Careers

Order of Resume

The Functional Resume

The functional resume format is one that is used to assert a focus to relevant skills that are specific to the type of position being sought. This format directly emphasizes specific professional capabilities and utilizes experience summaries as its primary means of communicating professional competency. In contrast, the chronological resume format will briefly highlight these competencies prior to presenting a comprehensive timeline of career growth via reverse-chronological listing with most recent experience listed first. Individuals with any of these conditions may effectively consider a functional resume:

• A mixed career background with a collection of jobs not specific to the type of position being sought.
• Someone returning to a previous profession, where the most recent experience is not as directly applicable as transferable to the job currently sought.
• Someone ready to develop a professional career from less than full-time experience, either from part-time or pastime related experience while ones full-time occupation differs from the previous full-time background.
• Job seekers returning to the workforce after a considerable lapse in employment.

The outline for a functional resume will generally follow this type of pattern:

Name and Address Header
Opening Headline, Objective or Occupational Title
Summary of Qualifications
Experience Highlights
Work/Employment History
Education and specific Computer, Software or Equipment Skills or Training

The Chronological or Reverse-Chronological resume

The chronological resume (also referred to as reverse-chronological) format is by far, the most common resume layout in use. In using this format, the main body of the document becomes the Professional Experience section, starting from the most recent experience going chronologically backwards through a succession of previous experience. This resume works to build credibility through experience gained, while illustrating career growth over time.

Individuals with any of these conditions may effectively consider a chronological resume.:

• A successive career background in the field or of similar distinction to the next job being sought after.
• Someone with limited work history, however, gaining experience in areas of competency applicable to the sought position through some previous work.
• Job seekers with a steady track record, without significant lapses in employment.

The outline for a chronological or reverse-chronological resume will generally follow this type of pattern:

Name and Address Header
Opening Headline, Objective or Occupational Title
A brief Summary of Qualifications
Professional Experience as main body of the document
Education and specific Computer, Software or Equipment Skills or Training

Breakdown: This resume format starts with a brief summary or objective section. Qualification Highlights sections are optional and are considered to be part of the summary section. Experience is then listed to follow the summary. Job descriptions are listed in reverse chronological order starting from most recent experience to least recent experience. The education section is next and then can be followed with additional sections such as: Publications, Professional Affiliations, Awards, Honors, Volunteer Work, etc.

Top interview questions

Correct Interview dress

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.
What's the appropriate dress code for an interview? You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.
Men's Interview Attire

• Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
• Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
• Belt
• Tie
• Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
• Little or no jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Limit the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

• Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
• The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
• Coordinated blouse
• Conservative shoes
• Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
• No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
• Professional hairstyle
• Neutral pantyhose
• Light make-up and perfume
• Neatly manicured clean nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

How to prepare for interview

Be familiar with the job for which you're being interviewed. Read the advertisement or job description to identify which personal attributes and behaviors are likely to be key success factors for the role. For Client interviews it is advised that you research the company's website and any external information about them from business directories etc.
Make a note of two or three examples for each personal attribute that will best illustrate your suitability - you may want to bring these into the interview with you as prompts. Remember that different companies and industries may require different personal attributes, even for the same position. For example, 'self-managing' can mean very different things to different companies.

Be able to draw from a variety of experiences that demonstrate your skills and abilities. A good story can also combine work experience with a non-work experience (shows you can use the skill in a variety of settings). Examples may be from your work experience, your personal life or some social or other situation. Of course a unique work situation story (unless otherwise specifically requested) should take priority. Be as open, expressive and succinct as possible about each experience.

Let others help you out - use examples of quotes from bosses or customers, i.e., "My boss gave me a good performance review, they liked the way I stepped in to get the job done without being told to." This demonstrates your willingness to accept contribution, your flexibility and teamwork skills.

Think 'STAR' - Situation or Task, Action and Result. There are several variations of this acronym in the recruiting industry, but all of them are intended to provide structure and focus to your answers. When asked about a type of situation, the interviewer is looking at how you responded to it by via a specific example. Using the STAR model you would break your answer into the three segments of; description of the task, then the action you took, and the final measurable result.

Purpose and use of:

Resume

Resumes give employers basic information quickly; their purpose is to get you an interview.

• Employers take 10-20 seconds to screen resume and sort into piles of “yes,” “no,” “maybe.”

• Employers only spend 15-20 minutes on a resume. Be clear, concise and specific about the

job for which you are applying.

Cover letter

Employers often receives hundreds, maybe even thousands of applications for each position they want to fill. If you are among the thousands of applicants, how do you ensure your application gets short-listed and not discarded? Writing targeted, employer-specific and effective cover letters is one proven way to do it. Your cover letter is a powerful tool that differentiates your application, provided it is well-written.

Follow-up letter

The purpose of the follow up letter is to reiterate your interest in the job. This is also helpful to encourage employer response. It is not uncommon to speak to a company representative and send a follow up letter to drive home key points in the conversation.

 

• 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 did you like or dislike about your previous job?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What is your greatest strength?
• How many hours do you normally work?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• What motivates you?
• What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?