by Kellie Hocking
News Staff
There is always room for improvement when presenting yourself to a company. After all, you didn't major in presentation. So with the upcoming Career Fair comes these pertinent tips for presenting your best. But before leaping ahead make sure you check out these critical areas...
The Final Check List:
Write your own resume. This allows you to get to know yourself again. When the interview comes you will know your resume well. It should contain up-to-date information about yourself. Depending on your age, your resume should not contain out-of-date material (i.e., high school clubs etc.). It should contain the meat of your college career thus far, not to mention your name, one address, and phone number. Since the recruiters will glance quickly at the resume, use short phrases and a list-type format with bullets for an easy-to-read resume. Try to limit the length to one page, if it goes beyond that then you should have your PhD. Look at other people's resumes and compare. Let others proofread and critique your work. Check out other written brochure tips in the Career Library located in the Student Success Center.
The type of resume could be an asset depending on your areas of strength. For someone with more experience than education, a resume containing those experiences should also contain more detailed job descriptions and three to four references. For students with more education, a resume containing pertinent classes and activities while in school would be best.
In your resume it is appropriate but not always necessary to have an
objective statement at the beginning to explain your purpose in finding a
job. But at times the objective can hurt your chances by limiting you to a
particular job. Never state in your objective that you "want to gain
experience..." No company wants to be a stepping stone but rather say
something like "To pursue a career/intership in Accentuate all your positive attributes with honesty. If your GPA is
questionable as to its harmful affects then don't include it. Only put
down what you really did and what you earned in school. You want to
feel good about your job and in how it was obtained through your honest
efforts. In the job descriptions use the same tense on all the verbs and use
flowing phrases. Try to be creative in the job descriptions.
Example: Instead of " ran copies for department, ran errands " you could
say.." maintained copy needs for department, assisted in the daily operations"
Allow your friends to read and critique your resume. Make sure to spell
everything correctly. Print out your resume on white paper for the most
professional look. The PPC here at Tech and Kinko's have a selection of
fine quality white paper where you may get it printed for a nominal fee.
1. What motivates you?
*The above was obtained from The Georgia Tech Alumni career conference
brochure.
When meeting people make sure you deliver a firm hand shake, eye contact,
and a professional look. Your professional look should consist of a well
pressed business suit for men and women, as well as polished shoes. Carry
a nice folder of some sort for your resumes and business cards. Don't
forget a pen. And feel free to ask all the questions you would like in
order to investigate their potential for you.
After getting a degree many people have the great expectation of
immediately finding a job after graduation. This is true if you properly
plan ahead. With all this searching and competition you need to expect some
disappointments and learn from them. The point is that you must take
each career fair and interview as a learning experience and move on if
disappointment arises. Ask yourself what you can do for improvement. But
do not allow your inner critic to criticize you too harshly.
Some students might be inundated with terrific job offers. This is the
time to weigh the possibilities and take a closer look at your goals and what
the company could do for you.
The bottom line here is that some company somewhere is looking for
YOU, a someone with your characteristics and your credentials. Never stop
searching until you find that company that is right for you.
Polishing the Resume
The Most Frequently Asked Questions by Job Recruiters
2. What are your long-term goals?
3. Why do you thing you would like this position?
4. How creative a problem solver are you?
5. Can you motivate people?
6. How would you rate yourself as a leader?
7. What was your favorite subject in school?
8. How well did you do in school?
9. What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
10. What would you say are your most important accomplishments to date?
11. Do you have much of a temper?
12. What kind of a contribution do you think you could make to this
firm?
13. How much of a self-starter are you?
14. If you could be in your own business would you prefer it to
corporate life?
15. How long do you think you'd be happy in this job before you started
thinking about promotion?
16. What is your health like?
17. Do you really enjoy work?
18. Would you work if you were independently wealthy?
19. How do you think your spouse is going to feel about you taking this
job?
20. How sensitive are you to criticism?
21. What is the most difficult challenge you have faced in your life?
22. What are you doing now to improve yourself?
The Professional Presentation
Post-Career Fair Blues