Way of Answering

Regardless of what type of question you are asked, you will find it easier to
respond effectively if you keep in mind some basic question answering
strategies:

You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the
interview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about
yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply
for a job as a Sales Representative, you might want to list the products you have
sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken,
personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your
academic program).

Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't

assume anything. You will be evaluated on your answers, not your resume.
Therefore, ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your resume in
your answers.

Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you
know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer,
this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise
answers.

If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is
preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your
thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or
to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer
is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying.

Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no."

The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow
your own horn.' As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples
which demonstrate that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third
party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My last employer told
me that I was promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients."

Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to
the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell
what you do have and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking
for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have a little
experience...," you would say "I have experience......" 

Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this

The Basic Things

In addition to doing research and practicing your answers to common interview

questions, you should be aware of general interview etiquette. Remember the following
points when preparing for an interview:  

Review your resume, and make sure that you can explain everything on it. Arrive at
the interview ten minutes early to give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts
and relax. Be aware that many employers will have their receptionists record the time
you came in. If you rush in at the last minute, an employer may have serious concerns
about your ability to arrive on time for a normal day at work.

Get a good night's sleep before your interview. You will think more effectively in the
interview if you are rested. Also, yawning will not impress anyone. Eat something before
the interview. If you are worried about your stomach growling, you will not be able to
concentrate on the questions.

Dress appropriately for the position that you are applying to. Try to dress like the people
who work there would dress if they were representing their organization at some
function. If you are unsure about what to wear, always err on the side of being too
dressed up.

Make sure that you are clean, neat, and well-groomed. Interviewers do notice your
appearance, and first impressions are critical in an interview situation.

Take a copy of your resume, transcript, references and perhaps a portfolio or work
samples with you. Also take a pen and  paper, as you may wan to record some
important information.

PREPARATIONS

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for
the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you
given a thought to what you will wear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now.
Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview
questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your
interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say
about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates
career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal
communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the
seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his
looks if he considers an event important enough.

"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may
exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of
Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a
headstart.

MEN

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts.
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades
such as beige, blue, and other pastels.

Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
executive image.  

Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small
polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all
acceptable.

Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines
look more professional.

Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire.
Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them,
because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and
navy.

Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial
hair.

Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only
acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious
insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts, and cover up your
tattoos!
Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of
your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as
they are out of place.

WOMEN

Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets.
Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are
tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a
business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or
barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee.
Nothing too revealing, please!

Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly
fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.

Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional
look. Dark colors are best.

Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall
in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles.

Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended.

Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one moves.

Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look.
Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table

Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and
dressingskills for a great job talk !

Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing
where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought
and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation
techniques will help you sail through it with panache.
So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the
wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other
essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude.

Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this
case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a
valuable professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding
the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack.

An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it
that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when
you do go in for an interview.

ATTIRE

How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your
resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organisation which
coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in
appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to be decently dressed." Of
course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most
cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal
trousers. In fact, Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people.
"A lot of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they wear
ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and pant should do the
trick for most junior level positions."

Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes.
To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer.
Similarly, please avoid heavy jewelers or personal accessories as they would look
incongruous on you.

ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION

Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the
interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we
introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot
of people do not think it important to knock properly while entering the interview room.
They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To
my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars."

In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and
then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the
interview panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they
get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very
valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure
this bag is an unobtrusive as possible.
ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE

This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing
are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with
a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience
and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few
interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer
right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the
question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words.

Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you
shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the
interview leads to such a situation.

Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions
from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is
heading.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!

1. Family Background

2. Education

3. Experience

4. Stability

5. Initiative

6. General Ability

7. Interpersonal Skills

8. Confidence

9. Aptitude

10. Pleasant Looks

How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one
casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not
something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which
fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.
Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you?

Oversell 

Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively.

Undersell

 Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing

experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").

Body Language

It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you

are doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's

shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you.

Lack of Honesty

The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.

Negative Attitude

The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your

current supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such as

the weather).

Lack of Preparation

You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you

Don’t, it will appear as though you are not interested in the position.

Lack of Enthusiasm

If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will

not assume that your attitude will improve when hired.  

The Interview
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information.
The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-
confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that
the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to
determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and
philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and
determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of
information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is
selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and
personality to the employer.

Interview Preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your
homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about
yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the
interview.

Step 1: Know Yourself

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough   self-assessment so that

you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing
this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of
activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work,
school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills.

 Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by
doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to
deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic.
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant,
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation,
and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include
counselling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills

Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic.

 Analytical/Problem Solving
 Flexibility/Versatility
 Interpersonal
 Oral/Written Communication
 Organization/Planning
 Time Management
 Motivation
  Leadership
 Self-Starter/Initiative
 Team Player

Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication
skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a
team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have

When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important,
but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as:

 How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?

 What are my strong points and weak points?
 What are my short term and long term goals?
 What can I offer this particular employer?
 What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised?
Do I like a fast pace?)
 What do I like doing?
 Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?

Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is
necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those
requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared)
with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist"
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview.

It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position,
or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation:

 Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human

 Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you
are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details.

The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations.
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the
occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its
resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor
seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information
interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation,
and articles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers,
magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is
technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are:

 Where is it located?
 How big is it?
 What are its products and who does it serve?
 How is the organization structured?
 What is its history?
 Have there been any recent changes, new developments?

There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a
number of ways:

 On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and

business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
 The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
 Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company name
 Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products, services or areas of research

If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information
published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact
someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering
moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire
about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve. 

Step 4: Prepare Questions

Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions
to ask the

interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in
company

literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in
the position. Be
careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the
interview was not

successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather
information, so ask about

what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative
information you may have

discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so
for issues of

particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you
should ask the same

questions of each employer. Some sample questions are:

 What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have
changes in technology most affected your business today? 
 How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?
 How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?
 What future direction do you see the company taking?
 Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?
 Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company?
 Which department feels it the most?
 How do you differ from your competitors?
 How much responsibility will I be given in this position?
 What do you like about working with this organization?
 Can you tell me more about the training program?
 Have any new product lines been introduced recently?
 How much travel is normally expected?
 What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?
 Will I work independently or as part of a team?
 How did you advance to your position?
 What are the career paths available in this organization?
 When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?

It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgement when asking questions to an
employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one
would not ask the question 

"What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the
answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers.
However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual
reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry.
This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.

Go Through The Process

There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or
situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following
stages: establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay
attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much
technical detail to provide in your responses.  

Establishing Rapport

This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first
impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that
the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good
interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they
are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to
be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level – this may be
crucial to a hiring decision!

Tips:

 Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence,
even if you don't feel it.
 If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't, it is
appropriate to offer yours.
 Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
 If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and
positive.

Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what
you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization.

Tips:

 When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.

 Be aware of the interviewer's reactions. If he or she looks confused, ask if you
can clarify anything.
 Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not
stiffly.
 Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed.
  Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your foot, talk with your hands (to an
extreme), or fiddle with jewelers, buttons, pens, etc.
 Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions.
 Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch.

Closing the Interview

When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will
ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to
mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated
everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during
the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them.

Tips:

          Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.

     Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her. 
     If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone
in a week's time to inquire about the progress. 
     If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine
to offer yours first. 
      If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work,
or portfolio if you have one.

Type of Questions

Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive, hypothetical,

behavior descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the
preparation stage as you  build your skills  inventory. It may also help you focus in on
exactly what is being asked and what the employer is looking for in specific questions.

 Directive Questions

The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the
interviewer wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type
of question should be easy to answer.

 Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?"

"I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several
summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English and
French."

 Non-Directive Questions 
You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and
does not ask for specific information. The most common non-directive question is

"Tell me about yourself."

When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing
how your background and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should
cover four areas: your education, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal
attributes. As you talk about these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide
what your response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses
concise.

Example: " Tell me about yourself."

"I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have recently completed the course

in Volunteer Management through the Volunteer Center of Winnipeg. These have given me a
strong background in many of the principles of human behavior and the recruitment, training,
and supervision of volunteers. I have experience in working with young adults in a helping
capacity, both through my position as a Peer Advisor at the University of Manitoba, and as a
camp counselor at a camp for behaviorally troubled adolescents. Both of these positions
involved individual counseling, facilitating discussion groups, and teaching young people about
health issues - all of which relate directly to the services which I would be training volunteers to
provide within your organization. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with young people,
and can establish rapport with them easily."

 Hypothetical or Scenario Questions 

When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation, which you
may encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This
is a good way to test problem-solving abilities. When answering this type of question, try
applying a simple problem solving model to it – gather information, evaluate the
information, priories the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a
decision, communicate the decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary.

Example: "Suppose you are working your first day in our laboratory, and a fire at a nearby
work station breaks out. What would you do?"

"Before I start working in any laboratory, I always locate the emergency equipment, such as
eye washes, fire blankets and alarms. I would also review the safety protocols. So in
this situation, I would be aware of these. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would shut down
my experiment and if the fire is significant, I would pull the firm alarm and help to
evacuate the lab. In the case of very small flame, I would ask the staff member at the
station what I could do to help, Which would vary with the type of substances involved.”

 Behavior Descriptive or Behavioral Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks
what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen
usually follow the job description fairly closely. Some employers feel that examples of
past performance will help them to predict future performance in similar situations.
There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep in mind that you
should relate the answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position,
talk about a research project you completed.

Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your
performance."

"While working as a sales representative for XYZ Company for the summer, I called on
Prospective clients and persuaded them of the ecological and economic benefits of Recycling. I
also followed up on clients to ensure that they were satisfied with the service They received. This
involved both telephone and in-person contacts. I increased sales 34% over the same period in
the previous year."

When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and
qualities that the position would require and identify specific examples from your past
which demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions

Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an
interview. For

Example:"  Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many reasons why an
interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult
situations, or they may simply be trying to test your sense of humor. Such questions
may directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated or say something negative
about you or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as,

"If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?"

The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The
interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become
defensive. If humour comes naturally to you, you might try using it in your response, but
it is important to respond to the question. What you say is not nearly as important as
maintaining your composure.

Example: "Which do you like better, Lions or Tigers?"

"Oh, lions definitely. They appear so majestic and are very sociable. To be honest, I think that
seeing The Lion King four times has probably contributed to this

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer
Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this
opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have
resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your
resume into a catching one.

Follow These Basic Standards....

 Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.

 Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
 Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
 Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
 Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to
"rag."
 Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
 Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume
and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
 Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.
 Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
 Print on one side of the paper only.

Avoid Mistakes:

SPELLING MISTAKES:

To avoid spelling mistakes:

 Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.

 Use a dictionary as you write.
 Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
 Carefully read every word in your resume.
 Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:

Things to look for:

 Periods at the end of all full sentences.

 Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
 Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
 Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:

Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

  Do not switch tenses within your resume.
 The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)
 Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote
reports).
 Capitalize all proper nouns.
 When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e.,
one, five, seven), but
 use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
 If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven
service awards won while employed.).
 Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or
11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
 Choose Your Words Carefully:
 Phrase yourself well:
 Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:
 accept (to receive), except (to exclude)
 all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)
 affect (to bring about change), effect (result)
 personal (private), personnel (staff members)
 role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
 Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the
resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very
well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the
employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the
reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume.
Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to
describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly
and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written,
compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small,
digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such
as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't
use declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I".
Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say,
"managed": that sounds stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can
do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's
efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent
and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments.
There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or
falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.

DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication
skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than
submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the
eye. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram
your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid
unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman

 Great interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next        
interview if you:

1. Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great

basketball players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative

self chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting down

in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less apt to

experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and self-

condemnation. 

2. Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet

real. Engage in true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the

preparation you did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs
 with another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's the

same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam. 

3. Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that

the interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills,

abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are misconceptions,

clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't get around to asking you

important questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer them. Don't

leave the meeting without getting your own questions answered so that you have

a clear idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get

further interviews, especially with other key players. 

4. Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to,

"Why should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is a

question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is

probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you whether your

family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find away to address fears if

you sense they are present. 

5. Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly. It is

another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in the

meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a meeting is a

very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will occur if you

thoughtfully consider this follow up letter as an additional interview in which you

get to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate your added value

to the team. 
6. Consider the interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer.

He or she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the

job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?" "Will this person

fit the culture of this organization?" These as well as other questions will be

heavily on the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above

and beyond just doing the job. 

7. Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of

prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should

answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your answer

to include examples of achievements from your work life that closely match the

elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want to know as much about the

job description as you can before you respond to the question. 

8. Watch those nonverbal clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to

35% of what people actually communicate; facial expressions and body

movements and actions convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and

sit with a confident air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and

enthusiasm. Speak with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate

excitement for the opportunity before you. 

9. Be smart about money questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer

your financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money

and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask what

salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion until you

have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of the job. 

10. Don't hang out your dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales

that are inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous

experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former

employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you can.

Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in which you

were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the relationship) of appearing like

a troubled person who may have difficulty working with others.