Resume Tips

It is not necessary to limit your resume to one page. In a competitive market it is
important to distinguish yourself from others.
Use a simple font and size; such as Times New Roman, 12 point.
The heading should include your name, address, telephone number and email address.
Include a brief "Qualification Summary" rather than a "Job Objective". List your strengths, which should be illustrated by measurable accomplishments in the body of your resume.
Next, under Education, list your most recent degree first. Include school, location and graduation date. If you are enrolled in a program, state your anticipated graduation date (optional).
Employment or Professional Experience should follow. List your most recent experience first. Include place of employment, job title, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
Use bullets to describe accomplishments in quantitative terms for each position. Use action words, to describe measurable accomplishments.
Include an area for Licensure, Certifications, Memberships or Associations, Awards, and Personal Activities (such as community service).
Make sure to add significant accomplishments. The resume should not rehash the basic responsibilities of a job – the hiring company will already know what the job entails. Instead, highlight aspects of your career that help show why you are a better candidate than anyone else. Any instances where you accomplished a special goal or were able to improve efficiency will augment an employer’s perception of you. Put all accomplishments in bullet form so they will be easy to see and read.
The layout of your resume can say as much about you as the actual content. Make sure your resume is clearly spaced, and that the font is readable. Font sizes 10 to 12 are generally acceptable. Also, if possible, email your resume to a friend and have them open it on their computer. This will allow you to see if the formatting changes when sent electronically. As a safeguard against formatting errors, you may want to save your document in Rich Text Format extension (.rtf), as most word processing programs can read files in this language.
Lastly, proofread. Do not rely on spell check. Double check and then have someone else review the resume. Typographical errors are not acceptable and can be a factor in removing you from consideration.

Interview Tips

Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled interview. Punctuality is important!
Dress professionally.
Review your resume. Emphasize accomplishments to illustrate your strengths.
Always bring an extra copy of your resume.
Prepare questions and answers for the interview.
At your first interview, ask open ended questions that create a two way dialogue.
Do not discuss personal, family, or financial problems.
Act interested, be flexible, candid and straightforward. Keep good eye contact - this shows confidence.
Be familiar with the position. Research the organization and determine how you could make a contribution to the company.
Never say anything negative about a former/current employer or co-worker.
Make sure references you give know they are going to be called and that they will actually give you a good reference.
Click here for advice on how to make it through the interview

Counteroffers

You have accepted a new position, you hand in your resignation and, to your surprise,
your manager offers you a raise, some new responsibilities and incentives, etc. Before you accept
this counteroffer, seriously consider the following:

Does the counteroffer really and truly offset the reasons for leaving?
Your commitment to the organization may be questioned.
Your employer may feel as though they were manipulated into giving you a raise.
A counteroffer is a short-term solution. Your reason for leaving will not change.
Accepting a counteroffer could be very costly in terms of your long-term professional career..

Starting a New Job

Married couples have long had their honeymoons and executives have long had their "first 100 days" before their performance was really scrutinized. Now that is changing. A heightened focus on fast results is making the first few months now seem more like a trial by fire than an easy grace period. Organizations are more willing to make changes with managers if they do not fit in or lack strategic focus.

What is needed is a common sense approach to helping new appointees get on board, understand the culture, and have a game plan before they start their job. Below are some tips:

Do not wait for day one. Consider holding one on one meetings with your key reports and review financial, quality, and operational information before you start. Develop an agenda for the first 100 days.
Limit your major goal or themes to 3...otherwise you will overwhelm your staff.
Discover new stories from your new employer to help you illustrate a point. Do not use examples from your past experience...it will lead to resentment.
Identify the informal leaders and people your boss will speak with to get an impression of you. Develop their trust by being candid and predictable. Be supportive of your new employer.
Map out quick wins. Don't plan on a honeymoon. Early on, discuss with your staff easy to reach goals that they can achieve.

Thank You Letters

Send your "Thank You" letter within a day or two after the interview. A quick response demonstrates your strong interest in the position.
The "Thank You" letter should be sent to the "hiring executive" (person to whom you will be reporting). You may also consider sending a letter to other interviewers that participated in the process.
The letter should be composed of three paragraphs.

The opening paragraph of the "thank you" letter should express your appreciation for the interview. This is also a good place to sincerely complement the organization. For example, if the organization is growing or innovative in a key area, mention their accomplishments.
The middle paragraph is your opportunity to market yourself. Perhaps to re-state a specific accomplishment or the ways you feel that you can make a significant contribution to the organization. Also, this is a good place to include an important accomplishment that you may have neglected to mention or stress adequately during the interview.
The final paragraph should reflect your interest in the position and your desire to be strongly considered as a prospective candidate. In addition, you can thank the interviewer once again for the opportunity to meet and that you are looking forward to hearing from them.

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