Dear Candidate:

We understand that finding a job is not easy. Finding the right kind of job opportunity in the existing employment environment involves presenting yourself In the best light possible. To do that, you must be fully prepared from the very beginning of the interview process.

Whether you find employment through Career Strategies, or on your own, we hope you will find our resource helpful. We have complied information on the following:

PREPARATION OUTLINE
HOW TO WRITE A RESUME
ACTION WORDS TO CATCH AN EMPLOYER'S ATTENTION
A SAMPLE RESUME
A SAMPLE COVER LETTER
A SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER
COMMONLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS TO ASK IN AN INTERVIEW
EIGHT KEYS TO GETTING A “YES”
NINE STEPS TO MAKING A GOOD DECISION
CLOTHING AND BODY LANGUAGE SEND A MESSAGE

Most importantly, you must research the companies with which you are interviewing, ask questions to determine if the position is right for you, and make your own decisions based on what you feel in your heart. Don’t be afraid to say “NO” if you feel that a company or position is not right for you.

If you have any questions or if we may be of further assistance, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Good Luck.

PREPARATION OUTLINE

Step 1 A proper resume is your FIRST step in presenting yourself to a prospective employer. Remember that the resume will create the interview opportunity.

Step 2 Having secured the interview with your resume, you must now make yourself as prepared as possible. That begins with understanding the business environment/culture of the prospective employer. You want to present yourself physically so that you “fit in” with their corporate appearance. You must make that first impression that will carry you in good standing through the whole interview process.

Step 3 Learn as much as you can about the “business” of that prospective employer. What is their product or service? What is their mission statement and work philosophy? You must research and/or get the assistance of your recruiter to find out all that you can about a potential employer.

Step 4 Be prepared to have questions/situations posed to you during the interview process. Set the tone early by being professional; a firm handshake and keeping eye contact are only two of the many things you can do. Be prepared to ask questions, use common sense and some of the background information of the company to help you formulate questions. Always try to accentuate the positive aspects, stay away from any negatives if possible.

Step 5 Finish strong, on the up-tempo if you can. You can usually expect to go through the interview process with several people in the company. Your purpose with every interview is to get an offer. Always ask for the job.

To recap, BE PREPARED, turn negatives into positives, ask questions, listen to the content and intent of the questions asked, ask for the job and follow up (always send a thank you note to those who have interviewed you).

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HOW TO WRITE A RESUME

Your resume is your first impression. It should be a simple summation of your qualifications and skills geared toward getting your foot in the door for an interview. Keep it short, simple, concise, and on one page. You should include your accomplishments and achievements that lead to increased profits for your company in an effort to make the employer anxious to meet you. Stay away from cute and contrived as you may draw undesirable attention to your resume. Do not include personal information such as: marital status, height, weight, age, etc. For positions in an office, stick to light colored plain paper in the white, light beige or light gray families. Always be prepared in the interview with a few clean copies of your resume, and even though you are submitting a resume, always fill out applications completely as companies are evaluating your attention to detail and your ability to follow directions.

Objective:
An objective is not necessary, however, if you include an objective at the beginning of your resume, do not make is so specific that you may exclude yourself as a candidate for other positions that might interest you.

Experience:
List in chronological order (your present or last job first). List the company name along with location (city and state). List dates as months and years to avoid being perceived as though you are trying to hide something. Go back a maximum of 10 years (unless previous experience pertains to a job that you are applying for). List your exact job title. Include a brief description of the company and what they do. NOTE: Do not include salary information; you will lose your bargaining power.

Be precise about your duties. State the capacity in which you were employed and exactly what you did. Indicate your level of responsibility and for how many individuals. Include office skills, office equipment and computer skills. Make sure to keep the same tense when defining duties. Your results and accomplishments set you apart. Everyone has responsibilities, but not everyone fulfills them to the same degree. Results give you stature above and beyond a formal and sometimes meaningless job title. Look for bottom line results that will get an employer excited to meet you: problem solving abilities and techniques to help save time or money for the boss and company. Do not mention reasons for leaving.

Education:
List the name and location of the College and High School along with your degree, class standing if superior and honors. Do not give dates that give away your age, only information that will encourage an interview.

The further you are from school, the less educational detail you will need to provide. Recent grads have little but education to show, therefore, cover this area thoroughly listing majors and minors and all subjects relating to the field of interest. Extra-curricular activities are important. State jobs you have had while in school.

Do not omit your education because it is limited. Expand on it where possible by listing company courses, home study courses, etc. This indicates a desire for self-education; however, do not bluff what you have done.

References:
List “References furnished upon request” on the bottom of the resume and always be prepared with at least three work-related supervisory references with addresses and phone numbers. Make sure you speak with your references so that they are aware that potential employers may be calling.

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ACTION WORDS TO CATCH AN EMPLOYER’S ATTENTION

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SAMPLE RESUME

Suzy Que
123 Fourth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-123-4567

OBJECTIVE:	To secure a position with a progressive, dynamic company where my skills and experience can be utilized to their fullest.
EXPERIENCE:
9/96-Present	ABC Company, Los Angeles, CA Administrative Assistant to the CEO
	Provided administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer of a top tier residential real estate firm. Responsibilities included organizing executive office, coordinating corporate functions, scheduling meetings and taking minutes, overseeing administrative staff. Extensive coordinating of travel, ground transportation, hotel and meeting accommodations. Daily use of Microsoft Word for correspondence, typing of minutes and statistical reports. Weekly use of Microsoft Excel for expense reports and forecasts. Extensive phone contact with corporate executives and clients.
5/92-9/96	XYZ Company, Glendale, CA Executive Admin Assistant to the President
	Provide the administrative support to the President of a fast-paced software consulting company. Duties included taking minutes of meetings, scheduling personal and business meetings, directing the employee safety and illness prevention program, composing correspondence, coordinating seminars and employee events and processing weekly expense reports for management. Managed the purchasing of office supplies and equipment for a staff of fifty-five.
6/89-5/92	Entertainment Studios, Burbank, CA Administrative Assistant
	Provided Administrative support to the Vice President of Theatrical Development and Vice President of Human Resources. Responsibilities included composing and typing correspondence, expense reports, initiating and receiving heavy phone calls, organizing schedules and filing. Acted as a liaison between corporate executives and clients.
SKILLS:	Typing 75 WPM, IBM PC with Windows 98 and Office 2000, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
EDUCATION:	California State University, Long Beach Bachelor of Arts, Art History
REFERENCES:	Available upon Request

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER

Introduce your resume with a cover letter explaining why you are submitting your resume, and if necessary, to discuss any salary requirements.

Suzy Que
123 Forth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-123-4567

August 4, 1998

Mr. George Howe
Howe Realtors
20 Prospect Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010

Dear Mr. Howe:

I am interested in applying for the Administrative Assistant to the CEO position at your company.

As my resume indicates, I have nine years of experience. I have strong technical skills including typing of 75 WPM, extensive knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel as well as an exposure to presentation packages and Access databases. My real strengths, however, are in organization, client relations, and supporting top-level executives.

I look forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the position. I will call you next week to determine when we can get together briefly.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Suzy Que

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SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER

Suzy Que
123 Fourth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-123-4567

August 4, 1998

Mr. George Howe
Howe Realtors
20 Prospect Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010

Dear Mr. Howe:

I want to express my thanks to you for the time and courtesy extended to me today. After learning about the exciting career opportunities in your firm, I am even more enthusiastic about working for Howe Realtors.

I believe my interests and capabilities would permit me to make some valuable contributions to your team, to our mutual benefit.

I will telephone you in several days for your decision. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Suzy Que

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COMMONLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Tell me about yourself. Know your resume details and state them concisely.

2. Why do you want to work for us? Do any research possible ahead of time to be ready for this question. Explain that you were impressed by the company’s policies, reputation, working conditions, etc.

3. Why should I hire you? What are your strengths? Take a personal inventory; take time to think about events in your life. Think about ways in which you’ve saved your company money, how you’ve reorganized and raised productivity, how you get along with your boss and co-workers, how you developed new systems or improved old ones.

Put together a list of your strengths: leadership, work ethic, ambition, loyalty, determination, dependability, efficiency, ability to work under pressure, to cope, to get along with people, steady work history, extraordinary abilities. Use a quality that would be beneficial to the employer for this job.

If you have no work experience, think about how you’ve organized your life: how you’ve managed on a limited budget and how you made decisions for major purchases or important life choices. Perhaps you’re a young mother who’s organized a playgroup for the preschoolers in your neighborhood, or maybe you volunteer for big brothers.

4. What are your weaknesses? This is often used as a trapping question. Either turn a weakness into a positive or talk about a personal weakness rather than business or work-related.

5. What did you like most/least about your last job? What you like most should fit the job for which you are applying – if you are applying with a conservative company, don’t answer, “a casual environment.” What you like the least should never be your manager, your boss, or your co-workers or anything else that puts down the company.

6. Why did you leave your prior job? Be honest, be brief, but be diplomatic. Keep it simple; don’t get involved or ramble. Don’t make excuses for yourself. If you were fired say so – they will find out eventually. Try to keep things positive. Don’t talk negatively about your past employer.

7. Where do you see yourself five years from now? This can be translated as “are you going to be around for the long haul?” A company is looking for stability. Keep it realistic and tie it into their company.

8. Where do you see yourself 10 to 20 years from now? Companies like to see people with some type of thought-out future. Again, keep it simple and realistic. It is safe to say that you expect promotions and salary increases in line with productivity.

9. What are your salary requirements? Always give a range – go low and go high. “I’m interviewing in the range between ___ and ___.” Don’t negotiate until they are going to make you the offer. Wait until you have put some substance behind your background and the company is sold on you. That might mean waiting until the second or third interview. Remember: establish value and then talk price.

10. When are you available to start? If you’re not working, immediately. If you are working, always say that you must give two weeks notice – more if you are in a management or supervisory position.

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QUESTIONS TO ASK IN AN INTERVIEW

Remember, just because a firm likes you, doesn’t mean you have to go to work for them. You are also there to see if you want to work for them. You need to be comfortable with your decision and the only way to get information is to ask questions.

1. What do you feel is the ideal candidate for this position?

2. What are the key responsibilities of this job?

3. What changes or improvements would you like to see in these responsibilities?

4. What is a typical day on the job like?

5. What do you foresee as possible obstacles or problems I might have?

6. Why is the position open?

7. What would you like most for new employees to bring to this job?

8. Who would I be working for?

9. What are they like?

10. How long have they been with the firm?

11. How many people have had this job in the last 5 years?

12. Of the people who have had this job before, what were the characteristics of those who performed well? Of those who didn’t?

13. How long have the other people been in the department?

14. Tell me about the best employee in the department.

15. What do you like about this industry?

16. What don’t you like?

17. What do people look for when hiring in this field?

18. What qualifications are essential to success in the industry?

19. How did you get into this industry?

20. Is there a “normal” career path for people in this industry?

21. How is job performance evaluated here? How is it rewarded?

22. How many women and minorities are in middle to upper management?

23. If you hire me, what will your specific expectations be?

24. Can I provide you with any additional information to help evaluate me for this position?

25. May I ask when I can expect a decision regarding this position?

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EIGHT KEYS TO GETTING A “YES”

1. Be prepared.

2. Be ready to turn negatives into positives.

3. Ask questions to keep control.

4. Listen actively to content and intent of questions you are asked.

5. Do not answer questions you do not fully understand.

6. Ask for the job.

7. Follow up.

8. Practice so much that you will be relaxed and comfortable enough to let your best shine through.

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NINE STEPS TO MAKING A GOOD DECISION

When searching for a new job, everyone will be giving you their advice and opinion on what you should do. The only opinion that matters is yours.

1. Pinpoint the decision that needs to be made. Make a list of what your ideal situation would be.

2. Try to get as much information as possible.

3. Make sure your information is reliable.

4. Ask for suggestions and advice. You don’t have to follow it, but you may find out some things you didn’t know before.

5. Make a list of the pros and cons of the job – see which one tips the scale.

6. Ask yourself what would be the best and worst – case scenario of this decision.

7. Determine the value of each of the previous six steps and their consequences. List the good and bad points of each one; then compare them all to find the best solution in its proper perspective. If you make this decision, where will you be six months from now? In a year? In five years?

8. Trust your intuition. Learn to trust your deeper instincts instead of following your immediate impulse.

9. Recognize errors and use them to improve your decision-making skills for the next time.

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YOUR CLOTHING AND BODY LANGUAGE SEND A MESSAGE

People make judgments within six seconds about everything from your economic level and self-confidence to your trustworthiness and honesty. Make sure you are sending the appropriate signals!

Attire

The general rule is that all articles of clothing must be neat, clean, pressed, suitably matched to the rest of the outfit, and of a fabric and color appropriate for a professional office. Extreme styles of makeup or dress, or clothing and makeup meant for play wear or evening wear is to be avoided.

Women should wear a suit; a conservative blouse (nothing low cut or sheer); patternless hose; polished, closed-toe pumps; and moderate makeup.

Men should wear a suit, long-sleeved pressed shirt, a clean tie that hangs to the belt; and polished shoes.

Don’t wear clothes that are too tight, revealing, or out of style.

Avoid clothes that are soiled or wrinkle easily.

Don’t wear skirts or slacks that are too short.

Tennis shoes, sandals or shoes with straps are inappropriate.

Always wear socks or hosiery, but don’t wear socks or nylons with holes or runs.

Keep nails short, clean and neat.

Don’t wear too much perfume or aftershave.

Avoid excessive jewelry.

Hairstyle, hair length, facial hair, makeup, hair color and body hygiene should be neat, clean and well-groomed, but not eccentric.

Earrings should only be worn by women and only one earring in each ear.

Body Language

Look the interviewer right in the eye to avoid being perceived as shifty or distrusting.

Refrain from putting your hands behind your head, putting your fingers under your chin, folding your arms, fiddling with something, and swinging or tapping your feet. These gestures can give the impression that you don’t care, are superior, are unreceptive, are unsure of yourself, are nervous, or are uninterested and hurried.

Wait for the interviewer to extend the first hand for a handshake. A firm grip is important. A weak handshake implies that you have a weak personality, while too firm a squeeze is too aggressive. Using two hands is too personal for business.

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