It's been eight years since I graduated from university and that means I've also been part of the workforce for the same amount of time. Back in school we had a mandatory zero-credit class that taught us how to write an effective resume, how to prepare for a job interview, and how to manage ourselves during the initial and subsequent meetings with a potential employer. As I've interviewed with numerous companies throughout my working life, I found the class to be very useful and helpful in that I can honestly say that I've been prepared and was confident at every meeting and conversation I've had with HR and potential managers. I didn't get every job I applied for, but I'm proud to say I was offered a position more often than not. I've also been lucky enough at times to receive multiple offers simultaneously and go through the dilemma of having to choose the best fitting role.
As an interviewee it takes time and preparation. However, it also takes time and preparation to interview someone: going through stacks of resumes, trying to pick the best candidates, scheduling interviews, meeting the hopefuls, shortlisting the top guys, scheduling another round of interviews, and finally choosing the right person. Sometimes even making the final decision is tough because you have to choose between two or three people and once you've made your pick, you hope you've hired the perfect one.
These days I am the interviewer seeking for quality candidates to join my team. I've met an interesting bunch of people -- some are smart and talented while others... well, let's just say that's time I'll never get back! I'm not sure if all schools offer a similar resume writing and interview preparation class, but if they don't, I highly recommend that they do. In the meantime, here are some tips for those new to the workforce that I believe are important in preparing for an interview and making yourself stand out from the crowd.
RESUME
Recruiters receive many applications and this is the first thing that they see so be sure it makes an impact.
Keep it short - Recruiters don't have time to read an essay.
Fresh grad profiles should NOT exceed one page. Only include experiences and activities that are relevant to the position you're applying for. If you sent in an application for a creative design job, your experience waiting tables at the university cafe won't help you. However, your work as a designer for the school magazine would be a big plus.
Simple & clean - Submit your resume in Word or PDF format. It is easier for recruiters to view and print without needing any special programs or having to resize the image/file. Use easy-to-read font (Arial, Times New Roman; size 10-12) and
bold or
italicise to highlight important information. Maybe even use some colour but do not submit a rainbow-coloured document unless you know what you're doing, i.e. someone knowledgeable in design, and submitting your resume for a role in the creative/design/arts industry.
Be concise - Avoid flowery and overused words/terms like "works well under pressure" or "a diligent and hard worker". It looks like you Googled a sample resume and copy-pasted sections onto yours. Honestly, I think you can take the entire "Objective" section out of a resume because that should be highlighted in your cover letter/email.
Cover letter/email - Do not email an attached resume without a proper subject and cover letter. The subject is what will make the recruiter open your email and the cover letter is what will make them open the attachment. Unless specified, the subject can be "Job Application for Marketing Assistant position; Resume Attached". Make sure to address the correct person or department. Some names are not gender-specific so if you're unsure, Google the person. More often than not, you'll find something online that will indicate if you should be addressing a "Mr." or a "Ms."
Proofread - For the love of God, absolutely do NOT submit anything without proofreading it first. Give your resume and cover letter to a friend or family member to look through in case you missed anything. Make sure grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting are perfect before you even think about making any submissions.
INTERVIEW
You've caught the recruiter's attention and now you've been invited for an interview. Yay!
Prepare - Are you familiar with the company and role your applying for? Do you know who is interviewing you? Be sure to read up on the company - research it's history and see what's been going on in the recent news. It's impressive when a candidate brings up the company's current events and any relevant industry matters. It's also important to understand the position you're applying for so you can highlight your capabilities that can fulfil the criteria. If you don't already know, find out who will be conducting the interview. Most people have a LinkedIn profile that you can search so you at least know a little of their background. Also, it doesn't hurt to practice a few potential interview questions with a friend!
Be confident (but not overconfident) - Interviews can be daunting and make many people nervous, which is natural and expected. However, if you come prepared, the nerves will settle and you'll do well! The interviewer has read your resume and is impressed enough to ask to meet you but, by all means, do not boast or be arrogant (yes, I've had some of those). Remember, you're the one looking for a job and they have the power to hire you or not.
It's not about you - It's about what you can offer to the company. Every employee is dispensable - tenure and position do not protect you. Think: Steve Jobs being fired from Apple, a company HE founded. If they hired you, what positive results can you bring to the table? You should be able to show (and later prove, once hired) that you're worthy of the company's investment in your skills and that you're eager to build your career within.
Ask questions - Don't just ask about the salary or the work hours. Bring some good questions like, "what is my career path within your company?" This shows that you're thinking longterm and not someone who's going to jet off at the next best opportunity.
POST-INTERVIEW
You've managed to survive through the nerve-racking ordeal. Now what? Make sure the interviewer remembers you by sending them an email thanking them for their time. Not a lot of people do this but I think this is really important because it shows that you appreciated their time and that you're really sincere about getting the job. It's good to also include an agreed upon date to follow up so you can track the status of your application. If you haven't heard back within the specified time, go ahead and follow up but make sure you're not spamming their inbox every other day. They'll eventually get back to you with the news and hopefully it's good!
These are pretty simple points to remember but I think they are key in landing the job you want. A job interview is not only a time for the employer to see if you're the only they're looking for, it's also a time for you to get to know the company and role to see if it would be a perfect fit for your goals. Hope these pointers have helped - it's all common sense really! - and good luck on your job hunt! :)
-JH
