Resumes That Get Interviews

Employers receive dozens, and maybe even hundreds of resumes in the mail and from over the Internet each week. Unfortunately, only 2 out of every 100 resumes will result in a job interview. WHY? Because most employers just give each resume a quick, ten-second glance. So what steps can you take to increase the possibility of yours being one that gets read by the employer? Remember these simple steps:

-Keep it clean and neat.
-Keep it simple and to the point.

A winning resume grabs the readers' interest. Its primary purpose is to get you an interview. It should also show why they should hire YOU by focusing on your accomplishments. Think of it as an advertisement brochure on YOU.

There are basically two types of resumes - chronological and functional. A chronological resume highlights your work experience, beginning with the most recent position. It is the most commonly used style. This resume is useful for people with work experience who have been laid off or are changing jobs and do not have major gaps or numerous job changes. A functional or skills resume highlights skills and potential, rather than work experience and education. It is particularly useful when you are changing careers, you have good skills but limited work experience, or there are gaps in your work experiences.

Here are some great tips for you to use when creating your resume:

-Keep it Short and Simple
-Limit your resume to one page
-Use simple, everyday language
-Be honest, don't exaggerate
-Don't list personal references (have a separate reference sheet)
-Use standard 8 ½" X 11" paper
-Use a computer, word processor, or typewriter (please use a new ribbon)
-Avoid fancy type such as outline, shadow, script or other difficult-to-read styles
-Bold, Underline or CAPITALIZE section headings to make them stand out
-Proofread for spelling and grammar. If possible, have someone else proofread it for you
-Buy quality photocopies. Choose white, ivory, or gray paper. Avoid flashy colors

If you need help with your resume visit us at www.resumepass.com. At ResumePass it is our passion to help job-seekers succeed and achieve their career goals. We specializes in over 35 different industry fields, providing professional resume writing services and "go in with confidence" job-interview preparation services.

General Job Interview Tips

Job interviews are the second phase of the hiring process. You have made it this far because your resume was well presented to get you a live job interview. Many people are anxious about the prospects of an interview. Much of this anxiety is based on not knowing what to expect and not knowing how to properly prepare oneself for the interview.

Some General Job Interview Tips

The best way to make sure everything goes smoothly at your interview is to be prepared. This page should give you a helping hand to get ready for your interview.

Dress

First impressions count. As much as many of us would like to believe that we are unaffected by appearance this is not true for the majority. You should always dress appropriately and smartly for an interview, paying attention to your appearance to create the best impression.

Research

Be prepared. Try to get as much information before the interview, on the job, company, and even the people who will be interviewing you. Corporate information is often readily available through the Internet, either on the company’s own site. If the technology approach fails, you can always phone the company directly and request a copy of their corporate and sales literature.

Punctuality

Turning up late creates a bad impression before you even start the interview. You should plan to arrive with enough time to prepare yourself. Familiarize yourself with the journey beforehand, and if you need to find out how long it will take you to get to your interview you can always do a practice run.

Ask Questions

You should always have some questions prepared to ask your interviewer, not only to show that you have a genuine interest in the company and job, but also to help you evaluate them. Does the company culture suit you, are there enough career progression opportunities, will you be given sufficient training, or allowed enough independence?

What Should I Bring?

Always bring spare copies of your resume with you in case the interviewer doesn’t have the latest version. This will demonstrate to your prospective employer that you are both professional and organized. You should also bring a pad of paper and a pen (you may need to complete a test or application form), a portfolio or examples of your work, and for some positions, a calculator.

Where did I go Wrong?

If you do fail to get the job, it is worthwhile phoning up and asking for a few pointers as to where you went wrong, and what skills you may need to develop to succeed next time.

Here are some great tips for you to use before your interview:

- Stress your achievements for each job listed in your resume.
- Always conduct yourself professionally (no slang language).
- Show enthusiasm with in replies and body language.
- Do not answer questions with simply "Yes" or "No" be elaborative.
- Do not show any negativity towards your past or present employer.
- Do not raise salary discussions on your first interview - this is usually done on the second 

  interview.

Frequently Asked Job Interview Questions

If you haven’t been to many interviews before, it may be worthwhile preparing answers to some of the following frequently asked questions:

• Why should I hire you?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would your friends describe you?
• What are your major strengths?
• What are your major weaknesses?
• Tell me about an achievement you made that you are particularly proud of.
• What can you bring to this company?
• How do you feel about working additional hours?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
• What aspects of your last job did you enjoy the most?
• What aspects of your last job did you dislike most?
• What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
• Tell me about an occasion in your last job where you were faced with a particularly challenging problem. How did you resolve this problem?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What books and films have you read / seen recently?
• Have you ever dismissed anyone before?