The Triad Tipster - Spring 2004

Information for you and your career...

First Impressions...

When working to find a new position, the importance of professional communication, both written and verbal, cannot be overstated.  A first impression is created long before you meet face-to-face with a potential employer.

Your resume is the first step in creating that all-important first impression.  The quickest way to spoil a favorable first impression is to present a resume with spelling and grammatical errors.  In today’s world of word processing, there simply is no excuse for spelling errors.  It is easy to run a spell check on a document, and it takes just seconds.   Spelling errors send a message to a potential employer that the writer lacks attention to detail.  This could reduce the chances of obtaining an interview, even if the resume shows solid skills and experience. Whether you are sending the resume to a recruiter or directly to a hiring company, make sure it is organized, accurate and free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Another opportunity to make a good impression is the phone call often generated by your resume.  Even if not the stated purpose of the call, that phone call is frequently a screening tool prior to setting up an in-person interview.  Make sure that the outgoing message on your answering machine, as well as your email address, projects a professional image to potential hiring managers.  Return calls promptly and try to avoid phone tag by not leaving messages if you are not going to be accessible.  Do not talk over the person on the other end of the line, try to speak in quiet surroundings and be prepared to take notes. 

Once an in-person interview has been scheduled, your focus must shift to additional details...those will be covered in a future Tipster.  For now, be confident in having successfully navigated the first steps to a new position!

Have you looked at your resume lately? (Part Eight)

Your resume is a legal document; therefore, information on the resume should be accurate and truthful.  Unfortunately, stretching dates, inflating responsibilities, altering job titles and claiming degrees that were not earned are becoming more common as job seekers attempt to create opportunities for themselves.  These tactics frequently backfire, as information on a resume is easily verified.  Honesty is always the best way to go!

What information is vital on a resume?  

·      Accurate contact information including name, address, phone numbers and an email address. 

·      An objective is a nice way to open a resume, but it shouldn’t be too general nor too specific.  Leaving out specifics (ideal company size, environment, industry, etc) will give you the flexibility to easily send your resume to a wide variety of companies.

·      Work history including company names, dates, job titles and responsibilities. 

·      Many job seekers include a skills section that lists technology, software and other ‘buzzwords’ that are applicable to his/her experience.

Do not include information such as salary history, reason for terminating your previous employment or names of references in the body of the resume.  Do not mention hobbies or outside interests not directly related to your career.  Do not list personal information such as your marital status, number of children, social security number or date of birth on your resume.

 (Next Time: Cover letters are not resumes)