clear, command attention and stand out from the pack.

Include a Title for the Job You Want

Use a professional title for the position that you want. An improper job title will only serve to position you at a level far below the responsibility or salary level you are seeking to achieve. Including a job title can greatly increase the number of interview calls that you get for higher positions and improve your chances of clinching a higher salary – and when you start at a higher salary, your career growth is also accelerated.

Include an Executive Summary (what you can do for them) - Not an Objective (Me-focused)

An executive summary should be clear and well defined, consisting of a short paragraph or four to five bulleted points. It should focus on how your skills can benefit the employer, not on what the employer can do for you. Using action words will help to convey you as an intelligent and active individual capable of making contributions to accomplish company goals. Highlight your strengths and achievements clearly and quickly. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see information that is to the point, and hardly have time to dig for buried nuggets of information hidden in your resume.

Include Relevant Information

Let’s state the obvious - your resume is targeted at landing interviews. In effect, you are advertising your capabilities and experience. Therefore, you need to provide precise, accurate and relevant information. Your resume should be able to convey relevant information, but at the same time, the resume should also convey a message that if the hiring manager buys this product (YOU) it will lead to positive and direct benefits in specific areas where their needs exist (the job).

Brag - With PROOF!

When it comes to your resume, you can forget modesty. Brag if you have irrefutable proof that establishes you as an outstanding performer (notice I didn’t say exaggerate or lie). Give your resume an accomplishment-driven profile. Accomplishments are results you produce by resolving problems, or when you overcome a real or perceived obstacle. Mention any project that you spearheaded that served to heighten employee morale, revenues or company savings. Formulate 'Problem-Action-Result' (PAR) statements to convey your ability for producing similar or better results in your future employment.

Highlight Achievements - NOT Responsibilities

Although important, listing responsibilities should not form the focus of your resume. Responsibilities are passive - achievements project you as an active, dynamic individual. When you are seeking a higher position, your achievements rather than your responsibilities acquire crucial importance – so don’t clump the two together. Write a paragraph giving an overview of your responsibilities and then highlight your achievements with bullets. When you want to sell something, you must make it stand out.

Having a well-written resume is crucial when it comes to getting interview calls. Following the 5 tips above will ensure that you maximize your chances.

Of course it's easy to write a cover letter. The only challenges are determining what to say and knowing how to say it, which, if you looked at it, are pretty much the reasons that make cover letters so tricky to write. But if you want to solve the mystery of the cover letter and want to be able to approach it more easily, here are some ways with which to effectively do it:

Know why you need a cover letter
All employers expect that you include a cover letter in your application, unless of course they specify otherwise. A cover letter is your brief introduction to your prospective employer, a chance for you to summarize your qualifications and show your best qualities at a glance.

When employers receive dozens of job application letters everyday, the least they want to do is to pore over the details of your resume just to see what exactly it is that makes you special enough to deserve an interview. Not only that, it's been the standard practice in the job market for several decades, so you would do well to include one with your resume.

Are there different kinds of cover letters?
Aside from the styles, there are only two basic types of cover letters that you should know about: the solicited cover letter and the unsolicited cover letter. The solicited cover letter is one you write and send in response to known and published job advertisements. The unsolicited cover letter is one you send if you're prospecting for a job, exploring job possibilities or as a way to inform future employers of your presence and availability.

What is included in the cover letter?
A cover letter, very simply, is a type of business letter. It includes, among others, the current date, the person and company you're addressing the letter to and the purpose. In the case of a job application cover letter, it's to present to a prospective employer your qualifications that you believe will fit the employer's current need.

How do I write a cover letter?
If you want to know the correct tone and words to use, I suggest you find good samples of cover letters, specifically those that have demonstrated giving their writers positive results or those that have been prepared professionally. As mentioned earlier, cover letters are business letters so expect a little formality. If you don’t have an idea of how to go about it, find three or four samples and take note of how they were written.

Once you've determined the important elements that make up a great cover letter, begin writing your own draft. Go for a targeted cover letter, one that is as unique as the company you are sending it to. This will show you as a diligent and driven individual who will not stand for the mediocrity of writing generic letters.

Your cover letter should be brief but it must contain enough information about you to let your prospective employer know what your capabilities are. This is your letter of introduction and should include what kind of things you have done and achieved in your past work experience that your prospective employer find extremely useful.

Don’t brag. Simply state the facts and include numbers and figures if you must, but keep your cover letter short. Don’t go into a long-winded lecture of how successful you've been and how you've changed things for the better. Just mention the things that you feel your prospective employer will appreciate and have great need for in his organization.

A cover letter is supposed to sell your qualities, so make sure you do an honest job about it. Don’t sell yourself short but don’t blow your trumpet too hard either.

Cover letter are almost always inseparable with resume and job hunting. You can never find a good job if you haven't gone past the hurdle of making a cover letter. Yet, there are many people who believe in what I call myths on cover letter templates and end up getting less than what they bargained for in their cover letters. This is a sad reality, but the few who have managed to learn the facts and turn it to their advantage kissed those myths goodbye. Here are a couple of myths that make cover letter templates hindrances rather than pathways to getting that dream job.

Single template for all seasons
There is a common belief that cover letter templates is like those ready to wear clothes that fits all sizes. No it never does, and it never will. The cover letter template in itself is not sufficient to land you that ideal job. The cover letter template serves not as a thing to copy and paste. It may sometimes serve as a guide, but do keep in mind that the rest of the world is probably using the same thing for their application and it is already boring those who screen applications to tears. This single template mentality makes a person stick to a single way of writing his or her cover letter and mass sends it to all of his or her target companies. This makes the cover letter very generic, when in reality, the specific cover letters are those that get the job for the applicant.

What worked for Harry will work for Sally mentality
You may have a friend who got your dream job last week. So you maybe thinking that when you copy his or her cover letter, you will be able to get yourself that job as well. There is a grain of truth to it, but it is not something you can always rely on. One of the best ways to make a good cover letter is getting a good grasp of who you are professionally and what you can do for a company. Your specific details, experience and qualification as well as the standards of the company you are applying a job for are a mixture of unique factors which will spell your doom and success in applying.

Robot View
The view that your resume cover letter must be dead serious is another one of those myths that hamper one's capacity to get a job. It is true that you must have some degree of professionalism and formality in your letter, but not to the extent that the letter will be devoid of emotion and enthusiasm. These are the two things that most cover letters miss. The way one's personal “voice” talk through the lines of the cover letter is already a way of introduction of yourself.

Useless Cover Belief
The biggest myth of all myths in cover letter writing is that cover letter writing is useless and requires the least priority in preparing your application details. The cover letter is the most important part of the documents pertaining to your application, and you must give it as much attention, time and energy as it deserves. With this in mind, cover letter templates are quite tricky to use, and it's a great irony that people just leave the fate of their job hunting in the bounds of a generic cover letter template.

So you're ready to go after that job but writing a cover letter terrifies you? You've done a great job at writing your resume and yet a simple cover letter gets you stuck in writer's limbo. How so? Almost every part of the job application process has some degree of difficulty, but many job hunters find that writing the cover letter is the most challenging, which is probably why they often turn to free cover letter examples to help them out.

Why free isn’t always good

When people tell you that all the best things in life are free, they probably didn’t have cover letter examples in mind. It's a good thing it's free and accessible to anyone but if you looked closely, those are the very reasons why you shouldn’t even think of using free cover letter examples.

When it's free, it's often written without care. Imagine this: if you had a valuable thing in your hands, would you give it away for people to use for free when you know that it can be mutually rewarding? The same is true with the free cover letter example. It's written as a general reference for the rest of us, regardless of what we really need. A free cover letter example can be used by just about anyone – an intern, an accountant, a secretary, a doctor, a computer technician, a waitress – because there was really no definite purpose as to its design.

So what is the significance of using a free cover letter example? A lot rides on your cover letter's ability to attract the attention of your potential employer. If it's too weak, you will be perceived as such, which will probably convince the company you're applying to that you are the wrong person to talk to. Conversely, you can project a stronger, more professional persona by simply presenting a cover letter that speaks of your confidence and ability.

Another reason why you should stay away from free cover letter examples is that these letters contain such familiar, commonly used words and phrases that hiring officers must have seen a hundred times before. When yours comes along, it will probably be viewed as another clone and treated as pure rubbish. When than happens, you lose the opportunity of ever getting a shot at the job of your dreams.

What you can do

Don’t leave your future to chance because statistically, you're bound to lose. Instead, create your own opportunity and stay away from free cover letter examples that could spell disaster to your efforts. Imagine working that hard for so long only to receive rejection due to an ill-conceived cover letter.

If you must use a cover letter example, make sure you choose one that was written with your needs in mind. A targeted cover letter has so much more appeal than a loose cannon. It shows your professionalism and pride in your education and work background, a sign that you're not the kind of person who will settle for less.

Let's face it: job hunting is stressful enough so why bother putting more anxiety upon yourself when you have a chance of using and creating a cover letter from a professionally planned and written piece, giving you a better chance at improving your professional life. That job you're applying for could be your one chance at a truly rewarding career. Don’t let it go to waste when there's a factor you can control.

Does your resume unlock your potential, take your skills to the highest level and win you the interview and the job you want now? The job market today is highly competitive and even if you think you have what it takes to get an interview you won’t get over the line without a polished, professional marketing document. Listing responsibilities are no longer going to make an impact on the recruiter. The results of your work challenges are the driving force behind what makes a winning resume. Remember that you are selling your best qualities and achievements and these should be highlighted on the first page.

Here is an example of selecting the right power words to communicate success:

“Globally focussed and goal oriented graduate with strong awareness of complex business and financial management systems. Combine analytical and research expertise, with strong academic results. Keen to develop a career in International Accounting & Finance.”

The successful ingredients are created with powerful words, potential and talent, layout and essentially a unique blend of your knowledge, experience and value.

Remember that you have only a short amount of time to impress the company. Recruitment staff and employers will scan your resume for 15 seconds before they decide whether to invite you in for an interview.

USE THE BEST STRATEGIES TO GET THOSE PHONE CALLS FOR INTERVIEWS Your resume / CV is your marketing document. It’s the ultimate tool to highlight your value, boast your strengths, successes, skills and knowledge. It must be visually attractive and communicate your achievements and talents.

• Powerful key words or action verbs to describe credentials, qualifications, strengths and potential. For example: direct, spearhead, orchestrate, initiate, instruct, manage, formulate, challenge.
• Education and training, achievements, job experience, interests and volunteer work.
• Clear layout and easy to read and scan.

My Resume Checklist
 Highlights strengths, knowledge and skills.
 Lists achievements.
 Information in the correct order.
 Lists accomplishments.
 Presented all necessary information.
 Sufficient power words that persuade and impress.
 Targets the position and job description.
 All qualifications documented including on the job training certificates and workshops.
 Lists Memberships and extra curricular.
 All redundant information removed.
 Used all appropriate subheadings.
 Lists 2 referees.

Resumes Online will create a resume that will immediately attract recruiters and employers within the first 15 seconds. The results will take you to the next step, the job interview. Call for a free resume critique today on 1300 761 121

To Your Continued Growth and Success! Debbie Navara

Does your resume unlock your potential, take your skills to the highest level and win you the interview and the job you want now? The job market today is highly competitive and even if you think you have what it takes to get an interview you won’t get over the line without a polished, professional marketing document. Listing responsibilities are no longer going to make an impact on the recruiter. The results of your work challenges are the driving force behind what makes a winning resume. Remember that you are selling your best qualities and achievements and these should be highlighted on the first page.

Here is an example of selecting the right power words to communicate success:

“Globally focussed and goal oriented graduate with strong awareness of complex business and financial management systems. Combine analytical and research expertise, with strong academic results. Keen to develop a career in International Accounting & Finance.”

The successful ingredients are created with powerful words, potential and talent, layout and essentially a unique blend of your knowledge, experience and value.

Remember that you have only a short amount of time to impress the company. Recruitment staff and employers will scan your resume for 15 seconds before they decide whether to invite you in for an interview.

USE THE BEST STRATEGIES TO GET THOSE PHONE CALLS FOR INTERVIEWS Your resume / CV is your marketing document. It’s the ultimate tool to highlight your value, boast your strengths, successes, skills and knowledge. It must be visually attractive and communicate your achievements and talents.

• Powerful key words or action verbs to describe credentials, qualifications, strengths and potential. For example: direct, spearhead, orchestrate, initiate, instruct, manage, formulate, challenge.
• Education and training, achievements, job experience, interests and volunteer work.
• Clear layout and easy to read and scan.

My Resume Checklist
 Highlights strengths, knowledge and skills.
 Lists achievements.
 Information in the correct order.
 Lists accomplishments.
 Presented all necessary information.
 Sufficient power words that persuade and impress.
 Targets the position and job description.
 All qualifications documented including on the job training certificates and workshops.
 Lists Memberships and extra curricular.
 All redundant information removed.
 Used all appropriate subheadings.
 Lists 2 referees.

Resumes Online will create a resume that will immediately attract recruiters and employers within the first 15 seconds. The results will take you to the next step, the job interview. Call for a free resume critique today on 1300 761 121

To Your Continued Growth and Success! Debbie Navara

Job interview questions vary widely across organizations and depend on the nature and attributes of the job on offer. However, there are some typical questions that are invariably asked by almost all interview boards. If you are prepared with their responses from before, you can present them flawlessly in a structured manner and create a good impression. Take a look at these 3 most common job interview questions:

1. Describe Yourself: To have a first hand idea about you, your interviewers may want you to give a short description about yourself. Have a good answer prepared for this covering all aspects of your background, your educational attainments, your professional exposure, your family and your personal interests like reading books, listening to music, taking photographs etc. Don’t draft it like a speech. Deliver it in the manner of a conversation, smiling occasionally and taking short pauses. All the while, maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If somebody in your family was in the company or in the sector where your company operates, make a humble reference and tell them that you owe your inspiration to him or her for a role in the organization or sector.

2: Your Interest for this job: You have to convincingly demonstrate in this response that you are the fittest candidate for this position. So, know the requirements of the job as much as possible and relate your background, achievements and future aspirations to them. You have to impress upon them that since you meet all the requirements of the job and have capacities to add more value to the output, you are particularly interested for this job. Tell them that you have been regularly watching for this vacancy notification and have taken tips from experts about getting prepared for the selection process. The interviewers have a great possibility of being impressed with your sincerity and attachment.

3: Your expectations: Tell them honestly and clearly what are your expectations from the job. Satisfying job content, good working environment, nice colleagues, attractive pay and perks, some amount of authority and independence, avenues to grow higher up are the common contentions. Don’t talk big. It’s always better to place a conservative expectation profile.

There are many other typical questions that can be found on career advice sites. Take note of them and be prepared.

Make a great first impression with your CV
Your CV is the first impression that any prospective employer has of you – so it’s important to get it right. The information you provide must be accurate, realistic and positive, and be tailored to suit the particular role you are applying for. The following format provides a guide to information you should include.

Layout
Make sure your CV is clearly laid out and presented using a consistent typeface throughout. And don’t be tempted to employ a fancy looking font – you won’t win any brownie points with employers if they can’t read your CV. Keep the CV to a maximum of two pages. Many employers don’t have the time or the inclination to dredge through pages and pages.

Personal Details
Always have your contact details at the top of the front page. This makes life a lot easier for your prospective employer when flicking through a pile of CVs.

Interests
These will give employers a 'fuller' picture of you. Brief titles will suffice e.g. 'hill walking', 'sailing' . These should be realistic and current as there is little to be gained from adding an interest that was a school or past activity.

Education Details
Should include secondary, higher and further education, including dates attended and qualifications gained. Include the number of GCSE / Standard Grade passes you achieved and detail the subjects and grades of A/AS Levels or Highers. University Degree(s) and diplomas should also be noted, including your class of degree attained and Honours subjects studied (if relevant).

Current Employment
Details including the name, location and dates employed with the company are important. If you have been promoted, changed roles or gained any particularly notable experience, make sure that this is highlighted at the beginning of the text. As much relevant detail as possible is important with regard to experience. Information regarding supervision, teamwork, training and development should also be outlined.

Past Employment
Brief details of any previous employment will again provide a fuller picture. Less detail is needed - company / dates, job title and a brief job description will suffice. List your previous employment / experience in reverse chronological order (beginning with the most recent post)

Experience
Always provide evidence of any claims you make. You don’t necessarily have to draw on work experience; examples from any sphere of your life could work. For example – You are good at managing a budget as you have run your own home for 5 years.

Find Out More
NB - If there are any gaps i.e. time travelling, a year out etc, these too should be noted to ensure that no details are left uncovered. Make sure you also include your personal interests as this helps employers build up a broader picture of you as a person.

References
You don’t need to include referees’ contact details but where possible make sure you say ‘references available on request’.

Seek professional help!
Pass your CV to a recruitment professional if you can, or at the very least to a friend who knows you, to make sure you are promoting yourself as well as you can.

Finally
Check, double check and check again for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. If you can, get a friend to check this as well.