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

• 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)

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?