5 Easy Steps for Resumes and Interviews
People often want career advancement for different reasons. Many
of us feel the burden of our bills forcing us to desire more,
yet for some the ambition alone will push them for advancement.
The reasons "why" are many, however the answers of "how" are
very few.
Up, Over, or Out?
If you are unemployed, your goal is simple... "to obtain a new
job". However, for those that are already employed there is a
large grey area. The first step is to properly identify yourself
honestly. By examining your work habits and accomplishments you
can better determine the best course of action. More simply, if
you have been unproductive you will not likely be up for any
serious promotions anytime soon. Sometimes it is better to seek
outside employment and start over again fresh.
If you are satisfied with your company, but would just like a
smaller change, perhaps moving over to a new department within
the company is a better option for you. However, if you have
been a hard worker and are concerned that it may go unnoticed,
perhaps the promotion you have been looking for isn't too far
away after all.
Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare...
Preparation is key for any career advancement. Most people would
be amazed by the hordes of information that can be obtained over
the course of a week. Even if you lack experience in your dream
job, your vast knowledge in an interview could quite easily
leave the other candidates in the dark. And we are not just
talking "basic vocabulary" here, learn more than the "surface
level"... even consider researching current trends for the
industry.
If you have some extra time available consider adding
professional certificates. Online training and certification is
available in many industries and can quickly weed you out from
your competition
Writing a Good Resume
Your resume will be the deciding factor for an interview. The
golden rule of a good resume is "never submit the same resume
twice". Every job you apply for should have a customized resume
tailoring to its description. It may sound like allot of extra
work, but the results are priceless.
The focus of each resume should be on the skills that would make
you the best candidate for that type of job. If the job is in
international sales, than obviously any foreign language
training and sales experience should be near the top. A
designated area listing your skills is key for individuals that
lack formal experience. Do not be afraid to list your solid
understanding of the job duties (if you lack the solid
understanding... much more research should be done).
The Interview
If all goes well you will soon be sitting across the table from
your interviewer. The best preparation for your interview is to
list everything in your experience (i.e. best achievement,
hardest project, strengths, weaknesses, good work habits, poor
work-habits, etc.). Reviewing this information just before an
interview will leave you prepared to answer 99% of the questions
asked.
You should be completely prepared to answer the "standard"
questions. Many interviewers like to stick to the basics
questions like "how would you describe yourself" and "how would
your old boss describe you". Be careful to avoid "badmouthing"
your past employers. Often times this will raise a serious "red
flag" with the interviewer and may suggest that you can be a
difficult person to work with.
As for the other 1%, sometimes an interviewer is just trying to
see if you will really be a "good fit" for the job. Many times
the research you have completed is all the assurance they will
need. Employers love nothing more than ambition, and staying on
top of the market trends will obviously reflect it.
Stay Productive
With a little bit of luck you will have hopefully landed the
job. Even if you stayed in the same company, with every
promotion comes a clean slate. Hard work beginning right from
the start is noticed quickly... and the impression it makes
lasts a very long time. By staying productive you will quickly
climb the ladder of success in no time.