Lisa McLaughlin

Coach's Corner

Lisa McLaughlin

Make Friends with Your Resume

Ah yes, the resume. That evil necessity. We all hate to draft our resumes - it takes too much time, you're not sure what to include, how long should it be? Should you include that dreadful job that you held for six months? All good reasons to put that task on the back burner.

But...what if that dream job appears and you're not ready? What if your current employment ends suddenly? You need to be PREPARED. I'll provide you with the basics of what your resume should look like. First of all, the word resume means "a brief description of your education and employment; a summary." Key words; brief and summary. But don't go by that old rule of thumb that says your resume needs to be one page. Your resume should be anywhere from one to three pages. Any more than that and you'll put someone to sleep. Hiring managers don't want to read ten pages of your history. They're looking for key words, key accomplishments, and titles. And they are looking for grammatical errors! Once you've proof read your resume, give it to a friend to proofread. Your resume should be easy to read in a formal and legible font. Font size should be ten or twelve. Your complete name, address, and phone number(s) should be at the top.

Next you'll want to list a summary or objective. Following that list your education, including degree(s) and school attended. Dates of education are not necessary.

Your employment will be next, starting with your current employer and working back. Be sure to list the name of your employer, their location (city and state only), your title, and dates of employment. Then list your job responsibilities. And speaking of responsibilities...don't use the word "responsible" too often. Bullet points are an excellent tool in a resume and I absolutely love skimming through bullet points! Be sure to explain any gaps in employment. And yes, you can include that dreadful six-month stint...most of us have had them!

Last, but not least, list all certifications and memberships relative to your career path. While helping with the bake sale at the elementary school is admirable, you don't need to include that. Outside activities are also not required. And you'll need to gather at least three professional references for future use - be sure to ask your references in advance if they'll vouch for the stellar employee that you are - but do not include that in your resume. Keep that separate and updated.

Interview like a Pro!

 So...you have an interview lined up for that job you've been hoping for!  Perhaps the location is more convenient.  Or maybe it's because the hours are flexible.  Hopefully it's for more money and better benefits, but whatever the reason...this is the one you really want. 

Now - are you prepared? 

"Ha!  Prepared?  What's to prepare?  I've been a COHN-S for twelve years!  I know what I'm doing with my eyes closed.  I certainly don't need to PREPARE."

Think again.  You DO need to prepare. 

Whether this is the initial telephone interview, or a face-to-face interview, everything you do, say, and even think, will be scrutinized by your interviewer. 

Let's say this is the initial telephone interview.  Chances are you'll be speaking with a Human Resource employee who will have a list of questions that he/she will shoot at you.  Now already, you know that this HR person has a list of questions, along with paper and pen handy to jot down your answers. 

You need the same thing. 

You also need to know that during a telephone interview, the interviewer does not have the benefit of seeing your facial expressions, so he/she doesn't know if that sigh they heard coming from you after they asked that question about being on call was a positive sigh in which you smiled; or perhaps a negative sigh when you grimaced.  Either way, you need to be aware of how you project

Telephone Interview Preparation

This time around, we'll discuss some of the DON'TS.

Don't be late. Be near the telephone and have your resume in front of you to refer to titles, dates, and responsibilities. Also have pen and paper for note taking.

Do not verbalize negativity towards current or past employers.

Do not be in a setting that is not conducive to giving 100% of your attention to your caller. This means turning off televisions, washing machines, and locking up children, spouses, and pets. This is YOUR time.

Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke while participating in a telephone interview. (But have a glass of water nearby for that emergency tickle in your throat)

Don't mumble or whisper. Speak clearly and concisely. You want to show enthusiasm and confidence!

Don't give the story of your life. Give a brief rundown including education, job titles and responsibilities and information pertinent to the opportunity.

Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish.

Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice.

Don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.

Don't appear anxious to end the interview.

Don't ramble on - just back up each answer with relevant examples

Don't be afraid to ask questions pertaining to the position.

Remember, you're trying to sell yourself right now. You not only want to make a good first impression, but you want the potential employer to know what YOU can do for THEM. You want this telephone interview to lead to an invitation for an onsite interview.

Those of you who have worked with me know that I am downright persnickety when it comes to the interview. You've had to endure my speech on what to wear, what to say, how to act, what not to say, etc. But somehow, despite my interview tips and hints, someone always throws me a curve ball during their interview.

I though I would lighten up a bit in this column and share with you the interview "horror stories" belonging not only to me, but also to my coworkers in the recruiting business.

• The seasoned Registered Nurse who showed up for a management position interview in stilettos and a halter top.
• The Case Manager who peeled and ate an orange during her interview with the VP of Human Resources. When I questioned what on earth she was thinking when she ate an orange during her interview, she replied, 'It wasn't an orange, it was a tangelo."
• The candidate whose cell phone rang three times during the interview! It was his wife asking how the interview was progressing. When asked about outside interests, the candidate stated he didn't have time for outside interests because his live-in elderly mother was needy, his wife worked two jobs which left him in charge of their four teenagers, one of whom he suspected was pregnant.
• A candidate arrived twenty minutes late for the interview wearing one brown shoe and one blue shoe stating that she could not turn on the closet light for fear of waking her husband so she tried waiting for the sun to rise, and that was why she was late; not to mention the shoe mishap.
• The candidate who never showed up for the interview, but did have the courtesy to call the next day from jail. And, would you believe, THIS is the only candidate of all the above who received and accepted a job offer!

We all have blunders as we go through life. But let's hope it is not during an important job interview!

I explained to her that interviews are fairly universal, kind of like good manners, and it doesn't matter if you're interviewing for a teaching position or a clinical position or a CEO position. What does matter is how you present yourself in front of others. First impressions mean everything.

So - I told my friend to grab paper and pen because I was going to tell her how to prepare for her onsite interview and she needed to take notes.

Dress a notch higher. If they wear business casual; wear a suit. If they wear suits, wear your best suit. If everyone wears scrubs, wear a suit. Get the picture?

Wear sensible shoes; closed toe/no sling back.

Arrive ten minutes early.

Don't assume everyone you'll be speaking with has a copy of your resume. Bring three or four copies to hand out just in case.

Greet your interviewer(s) with a firm handshake, not a dead-fish handshake or a death-grip handshake. Practice on someone until you get it right.

Smile and listen.

Make eye contact and remember body language speaks volumes. Don't slump, don't fold your arms across your chest, don't wiggle your feet or twiddle your thumbs.

Don't look at your watch. Wasn't it the first George Bush who looked at his watch during a debate? The kiss of death.

Show enthusiasm. Show assertiveness.

Don't bring up the subject of compensation. Believe me, they won't forget to ask. And when they do - you can let them know what your total compensation package is currently and that you feel confident they have a range in keeping with the position and your qualifications.

This is the time to show what YOU can do for them, not what THEY can do for you.

Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask questions.

Let your interviewer(s) know that you are interested in the opportunity. Countless times I've heard back from a hiring authority that they didn't think the candidate was truly interested in the opportunity because at no time did the candidate express the interest.

Write a thank you note. How many jobs have you applied for and never received even an acknowledgment? Frustrating, isn't it? I bet you remember the people who DID send an acknowledgment. Same holds true for the candidate. Write a short note to each of the interviewers; three or four sentences. And please do this the old fashioned way with a pen, a formal note, an envelope, and a stamp.

In the last issue, we skimmed the surface of onsite interviewing techniques. Preparation is key to the interview process and knowledge of the employer is equally as important. Your preparation will translate to confidence during your interview.

Research the company profile on the internet and learn their culture and environment.

• Are they national or international?
• Where is their corporate facility?
• How are they achieving their health and safety goals?
• Is there a parent company?
• Who are their competitors?

The more you know about the company, the better formulated your questions can be.

Sample questions that are acceptable:

• Why is the position available?
• What do they foresee as the toughest part of the job?
• What would they like you to accomplish in this job?
• Is conference attendance encouraged?
• How would you describe the management characteristics?
• May I have a tour of the facility?

A company's website will reveal pertinent information you will need to be prepared and confident during your interview. Another obvious source of information is current/past employees. Just remember to qualify your source as objective and someone who doesn't have an agenda.

If you are interviewing for a position that requires location, be sure to do your geography homework on that area. Climate, culture, taxes, real estate, cost-of-living comparisons, and school districts: These all play a major parting in your job search. Keep in mind that a company is more likely to consider a candidate with ties to their area and/or exceptional knowledge of their area.

• Set realistic goals
• Treat your job search as a job
• Take the extra time to improve your resume
• Brush up on your interview skills by holding mock interviews with a spouse or friend
• Enlist the resources of a recruiter who specializes in your field
• Network with those in your field
• Polish rusty skills. Perhaps a computer course is in order
• Do not become discouraged if you do not get a job you interviewed for
• Stay positive mentally and physically. Exercise your brain and body