Resume Assistance

• Keep it to one page.
• Use short phrases in a bullet format — not a paragraph format.
• Be positive and enthusiastic.
• Take inventory of your most important qualities, capabilities, and strengths.
• Select the resume format that suits you best.
• Stress your contributions, not just the duties involved.
• Don’t include personal information such as marital status, religion, political party, etc.
• Begin sentences with action verbs; avoid long-winded sentences.
• Don’t expect to write your resume all at once. Draft your resume first.
• Make it attractive. Use a clear, easy-to-read typeface and reproduce it on neutral-colored, top-quality resume paper. White is always acceptable.
• Never use a font smaller than 10 points; no larger than 12, preferably in Times New Roman.
• Do not add a photograph to your resume.
• Describe your employment experiences, including volunteer work, student activities, and school project assignments.
• Do not include salary information.
• Do not list references on your resume. You should prepare them and have them typed on a separate sheet of paper ready to be submitted upon request.
• Target your audience.
• When you send out your resume, don’t include extra papers or copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation, or awards, unless you are specifically asked to do so. If called in for an interview, you may bring these extra materials.
• Be truthful on your resume.
• EDIT! EDIT! EDIT!

For more help with your resume or to have it proofread, contact the Career Services Department at careerservices@southeasterntech.edu.

Interview Assistance

What happens during the interview?

The interview process can be scary if you don’t know what to expect. Being prepared for both the environment and the potential questions will help you get through the interview.  Interviews can be multiple rounds, multiple people, multiple environments. Preparing yourself will help with whatever the company’s interview process may be.

Handling Questions

You can expect questions regarding your qualifications, career interests, personality, and even personal interests. The interview is not the place to restate your resume. The employer is interested in what makes you think, react, and behave the way you do. The interviewer wants to probe into the major activities listed on your resume to appraise those qualifications that are not revealed on paper.

Because some employers emphasize reasons why they SHOULD NOT hire you, you should plan to support the reasons why they SHOULD hire you. You should carefully listen to each question asked and provide a thorough, yet brief, answer quickly and intelligently. It is unwise to memorize a speech for each anticipated question but it is essential to have a series of key points in mind.

Determine what questions you should ask.

This helps the employer gauge the interest you have in the position/company.

• Ask specific questions about the position. You need to know what duties will be required of the person in the position to see if there is a fit between your interests and qualifications and the job you seek.
• Try to find out as much as possible about qualities and skills the recruiter is looking for in job candidates. Once you determine the necessary qualities, you can then explain to the recruiter how your background and capabilities relate to those qualities.
• Ask questions concerning performance evaluations. It’s good to know how you will be graded on your work performance.
• It is appropriate to ask specific questions about the company’s training program if not already covered.
• Ask questions about location and travel required. If you have limitations, this is the time to find out what is expected in the position.

Questions Not To Ask

Not only should you know what questions to ask during the interview, but it is important to know what questions not to ask. You don’t want to alienate the recruiter by putting him or her on the defensive.

The following areas should generally be avoided:

• Avoid asking questions that are answered in the company’s annual report or employment brochure. Recruiters are familiar enough with their own information to recognize when you haven’t done your homework. If some information in the annual report isn’t clear to you, ask for clarification.
• Don’t bring up salary or benefits in the initial interview. The majority of companies recruiting are very competitive and will offer approximately similar salaries and benefits. The recruiter may choose to bring up the information, but you should not initiate the topic.
• Avoid asking any personal questions or questions that will put the recruiter on the defensive. This includes questions such as the interviewers’ educational background, marital status, past work experience, and so on.
• Don’t ask questions that have already been answered during the interview. If you have prepared a list of questions and some of them have been addressed during the interview, do not repeat them unless you need clarification.

For more tips or to set up a mock interview, contact the Career Services Department, careerservices@southeasterntech.edu.