by Hildi Hearn

Created on: April 05, 2007   Last Updated: May 20, 2007

How to give a good interview:

There are a few key factors in getting a good job, regardless of experience or skill. It all has to do with presentation. From beginning to end.

Your Resume:

Your C.V. should contain your personal info (name, address, phone number, email), your work experience Starting form most recent going back and your education (also from most recent going back). If you are a student and just beginning your working career and don't have much on your c.v. Yet you can add hobbies, volunteering and clubs etc as they help to fill out the blank page and may give a potential employer a glimpse into what kind of employee you would be (ex; being on many sports teams may show that you are competitive or work well with others.). But for those of us who have been among the ranks of the working for some years your experience and education should stand on it's own (unless you feel that you have experienced or done something especially significant for example served in the National Guard).

Your resume should be clean, free of any errors and esthetically pleasing to the eye (but not too fancy it becomes hard to read). JI can tell you from experience that when you get two hundred resumes for a position you are naturally drawn to the ones that are well laid out and can be scanned quickly. Keep descriptions basic. The format should be Position/Title, Company/Location and time. Then break down your job description into specific points that need little explanation. The idea here is to give the potential employer enough to get the idea. If they have questions they can call you that's what you are trying to achieve anyway, right?

The Call:

When my resume prompts a call form a potential employer I will often try to get as much information as I can over the phone. Ask the person if it is possible to go through a mini interview over the phone. Often you can be ruled out as a candidate (or rule the company out as an option) fairly quickly. A quick phone interview will save both you and the employer time. Ask for a brief description of the position, what they are looking for and what will be required. For example, if you don't like to drive a position as a bookkeeper where you have to take the deposit to the bank everyday, may not be for you. Or if you don't like to deal with people all day long and answering the phone is in the description then you may choose to decline the position without ever going in for the formal interview. Ask about location and hours to spot any potential

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>