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Resumes, Interviews and Workplace Etiquette
- 1. Resumes, Interviews and Workplace Etiquette June 21, 2011 Presented by: AAPC Cleveland Southwest Chapter Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 2. Resumes What is a resume? A resume is a brief account of one’s professional or work experience and qualifications often submitted with an employment application. There are a few different types of resumes. I’ve included Alison Doyles’ interpretations from About.com. The direct link is provided below. http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/p/resumetypes.htm Types of Resumes: There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose a chronological, a functional, combination, or a targeted resume. Chronological Resume: A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first. Your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current or most recent job, first. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history. Notice how the first line says PROFILE in the example on the next page. Instead of OBJECTIVE, this resume writer has described himself to be someone who the company wants to interview and get to know better. He’s also listed his skills right at the top so that the employer can review them and match them with their current need. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 3. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 4. Functional Resume: A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history. Notice the grouping of qualifications at the top, then the list of skills below with the work history at the very bottom. There are titles like HIGHLIGHTS and SUMMARY. It’s visually pleasing because everything is organized, and it’s not in a timed order, it simply accentuates the skill set. Another thing that is a nice touch, but is often unnecessary is the community involvement. Many employers are looking for your work ethic, and can get into your personal life during an interview if requested. It may be great if you saved a cat from a tree once, but keep the resume short and sweet, to the point and professional. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 5. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 6. Combination Resume: A combination resume lists your skills and experience first. Your employment history is listed next. With this type of resume you can highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and also provide the chronological work history that employers prefer. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 7. Targeted Resume: A targeted resume is a resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience and skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It definitely takes more work to write a targeted resume than to just click to apply with your existing resume. However, it's well worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a perfect match for your qualifications and experience. The person in the example below is seeking a finance position. There is a lot of ground to cover, but because this person has an extensive history of working within finance, they can project that fact by listing accomplishments and work history to support their assets. It also stands out at the top of the page, to draw the eye to the skills he has. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 8. Mini Resume: A mini resume contains a brief summary of your career highlights qualifications. It can be used for networking purposes or shared upon request from a prospective employer or reference writer who may want an overview of your accomplishments, rather than a full length resume. Example: John Smith 848 Abbott Road Stillfield, CT 08888 999-999-999 jsmith@abcd.com Computer Programmer • Five years experience in successful design, development, and support of live use applications. • C++, Java, C, ASP.NET, SQL, MS Visual Studio, Eclipse, JBoss, Tomcat. • Certifications: CCNA, Unicenter Certified Engineer. It’s just enough to entice the reader to ask for further information. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 9. Career Change Resume: For the person who is making a career change, the following example, though lengthy, can help get your foot in the door. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 10. Some items to remember before submission: Job search on LinkedIn website http://video.about.com/jobsearch/Job_Search_LinkedIn.htm The above link is from Alison Doyle. She is a job search expert with many years of experience in human resources, career development, and job searching, with a focus on online job searching, job search technology, social media, and professional networking. She has covered job searching for About.com since 1998. Alison is the author of Alison Doyle's Job Search Guidebook, Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online and the About.com Guide to Job Searching. Many HR companies today or even typical employers are seeking to know more about you before they take the time to invest in you. If you have a LinkedIn profile, which is a networking social site that lists your work history, peer recommendations and accomplishments, make sure you list the link on your resume. The HR department or person doing the footwork of researching the candidate will locate you and read what others have to say about you. It could be to your benefit to have a picture up there for who you are, and then get some recommendations from peers who you have worked with, studied with, interned with, etc. The more others can say about you on the site, will be time saved on the part of the HR representative. We live in a technological age. I know it’s hard to obtain computers and internet access, but these are almost necessities to compete in today’s world. If you are not literate with Microsoft Word, I would advise even taking classes at a local community college to familiarize yourself. Knowing how to code will get your foot in the door or on the desk of someone who is looking to hire you. However, if you have other skills like Excel, Word and Powerpoint, you can open more doors to your own world instead of just coding. Also if you were a student somewhere and they utilized an EMR or an encoder, list that on your resume so that you can prove that you have proficiency in computer systems. It will make you stand out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laziness will get you nowhere. Again, because we live in the technology age, there is no reason why you can’t proofread, spell check and update your resume for perfection. Resumes get thrown out every day because someone didn’t take the time to review their resume for even one misspelled word. Imagine being a manager who desperately needs to fill a position. Since you’re down one FTE, you’re expected to fill the spot with someone who is worth the time and effort to train and incorporate into the team. You’re sitting at your desk and you receive the resume stack from HR. You begin browsing them and you read one resume that really seems to stand out, but when you reach the bottom, they misspelled two words. Ultimately, it’s up to the hiring manager whether or not they want to take the risk, but imagine that you as the candidate are crossing your fingers, hoping they’ll call you for an interview. You just missed the chance because you rushed the resume to the manager without being sure you proofread it, and now she’s tossing it into the circular file. “But I’m perfect for the position!”, you scream. But the hiring manager doesn’t know that, and now you won’t have the opportunity to prove why, because she wants someone who can handle working on their own, not just someone who gets things done quickly. What you may not realize is that your resume is the first impression some companies have of you. And if you haphazardly send in your resume without making sure sentence structure is appropriate, or checking for misspellings, removing duplicate words, etc., then you may be a risky worker. As sad as the truth is, you may have kissed your chance goodbye. I Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 11. urge you to take the time to read the resume word for word out loud before printing. Take the time to look up words you’re unsure how they’re spelled. Have a friend, peer or family member look it over so you can have some feedback. We all know that when you read something over and over, it becomes rote, but sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can point out something you may have missed. Lorraine will go over much more regarding this after the presentation. She is a hiring manager and can tell you what her peeves are and why. Please take notes during this time. It’ll be pivotal to the success of your career! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Facebook Break I’m not sure how much you’ve read or heard about Facebook. I’m a card carrying member myself (Grace), however, I implore you to think before posting! Whether professional or personal, no one needs to know when you’re mad at your boss. All it does is show your immaturity and lack of self control. Companies now do people searches online because believe it or not, anytime you post to a webpage, you can be found, and it DOESN’T GO AWAY…EVER! So, please be careful what you post. You can be leaving a large mark somewhere that may not post you in the best light. Be careful how you react to disagreements and conflicts. If you have a facebook account, be sure you have the search button available so that people can find you, but make everything else private. That way, your messages and wall posts won’t be visible to everyone and you won’t have a hiring manager finding your profile picture with a beer in your hand. Maybe select a neutral picture that doesn’t have them questioning your after work habits. Granted, it’s no one’s business what you do when you’re off the clock, but if you’re willing to share your habits with the world, be prepared that not only your friends can view these things. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Branding Some of you may have heard about branding. It’s like Pepsi or Coca-Cola. These are brands that are recognizable by name. Branding yourself doesn’t mean you create a product and market it. This means you amplify your best qualities and make them the focus of your resume. For instance, if you are a results-oriented person, post a tagline in the beginning of your resume that will draw the HR rep’s attention and answer their questions about how you solved an issue in a previous job. Many companies don’t even use humans to read through the resumes anymore because of volume. They will have a computer search for key words, mostly part of the job description. It would be in your best interest when sending a professional resume to a company, that you mirror words they use, that are part of who you are, not someone you fabricate to be. You want to accentuate your strengths and that you match their job descriptions. If you’re looking for a coding position, but have previous background as a nurse, you have an advantage because schooling is in your past, and working in the medical field is something you’re familiar with. You need to market yourself as someone who has seen the ins and outs of a billing office, or has worked several floors in a hospital. These are ideas to stimulate creativity for you. Think of something you’ve done or accomplished that matches part of a job description that you’re applying for. Use that to your advantage. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 12. Interviews What is an interview? An interview is a formal meeting in person, especially one arranged for the assessment of the qualifications of an applicant. You’ve received a phone call to interview at the potential employer you would love to work for. How do you stay calm, yet hopeful? Below is an example of a mock interview, which is one way to practice the set-up to know what to expect. Interview Practice Makes Perfect Make Your Mistakes in a Mock Interview By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer As with every skill you've ever learned, you have to learn the technique and then practice, practice, practice. A mock interview will not only help you perfect your technique, but it will also allow you to get valuable feedback and coaching on your performance. Sue is an accomplished tennis player who has worked on her stroke and technique for many years. She has taken lessons from pros, and listened to their advice when they gave her their critiques. She is now graduating from college and has signed up for some on-campus interviews with recruiters. She feels confident that she knows her subject and is a pretty good talker but decides advice from a professional would be a good idea. Working with a professional and getting feedback on your performance in a mock interview is similar to working with a sports coach to learn how to improve your game. Both will enable you to learn where your strengths lie and where you may need work to improve your performance. Time spent practicing will assist you greatly in either situation. An added bonus to preparing and practicing is the self-confidence you will gain. In today's competitive world, you must be prepared and in top shape. Before Sue interviews with potential employers, she signs up for a mock interview at the campus career center. She is given an interview tip sheet to read before the scheduled mock interview. The tip sheet includes the following: What Is a Mock Interview? • A 30-minute videotaped session of you in an interview with a professional. • A review of the tape with constructive feedback on your performance. Preparation • Prepare for the session by researching your company/industry of interest. • Investigate and identify the most common industry traits sought (analytical skills, communication skills, business knowledge and problem solving). • Script answers to demonstrate your experience with these factors as well as answers to behavioral interview questions, such as "Tell me about a time when..." and "Can you give me an example of a time..." The Session • Dress in appropriate attire -- as though this is an actual company interview. • Greet the interviewer with an enthusiastic handshake and smile. • Listen to the question asked. Make sure you know what the interviewer wants to know. Ask for clarification if the question is not clear. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 13. • Keep your answers concise and to the point -- two to three minutes long. • Make sure you are selling the product: You. • Have questions prepared to ask the interviewer. The Feedback • Observe your feelings while viewing the tape and listening to your answers. Are you coming across the way you intended? • Listen to feedback with an open mind, not defensively. • Learn from your performance. How are you being perceived through the eyes of someone who does not know you? As Sue reads through the tip sheet, she realizes that she has some work to do to prepare for her mock interview. From her tennis experience, she knows the value of learning the proper techniques from a coach and then practicing them. She has decided to devote the same energy to the interview process as she has to her tennis game. The interview match is one game she wants to win. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Job interviews are always stressful – even for job seekers who have gone on countless interviews. The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the “standard” interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Then take the time to research the company. That way you’ll be ready with knowledgeable answers for the job interview questions that specifically relate to the company you are interviewing with. Interview Questions: Work History • Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment. • What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met? • What were your starting and final levels of compensation? • What were your responsibilities? • What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? • What did you like or dislike about your previous job? • Which was most / least rewarding? • What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position? • Questions about your supervisors and co-workers. • What was it like working for your supervisor? • What do you expect from a supervisor? • Who was your best boss and who was the worst? • Why are you leaving your job? • What have you been doing since your last job? Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 14. • Why were you fired? Job Interview Questions About You • What is your greatest weakness? • What is your greatest strength? • Describe a typical work week. • Do you take work home with you? • How many hours do you normally work? • How would you describe the pace at which you work? • How do you handle stress and pressure? • What motivates you? • What are your salary expectations? • What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make? • Tell me about yourself. • What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? • What are you passionate about? • What are your pet peeves? • What do people most often criticize about you? • When was the last time you were angry? What happened? • If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? • If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say? • Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? • Give some examples of teamwork. • What type of work environment do you prefer? • How do you evaluate success? • If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it? • Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. • Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. • More job interview questions about your abilities. • More job interview questions about you. Job Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company • What interests you about this job? • Why do you want this job? • What applicable attributes / experience do you have? • Are you overqualified for this job? • What can you do for this company? • Why should we hire you? • Why are you the best person for the job? • What do you know about this company? • Why do you want to work here? Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 15. • What challenges are you looking for in a position? • What can you contribute to this company? • Are you willing to travel? • Is there anything I haven’t told you about the job or company that you would like to know? Interview Questions: The Future • What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you? • What are your goals for the next five years / ten years? • How do you plan to achieve those goals? • What are your salary requirements – both short-term and long-term? • Questions about your career goals. • What will you do if you don’t get this position? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The following is from www.collegegrad.com Ten Tough Interview Questions and Ten Great Answers Mental fear of the unknown is often what produces the physical symptoms of nervousness. In addition to preparing yourself physically, you need to prepare yourself mentally. The best way to prepare mentally is to know what may be coming. Fear of the unknown can only exist when there is an unknown. Take the time to understand some of the standards when it comes to interviewing questions. The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course of your job interviews. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface, such as, “Tell me about yourself”, but these questions can have a variety of answers. The more open ended the question, the wider the variation in the answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular topic or compelling story. Others are classic interview questions, such as, “What is your greatest weakness?” which is a question most people answer improperly. In this case, the standard textbook answer for the greatest weakness question is to provide a veiled positive such as: “I work too much. I just work and work and work.” Wrong. Either you are lying or, worse yet, you are telling the truth, in which case you define working too much as a weakness and really do not want to work much at all. The following answers are provided to give you a new perspective on how to answer tough interview questions. They are not there for you to lift from the page and insert into your next interview. They are provided for you to use as the basic structure for formulating your own answers. While the specifics of each reply may not apply to you, try to follow the basic structure of the answer from the perspective of the interviewer. Answer the questions behaviorally, with specific examples that show that clear evidence backs up what you are saying about yourself. Always provide information that shows you want to become the very best _____ for the company and that you have specifically prepared yourself to become exactly that. They want to be sold. They are waiting to be sold. Don’t disappoint them! Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 16. 1. Tell me about yourself. It seems like an easy interview question. Its open ended. I can talk about whatever I want from the birth canal forward. Right? Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you’re the best candidate for this position. So as you answer this question, talk about what you’ve done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity. Tell me about yourself does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best. 2. Why should I hire you? The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don’t be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you. For example: You should hire me because I’m the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job--my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example . . . Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples. 3. What is your long-range objective? Make my job easy for me. Make me want to hire you. The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives. For example: Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel Ill be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what Im presently doing to prepare myself . . . Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives. 4. How has your education prepared you for your career? This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career. An example: My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results . . . Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 17. 5. Are you a team player? Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to provide behavioral examples to back up your answer. A sample answer: Yes, I’m very much a team player. In fact, I’ve had opportunities in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent project . . . Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared. 6. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved? Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The key is how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it. For example: Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have been disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've found that when conflict occurs, it helps to fully understand the other person’s perspective, so I take time to listen to their point of view, then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For example . . . Focus your answer on the behavioral process for resolving the conflict and working collaboratively. 7. What is your greatest weakness? Most career books tell you to select a strength and present it as a weakness. First of all, using a strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question. You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For example: I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, Im now taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner . . . then show them your planner and how you are using it. Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it. 8. If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say? This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if they’re willing to provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 18. Then you can answer the question like this: I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that I’m results oriented and one of the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation? So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation. 9. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have? Focus on two words: leadership and vision. Here is a sample of how to respond: The key quality in a successful manager should be leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I'd like to tell you about a person whom I consider to be a true leader . . . Then give an example of someone who has touched your life and how their impact has helped in your personal development. 10. If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change? Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to what you are doing to still seek to make that change. For example: Although I’m overall very happy with where I’m at in my life, the one aspect I likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I had a great internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the field. I simply wish I would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my recent internship and be ready to provide examples. Stay focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Good Interview Habits • Eye Contact - Look directly at your interviewer, don't cast look down. Eye contact is a vital part of communication and can allow you to make a connection with your interviewer. • Sit up Straight - Don't slouch in your chair this can make you look lazy and uninterested. Good posture makes you look like a confident person and will set the interviewer at ease. • Don't Fidget - Keep your hands in your lap when you're not making a point in the conversation. Fidgeting looks unprofessional and can be distracting during an interview. If you have busy hands try holding onto a pen or the arms of a chair to keep them occupied. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 19. • Speak Up - Don't mumble your words. Speak directly at your interviewer with a clear, strong voice. If the interviewer has to ask you to repeat yourself then you need to speak up, be careful not to yell. • Smile and Show Some Personality - It's ok to be a little nervous, but remember to stay loose and be yourself. Personality counts for a lot and showing a smile will most likely get you a smile in return, this can create a more relaxed environment for your job interview. • Ask Smart Questions - Don't forget to show interest in your possible new employers. Prepare some questions before the interview so you don't have to make them up on the fly. Asking about how the company got started or what the future plans are is a good idea, asking how many smoke breaks you get or when you can go on vactation is probably not. • Be Professional - More than likely you will be asked why you are leaving your current employer. If this comes up take the high road, telling a potential employer that you hate your current boss and the people you work with are all jerks will not cast you in a positive light. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thank you letter Why don’t more job-seekers write thank-you letters? Some say it’s simply too hard. Nonsense. It’s not any harder than writing your resume or preparing for the interview. More importantly, it’s one of your last chances to sell the employer that you are the perfect person for the job! Job-seekers should ideally send thank-you letters within 24 hours after a job interview and certainly no later than about 2 days after the interview. You may even want to ensure that the interviewer has your thank-you letter in hand no later than end of the next day. Thank-you letters can be mailed, dropped off, or emailed. They can be typed or hand-written. The key element is to take the time to write them. What should be in a thank-you letter? And how long should it be? Most job-seekers write a thank-you letter that reinforces their fit with the position and employer, but there may be times when you feel you need to add a key element you forgot to mention in the interview, to reinforce a question that arose about your qualifications, or to attempt damage control over an interview gone bad. Remember to address the thank-you letter with the correct spelling and title of the interviewer, as well as the proper spelling of the organization. Fundamentals of a General Thank-You Letter Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 20. First Paragraph Use the first paragraph of your thank-you letter to show your genuine appreciation for the job interview and to reinforce your interest and fit for the position. Use words like thank you, thanks, appreciate, excited, and enjoyed. Example opening paragraph: Thank you so much for taking the time to discuss the assistant brand manager position at Kraft Foods with me. After meeting with you and the other members of the marketing department, I am further convinced that my background and skills are perfect for the position. Second Paragraph Use the second paragraph to showcase some of the key elements of your background that match exactly what the employer is seeking in candidates. Use words like convinced, ability, experience, achieve, collaborate, and contribute. Example second paragraph: I am eager to bring my previous marketing experiences, strategic problem- solving skills and passion for your brands to your department. I am convinced the knowledge, skills, and experience I’ve already achieved make me the best candidate for the job. Third Paragraph Use this optional paragraph to reinforce a point you perceived as a possible weakness during the interview or to play up a key strength the employer seeks — or to mention something you forgot to state in the interview. Example third paragraph: As for your concern about my sales experience, I want to reiterate that my having been new member recruitment chair at my school’s chapter of the AMA, along with outstanding grades in my professional selling classes, qualify me nicely. Fourth Paragraph The fourth and final paragraph of your thank-you letter should again thank the recipient for the interview and for being considered for the position, and mention that you are looking forward to the next step in the process and hearing back shortly. Example fourth paragraph: I look forward to hearing from you regarding your hiring decision. I know I am the perfect candidate for the position. Finally, thank you again for your time and consideration. Final Thoughts Remember that this formula is just an outline of a thank-you letter. While the content is important, it’s just as important to write it and get it into the interviewer’s hands as quickly as possible. Listen and write from your heart. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 21. Rejection Thank You Letter What if the interview proved that they didn’t want to hire you? Do you still send a thank you letter? YES! Why? Because you can reapply at a later time, and they won’t see your name and cringe! Sample interview thank you letter after rejection Perhaps the interview didn't go so well as you'd hoped, and unfortunately, you've received a rejection letter after your interview. Well don't give up hope - a well written interview thank you letter even after a rejection might give you the opportunity to reapply to the company in time, and it also shows that you handle rejection with maturity rather than bitterness. Dear Jonathan, Thank you for your time interviewing me last Wednesday in your New York office. It was a pleasure working through the case study together, as well as discussing our backgrounds and gaining further insight into the requirements of the role. Our conversation definitely validated and strengthened my interest in pursuing a career at your company. While I am disappointed by the ultimate outcome of the interview, I sincerely hope that we can continue to stay in touch and that perhaps I might make a better fit for your company in the future. Of course, if you have any suggestions as to how I might improve my interview performance, or additional skills I should develop and strengthen in my current job, I'd be more than happy to listen. Once more, thank you for you time. I hope that you enjoyed your trip to New York and had a safe and restful flight back to London. Best regards, James Smith - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 22. Interview Do’s and Don’ts Interview DOs Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable. Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc. Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time. Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions. Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer. Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation. Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise. Maintain good eye contact during the interview. Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching. Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible. Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question. Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording. Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 23. Be honest and be yourself — your best professional self. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy. Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented. Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with. Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your research. Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization. Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director. Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any. When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully. After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details. Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly. Interview DON'Ts Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions. Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others). Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions. Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 24. interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization. Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location. Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer. Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment. Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you. Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish. A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview. Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair. Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise. (If she has a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree or medical degree, use "Dr. [lastname]" just as you would with a male interviewer. Marital status of anyone, male or female, is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview. Don't chew gum or smell like smoke. Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call. Don't look at a text message. Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiance, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.) Post-interview: When to back off Sometimes after an interview, people want to follow up. If you’ve sent your thank you letter, let it rest. HR representatives and hiring managers have other jobs to do. You Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 25. have to be mindful that they set aside time to meet with you and discuss your qualifications and they will get back with you when they are able. They are not waiting for you to follow-up with them. If they receive a thank you letter, I’m sure it paints a better picture than someone who didn’t value their time, but in the end, it’s the best qualified person that gets the job, not how many times you called/emailed since you’ve met them. It’s very easy to move from qualified to annoying to “no one wants to work with their over-persistence.” So be mindful of your behavior and if you don’t receive an answer in the time frame originally provided, move onto the next company. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Workplace Etiquette Office Etiquette or Office Manners is about conducting yourself respectfully and courteously in the office or workplace First impressions are important! You are the ambassador/s of the business Always act with honesty and dignity Chewing gum and popping bubble gum in the presence of co-workers is neither cool nor dignified Never do it whilst attending customers Wear appropriate office attire, for example correct footwear, not thongs (flip flops) - they are strictly casual or beachwear No exposed midriff to display tattoos and body piercing. Be neat, clean and as conservative as the business requires you to be We are put off by smelly people. So, be sure to shower regularly and use a suitable deodorant Do not cough or sneeze in anyone's direction. Use a tissue, if possible, to contain the germs and then say "Excuse me" The essence of good manners and etiquette is to be respectful and courteous at all times and with everybody Therefore, treat your co-workers, cleaners, maintenance people and others with respect and courtesy Good office etiquette is easily achieved by using common courtesy as a matter of course Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 26. Keep your interruptions of others to a minimum and always apologise if your intrusion is an interruption of a discussion, someone’s concentration or other activity Show respect for each others workspace. Knock before entering Show appreciation for the slightest courtesies extended to you Be helpful and co-operative with each other Brush up on your computer skills so that you can help others Aim to improve your other workplace skills and attributes too Speak clearly without shouting. Loud people are a vexation Say, “Please; Thank you; You’re welcome”, as part of your everyday courtesy Be discreet and compassionate in your criticism of a co-worker Don’t gossip about any co-worker’s private life Do not try to sell things to your colleagues Don’t hover around while waiting for a co-worker to get off the phone. Leave a note for them to call you or return later It’s not a good idea to take your iPod to your office. It hinders communication Avoid sexist comments about a co-worker’s dress or appearance Surveys show that the office know-it-all proved to be the biggest gripe amongst co- workers. Don't be a know-all Take responsibility for your mistakes, apologize and go about correcting the mistakes Apologize if you are clearly in the wrong. If in doubt, apologize anyway. It’s no big deal Never blame someone else if it is your mistake If your boss criticizes your work, enquire about what precisely is wrong with it. Consider the comments, discuss them amiably if you disagree with the comments but defer to the bosses opinion if he/she is adamant The boss always gets the benefit of the doubt. Don’t argue with the boss (however, there are standards of etiquette for employers too.) Make new employees feel welcome and comfortable around you. Don't be a busy- body Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter
- 27. Office etiquette means being thoughtful when interacting with your peers Keep your work area tidy. Try not to be messy Show consideration for other people’s feelings If there is conflict, do not get personal in your remarks It is extremely rude to arrive late for a meeting It is ruder still to not attend at all. Having a good excuse does not exonerate you Do not dominate the meeting. All communication must take place through the chairperson Do not interrupt another speaker Pay attention to the proceedings quietly. Don’t shuffle your papers Do not leave the meeting until it is closed by the chairperson Never be petty or small minded in your behavior Always be particularly respectful to those older than yourself even if they are junior to you in position Your elders are generally more mature in judgement and life’s experiences and this deserves your respect even in the workplace Office Kitchen Etiquette Office Etiquette extends to the Office Kitchen which may be cleaned only once a day. If so, clean up after yourself so that the office kitchen remains clean, tidy and hygienic for those using the facilities after you If we do not clean up our own mess we will collectively add to the mess and attract cockroaches and mice to crawl over the cutlery and crockery in the dead of night Who knows what unspeakable bug we may pick up as a consequence? References: www.About.com Grace L. Bower, CPC June 21, 2011 Cleveland Southwest Chapter