Job Seeker Tips

Resume Writing Tips:

jobseekertips

1. Always be clear and concise

  • Your resume is your first impression and your opportunity to market yourself

2. Include all of your contact information so that an recruiter can contact you

  • Legal Name
  • Address
  • Best phone number to reach you. Ensure that any voicemail recording you provide sounds professional.
  • Email address should be: first name. last name and then gmail/yahoo/hotmail, (e.g., john.smith@yahoo.com)

3. Provide a clearly-stated OBJECTIVE:

  • Your OBJECTIVE should include key words that relate to the desired position. For example, if you are seeking a Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Adjuster/Manager position, you should include the title within your objective because search engine optimization often will pick up these keywords for the Human Resource Department

4. Provide a job history:

  • Start with most recent job experience at the top
  • Use bullet points to help recruiters quickly understand your unique qualifications
  • For each job, list your key accomplishments (example: maintained a closing ratio of 100%, able to make 3 point contact in 24 hours 95% of the time, received customer service award five years in a row)
  • Provide employer name information, location and dates of employment
  • Indicate job duties
  • Remember to mention technology that you have used in your job

5. Provide an education section:

  • Include college information outlining whether you graduated or not
  • Show any relevant training/certifications (e.g., ICD-10 for medical billing coding)
  • If you are licensed in multiple states, it is important that you list which states

 

Interviewing Tips:

1. Do your homework before the interview

  • Review the company website including company history
  • Use Google/Yahoo/Bing to research recent company-specific news items
  • Familiarize yourself with the job description details and what is expected
  • If you have the name of the interviewer, research his/her background on LinkedIn

2. For live interviews, always dress for success!

  • For men, wear a professional-looking suit and tie
  • For women, wear a business suit or professional attire with closed-toe shoes
  • Attention to clothing detail demonstrates you care about details
  • Avoid excessive jewelry

3. Show your interest in the position by preparing questions in advance regarding:

  • The role
  • The company
  • What “successful” people do in that role to contribute to the company’s success

4. Be prepared to provide actual examples of work experience similar to what the interviewer is seeking

  • If the role requires specific skills or experience, be prepared to provide examples

5. Be prepared to explain date gaps in your resume

  • What did you do to keep your skills fresh during those gaps in employment?
  • What did you do to prepare for your next job?

6. If you do not understand a question, always ask for the interviewer to clarify or re-word the question so that you can answer it properly

7. Be positive when you answer questions

  • Always focus on positives instead of negatives
  • Avoid negative comments about previous employers – discuss positives and how specific jobs helped build your experience
  • Always smile! Negativity is a very quick turnoff

8. Be prepared to answer questions like these during interviews:

  • What do you know about this company?
  • Why are you interested in this position?
  • Why did you leave your last job?
  • Can you provide an example of a work-related challenge & how you dealt with it?
  • Please explain the 3-month gap in your resume before your last job?
  • How would you describe your dream job?
  • Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team? Why?
  • What does the word “professionalism” mean to you?
  • Why should we hire you instead of others with a similar background?